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Kaneto Shiozawa, is dead!

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:10 pm
by Henry Spencer
The legendary voice actor behind such amazing work (my favourite work from Kojima's games). Kaneto made some great voice work in his time, such as, Randam Hajile in Snatcher, Tony Redwood in Policenauts, 'Mr X' from MGS2 and Grey Fox in MGS1. I only found this out today and I have only heard his voice work for Policenauts (one of the best in a game filled with near perfect voice work) and Randam Hajile (I heard it from the PC Engine version; truly a masterful performance). This saddened me greatly, and was just wondering if you all knew this dark, depressing news, since I think you should all know. I see he was also behind many popular anime character's voices. In fact, his voice work was awesome and deserved recognition, so I thought I'd post it up here, where it would be appreciated. R.I.P Shiozawa-san. :sad:

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:17 pm
by 87th
I heard that Kojima wouldn't bring back Fox in future MG games as a mark of respect to his death. I'm unsure of that, though.

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:23 pm
by Marc
He was a great voice actor, yes. Not only did he have a unique voice, but great delivery as well.

His absence was the reason TTS didn't have a Japanese voice track. Incidentally, Kojima said several years ago that he hadn't planned on having him appear in ZOE1, so his death didn't change any casting choices for the game.

Other VAs from Kojima's games who have died include Kouhei Miyauchi (1929-1995, Victor in Policenauts; he died not long before the release of the 3DO version, though all the dialogue retakes had been finished by then) and Kouji Totani (1948-2006, older Revolver Ocelot).

Kojima always makes great casting choices. I can't think of a bad role in any of the Japanese versions (he's in charge of casting them), at least off the top of my head.

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:24 am
by Henry Spencer
Wow, yeah, that really sucks. I wonder if Ocelot will actually be in MGS4 now (since the VA is dead)...

And yeah, Kojima sure knows how to pick them, the way Kaneto pulled off Redwood, was superb, he had such a chilling voice to suit his demeanor and personality. Shame about the voice for Victor as well, did they keep his voice for the other versions? Or was it changed?

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:13 am
by Charlie Johnson
I only knew that Ocelot's voice actor died, but I didn't knew about Fox and Tony's voice actor, although it already happened a few years ago. I guess most people in the west don't really care if one of the japanese voice actors dies, I can't say much of his performance in Policenauts, I just saw a small part of him in a video on youtube and that's about it, but with my japanese copy of MGS1 I was able to hear his performance of Gray Fox and especially near the end, when he's fighting REX the voice acting his great. I've seen this cutscene hundreds of times in the german and english version, the first time I saw it, it was really exciting but after so many times that i've played through the game the cutscene of course didn't have the same feeling that it had, when I watched it the first time. I knew the voice acting, I knew what was going to happen, it wasn't such a big deal anymore. But when I heard Fox's japanese voice actor in this cutscene the excitement was back he just did a perfect job and it's sad that we won't hear his voice again.

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:40 am
by Marc
Henry Spencer wrote:Wow, yeah, that really sucks. I wonder if Ocelot will actually be in MGS4 now (since the VA is dead)...

And yeah, Kojima sure knows how to pick them, the way Kaneto pulled off Redwood, was superb, he had such a chilling voice to suit his demeanor and personality. Shame about the voice for Victor as well, did they keep his voice for the other versions? Or was it changed?
I think it's solved by the fact that Liquid has completely taken over Ocelot anyway (that is said to have happened at the end of MGS2).

Victor has the same VA in every version, yes.

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:52 am
by Henry Spencer
I know, but it sucks that such a great character like Ocelot is gone, just like that!

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:52 pm
by Jack
May he rest in peace - indeed his work was amazing. I won't forget his voice acting for Gray Fox easily... :sad:

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:12 am
by Squallidus
Man... they're dropping like flies. How did they die? They weren't exactly old.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:59 am
by Spike
Squallidus wrote:How did they die? They weren't exactly old.
Kaneto Shiozawa fell down the stairs in his home and died of a cerebral contusion the next day.

Kōji Totani died from acute heart failure.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:02 am
by Henry Spencer
Source?

Not saying I don't believe you, but I would like to see an article about it, just to be sure.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:56 am
by Spike
Good/bad ol' Wikipedia.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:14 am
by Marc
He's right. It was on Japanese websites too.

I'm not sure how Kouhei Miyauchi died. Probably something related to old age.

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:55 pm
by Squallidus
Spike wrote:Kōji Totani died from acute heart failure.

FOX.... DIE...


I am sorry, I had to >.<

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:36 pm
by Henry Spencer
That made me cringe man... :sad:

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:41 pm
by Marc
Yeah, seriously, dude. Not cool.

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:59 am
by Spike
Osiris wrote:Other VAs from Kojima's games who have died include Kouhei Miyauchi (1929-1995, Victor in Policenauts; he died not long before the release of the 3DO version, though all the dialogue retakes had been finished by then) and Kouji Tatani (1948-2006, older Revolver Ocelot).
Kazuyuki Sogabe (Psycho Mantis) also died (from esophageal cancer), on September 2006.

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:11 am
by Henry Spencer
^ It's all very sad that such brilliant voice actors have to pass on, but that's part of life, eh? :sad:

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:34 pm
by ratperson665
Yeah. It's very sad. Kaneto stole the show in Policenauts, the game has a great cast but he was by far the best of the bunch! He was great as Gray Fox and Mr. X. Kouji captured Ocelot as no-one else could. Those to guys were just amazing! :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:23 pm
by Made in DNA
Got a news link?

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:31 am
by JunkerMike
That sucks. What did he die from?

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:36 am
by Henry Spencer

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:38 am
by JunkerMike
Henry Spencer wrote:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794060/

Says it right there.
Ahhh, fuck! How'd that happen?

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:41 am
by Charlie Johnson
JunkerMike wrote:
Henry Spencer wrote:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794060/

Says it right there.
Ahhh, fuck! How'd that happen?
He fell down the stairs in his appartment.

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:44 am
by JunkerMike
Charlie Johnson wrote:
JunkerMike wrote:
Henry Spencer wrote:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794060/

Says it right there.
Ahhh, fuck! How'd that happen?
He fell down the stairs in his appartment.
Damn!