Masako Nozawa Becomes First Voice Actor Honored by Japan

In a landmark moment for the anime and entertainment industry, Masako Nozawa, the legendary voice behind Son Goku from the Dragon Ball franchise, has been selected as one of the 2025 Persons of Cultural Merit honorees in Japan. This makes her the first voice actor ever to receive this prestigious cultural award, marking a turning point in the recognition of voice acting as an integral part of Japanese culture.

The award ceremony will take place on November 3, 2025, at The Okura Tokyo hotel, where Nozawa will be honored alongside other prominent cultural figures including manga creator Keiko Takemiya, actor Min Tanaka, and playwright Hideki Noda.

What Is the Persons of Cultural Merit Award?

• Established in 1951, the Persons of Cultural Merit award is one of Japan’s highest recognitions for individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of culture and the arts. Recipients receive a lifetime government-sponsored pension of 3.5 million yen annually (approx. $23,300), acknowledging their impact and legacy in Japanese society.
• Past recipients include notable figures such as filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, but never before has a voice actor, or seiyuu, been included — until now.

Masako Nozawa: A Pillar of Japanese Anime

• Born in 1936, Masako Nozawa began her career in acting at a young age before transitioning to voice acting in the early 1960s.
• She is best known for voicing Goku, Gohan, and Goten across all iterations of Dragon Ball, starting from its debut in 1986 to the present.

Her other iconic roles include,

• Kitaro in GeGeGe no Kitaro (1968 and 1971)
• Medama-Oyaji in the 2018 remake and 2023 film Kitaro: Kappa no Terraforming
• Numerous voices in the Doraemon series
• Over her 60+ year career, Nozawa has become a household name not just in Japan but globally, especially among anime fans.

Guinness World Record Holder

Nozawa holds two Guinness World Records related to her work on Dragon Ball,

• Longest video game voice acting career
• Longest time voicing the same character in a video game
• These accolades affirm her consistency and dedication, contributing to her legendary status in the industry.