The Voice of Goku Always Wanted to be a Princess but the Universe Wanted her to Voice Men

I grew up with Dragon Ball in Japanese so Masako Nozawa is my Goku. She's such a huge part of the anime industry when it was just beginning and I wanted to share her story.
Sources:
Book: "Boku wa Seiyuu" - by Masako Nozawa
Internet Articles:
Masako Nozawa Appears on Downtown Nau
natalie.mu/com...
Honsuki - Masako Nozawa Interview
honsuki.jp/ser...
Masako Nozawa's Goku Secret
grapee.jp/590280
Akira Toriyama and Masako Nozawa: Special Talk
www.kanzenshuu...
Akira Toriyama Super Interview Daizenshuu 3:
www.kanzenshuu...

[@G4RYWithaFour]

Aspired to be a princess, ended up being a king.

[@thecatrizable]

You mean queen

[@ElPeloXD]

COLD

[@experiencednoob6808]

@@thecatrizable goku aint no woman 😭

[@dragoon0anime]

she got the princess rol on The Wizard of Oz anime though, I guess that's something lmao

[@ElPeloXD]

@@thecatrizable it was a metaphor

[@jahar1gaming]

"My dad is stronger than your dad" "My grandma is stronger than your dad"

[@ripit.3457]

“My dad is stronger than YOUR dad!” “How strong?” - insert prowler theme

[@ch4rliegaming]

"my grandma is goku"

[@caosisaac]

My grandma is the strongest in the universe.... sounds like a good light novel title.

[@DavidNicholson101]

@@ripit.3457How strong is my dad? (Turns around as screams are heard in the distance and the sky turns dark with lightning flashing) That strong.

[@DavidNicholson101]

I wonder how Toriyama felt about Shawn Shemmel as Goku’s American voice.

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Just imagine being a kid that says "My grandma is Goku, Gohan and Goten!" That's got to be the coolest thing ever!❤

[@jahar1gaming]

Bardock, Turles, Vegetto, Gogeta and black too

[@LowellLucasJr.]

@@jahar1gaming I know and Turles & Goku Black

[@Zombie8597]

And halt Gogeta and half Vegito

[@inkynoob1155]

@@jahar1gaming Technically half Gogeta and Vegito but yeah

[@bruhman9111]

Does Nozawa even have kids?

[@trentonbates3114]

"Take care of goku" absolutely soul crushing to hear it 😭😭

[@default_liver1641]

it got me sobbing too fr 😭

[@templarcrow6577]

Fr? On god? On a stack? Scoobydoo

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

On god my soul hurted when that happened but I wanted to keep on smiling and holding my head up for what was left behind so far now.

[@kanesmith8271]

@@templarcrow6577yes, yes and yes, anything that makes you uncomfortable, you deserve the anxiety 😂

[@Kusanagikaiser999]

The GOAT herself, is kinda insane to think she voiced Goku from kid to grown up and so with Gohan and Goten, in pretty much all other countries as far I know, Adult Goku and Kid Goku are always play by different actors, but she played all by herself, indeed this woman is a legend.

[@teddybeer6206]

France tried doing the same thing with their Kid Goku voice actress, Brigitte Lecordier. She voiced adult Goku in the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai but when Raditz showed up, they switched to a male voice actor.

[@alfinprathama8219]

Masako Nozawa also voiced Bardock, Future Gohan, Goku Jr from Dragon Ball GT, Goku Black and Xeno Goku from Super Dragon Ball Heroes She voiced so many character especially on Super Dragon Ball Heroes

[@teddybeer6206]

@@alfinprathama8219 She also voiced Turles.

[@ColonelJB]

Imagine bullying a kid and her them say “Well, my Grandma is Goku, Gohan, AND Goten”😭

[@perparimbytyci6953]

And Bardock, and Turles, and Goku Black, and Goku jr

[@theslayer9845]

@@perparimbytyci6953 and ultraman taro

[@thehman2271]

“My Grandma will kick your ass!”

[@SaiyansLegend]

And half vegito and half gogeta

[@uhhhjess1148]

@@thehman2271she old

[@Alex_FRD]

Masako: The sweet grandma Sean: The angry uncle

[@theregalknight8366]

for Masako yes indeed, but for Sean, yeah that's perfect XD

[@Mari_Izu]

Sean is the angry diva, he made his Goku voice says slurs while also loathed DBZA for redubing anime.

[@TimelessKidd]

@@Mari_Izudont think sean said slurs before

[@daru9653]

@@TimelessKiddhe did, just search up funimation voice leaks

[@ThePerfectMenace]

@@TimelessKiddhe did, tho seeing that other celebritys like him have done much worse, and the fact he didn’t actually say it to insult someone. I don’t care about it. The only problem I have with Sean is his ego. I mean bro really said to masako “Your not goku, IM goku!” Tho besides that nothing bothers me about him. I guess he does get angry as cons and stuff but you have to remember cons for KZbinrs or cerlebritys are really stressful and tiring.

[@TheBlackOtaku]

Masako Nozawa is the Japanese June Foray, if you don’t know who June Foray is she was the original voice actor of Granny from the looney tunes she voiced this character for so many years until her passing that’s why both Masako and June are both similar.

[@MrJohnffrey87]

She also did a lot of boy’s voices over the years like Nozawa, the closest she got to voicing a grown man was Pogo Possum.

[@teddybeer6206]

Just like she voiced Rocky the Squirrel until her death

[@cb8655]

Possibly the smartest comment in the whole video… June Foray was one of the greats.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@cb8655 She also played the grandmother in Mulan.

[@ShiningTaiga]

She is an international treasure and I will never tolerate disrespecting her.

[@giyutomiokawaterhashira5093]

Say that to the people who do disrespect her

[@ShinOrochi]

@@giyutomiokawaterhashira5093*Nostalgia-blinded dub fans Fixed it for you lol

[@Treaxvour]

I hate her voice

[@Daichi82]

She is a world treasure.

[@KKAkuoku]

When she goes, Dragon Ball truly ends.

[@Warmcofeearts7777]

It already ended. Toriyama's dead

[@veghesther3204]

I agree despite Toriyama''s death at age 68 she's like 85+ years old so as soon as she dies Dragon ball may END in Japan BUT for the USA dubs of Dragon ball Z/super the current actor isn't even in HIS mid 50's.

[@Warmcofeearts7777]

@@veghesther3204 japan has proven again and again that they dont care about US community or atleast prioritizes japan not just in dragon ball but anime in general. So when japan stop caring about dragon ball they will stop dragon ball

[@stevemclovin1566]

She has a understudy.

[@yarc9]

They can still get a new voice cast

[@விஷ்ணு_கார்த்திக்]

Learning about the life of people older than 80 is a literal history lesson.

[@crestofhonor2349]

Always watched Dragon Ball in Japanese so she is associated with Goku for me. Her performance with Goku is great and it has defined the character for many

[@LowLevelWarrior]

" _Osu! Ora Goku!_ " ✋😁

[@amgamer6198]

Goku has magic hair, magic hands, has been saved by a prince once conclusion, Goku is a princess

[@Dewani90.]

So Masako dream of being a princess came true, in the most convoluted way possible.

[@rosesske2551]

His father in law is also a king.

[@thelivingbombYT]

Imagine being in an argument then then they say "My grandma solos 99% of fiction" I would be scared shitless😭

[@MuchoLucho]

The day we lose Nozawa will be a sad one...

[@eatyourveggies_]

"Take care of Goku" Damn, that's the first time in my life I've ever heard, and now read and typed that sequence of words. It's so bittersweet and powerful, and strange and funny.

[@otakuevolution2131]

The definitive voice of Goku. Period.

[@atomic5989]

im sorry but nothing can ever top "Hey its me, Goku!"

[@MRSHREKJR]

She's the goat

[@Am1nTheSaiyan]

That's "Ous, Ora Goku!!" literally by nozawa 💀 @@atomic5989

[@smileandlaughs]

She wanted to be a princess but became a super saiyan.

[@poximano1160]

i don't know her name , and knew about her last year , but I'M SO GRATEFUL, SHE'S A PILLAR IN THE ANIME INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS MORE RECOGNITION, I can't imagine watching dragonball without her voice .

[@cb8655]

Say what you want about how Goku sounds in Japanese… the original voice behind him is comparable to the Gods. What an amazing lady Nozawa-San is.

[@theveryproudmoroccan2834]

Protect Masako Nozawa-San at all cost.

[@champagnegascogne9755]

I grew up watching Naruto. Junko Takeuchi's voice never ages. I consider Masako Nozawa voicing Goku as a testament on her great voicing talent. Easily my two greatest long-running main characters that were voiced by professional voice acting ladies that still got it within them as they age over time.

[@Hirotara]

Safe to say that there is no debate that she is one of the best to ever do it, The GOAT. The one whose contributed to so many doing what she loves

[@alphadios2003]

For me she is Goku not Sean. Sean might've had his nice performances, but his character is a superhero type Goku. Masako Nozawa with her distinct voice for a male character makes Son Goku to sound and appear like a real alien, or weird person, which was part of his character even before the revelation of his alien origins.

[@Ayush_aj]

behind every successful man there is a woman Masako nozawa the legend of course and so Mayumi tanaka and Junko Takeuchi VA of naruto and luffy.

[@ChaosDarkLight]

I'm worried she doesn't have a successor. I was so sad when Tsuru Hiromi passed and that was in 2017. Many others have passed too since, a lot of whom are younger than Nozawa herself.

[@reicherwallace6774]

She's also Megaman

[@orangeslash1667]

No she didn't play Mega Man.

[@reicherwallace6774]

@orangeslash1667 I have definitely heard her voice act for megaman. It may have been promotional material but her voice is unmistakable.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@reicherwallace6774 What promotion???

[@reicherwallace6774]

@@orangeslash1667 There's a megaman X music video that she speaks in promoting the soundtrack.

[@orangeslash1667]

@@reicherwallace6774 Fine!!!!

[@PixeIated]

"Hey Vegeta, look! I became a pretty princess" "Dammit kakkarot"

[@Cornholio1981]

I just bought the entire DBZ Blu Ray collection for 300 euro. With the Original japanese score/Funimation Dub and English dub with japanese score. In a very good format, no wide screen but remastered very well. I'm watching it in Japanese right no, for the 1st time... It's so different😮 I grew up with the faclouner dub but the japanese score is superior. When trunks cuts frieza in half, that music... It's super!

[@Mari_Izu]

"no wide screen" And that's good.

[@Cornholio1981]

@@Mari_Izu It's litterally the original run

[@rockheartqueen]

She always sounds really good voicing villains. Would be really cool to hear her voice more female villains

[@mitchellalexander9162]

What do you mean she never voiced a PreCure villain at least Once for a Movie Antagonist Role?

[@Dan-yz6gh]

アメリカ英語版の悟空の方が良いと言っているコメントがあるけど、別に比較する必要はないと思うけどな。 特に英語話者であれば、英語版があるんだからわざわざ日本語の吹き替えを見る必要もないし。 アメリカ人でオリジナルのドラゴンボール吹き替えに文句言う人って、日本人がシンプソンズのバートの声に文句言うのと同じような感じだと思う。なんで男なのに女が吹き替えしてるんだ？って。仮にバートが高校卒業したシーンがあったとして（大人体形の悟空初登場は19歳）、大人の男だから声優変えろ！って言っているようなもの。アメリカに一度も住んだことのない日本人が言っていると想像してもらえれば、いかにアメリカ人がオリジナルの悟空に文句言っているのが多くの日本人にとって鬱陶しいことかわかってもらえると思う。

[@lightskitty]

I think most comments are very positive. Some of the bad reactions probably come from the voices being significantly different, newer English dubs usually take more efforts to retain the feel of the original, but the DB dub is different (especially earlier in the series). An example would be that the eng and jp dubs for Naruto (the character) have a much more similar vocal tone and range, so people don't feel like they're being presented a fundamentally different character to the original.

[@CCootauco]

"I'll go to the big city, and voice magical girls and princesses!" Toei: "The best we can do is a global shonen icon"

[@MrDdz]

Damn, nice vid. Hope your channel blows up soon.

[@ayakuweb]

@@MrDdz Thanks so much!

[@marioreds7826]

I figure they sometimes choose women to voice male characters when the audience is mostly young kids, so a character sounding like them is more relatable than if he sounded like an adult man.

[@calebmaybin6896]

Dr. Kureha

[@FreedomFighterAsuka]

What a great story. Masako Nozawa is a legend.

[@kibayaiba3893]

She is the goat❤

[@dylanbhunnoo7061]

Algorithm recommended, glad it did! Excellent video!

[@kevchangu]

I'm not really crazy about celebrities and "influencers" but for her and some other seiyuus, it's different. I really want to meet her, but it's sounds impossible!

[@yanb7700]

thanks for making this, i always wanted to know about her, and u were the first one to give me knowledage about her

[@theveryproudmoroccan2834]

Thank You Toriyama sensei...

[@Ayush_aj]

Now I am more excited for daima

[@pixelartgamergirl]

This is great thank you so much for creating this ❤

[@NaikaVideo]

Great video once again Ayaku! Learned a ton about Nozawa here!

[@SolarisMoon777]

A legend of anime 🐉

[@goten3965]

that "take care of goku" line made me tear up and i almost never tear up

[@camrong5680]

THE MVP THATS WHY SHES THE GOAT THE GOOOOOAAAAAATTT

[@ReddieEddie]

She so amazing and I hope her the best in everything she does. Plus, my friend Reese loves her voice☺️ Thanks for all that you do🎉

[@AlirezaR5]

Her voice is really good

[@coisasnatv]

If we could translate the maneirisms of how "Goku" speaks, he would sound like a mixture of Larry the Cable Guy and Jeff Foxworthy.

[@alanmanrick5593]

I can’t imagine her power up screaming.

[@thecatrizable]

Im gonna miss akira toriyama😭

[@superpaytonmars8852]

Ah, Goku's a sweet old lady.😂

[@mansoorsaleh5731]

She is the best ❤

[@Pyro3009]

When you wanna voice sailor moon but Goku visits you first

[@armandogarcia93]

Born to Shojo, forced to Shonen ✌️😔

[@Dataism]

Can't believe she was working before ww2

[@gibbygibbstein7858]

Wanted to be a princess but became a queen instead 😭🙏

[@SiriusV23]

In this documentary about Voice of Goku, you don't get to hear Voice of Goku.

[@Skkia]

2:59 she looks like the guy that played Light yagami in death note live action And another thing you missed her being the voice of goku black Her voice for goku black was peak

[@David_Overlap]

R122… “Heh, rizz.” 0:07

[@Maanjiro_g]

born to be a pookie, destined to be a warrior 😂

[@Axedroid]

That ending comment 😢

[@500938ful]

What if you wanted to be a princess But God said, "Hey, it's me! Goku!"

[@pauloazuela8488]

The moment Toriyama says she sounds like "Goku" , is already an indicator of a goat she'll become. I do like EN dub Goku but every time in Super whenever Goku goes goofy it irritates me not because of Sean but the sound is very indicative that isn't what Toriyama did but Masako managed to still make it like this is something Goku would say despite the author not being Toriyama. It makes sense now , "Take care of Goku" holds

[@GenJuhru]

_But I love me some money._ -Mr.Krabbs

[@czms922]

Wild how life changes

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

A nice background story thanks.

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

I accept her as Goku now the goat.

[@bearVshark100]

I didn’t know that my country tried to blow up the voice of Goku in the 40s. She’s so much older than I thought.

[@_dexx7]

*Wished to be a princess became the hope of the universe/the super saiyan*

[@bobbyboucher-mt2kz]

AMAZING VIDEO!

[@hishamulhadi17]

she went from a princess from one of the strongest character in fiction

[@justapassingthrubystander8735]

" But can he beat my grandma tho? "

[@Solisium-Channel]

I love her! She’s the princess of my favorite character aside from Rem from RE: Zero.

[@bobbyboucher-mt2kz]

THE QUEEN

[@SheepLock]

now I understand why I'm (and a lot of people) so interested in Gura's voice, she has very an usual accent on her debut day, it's not the typical american, in fact I wasn't even sure if Gura is from America. Her voice (dialect) is just very intriguing. I'm guessing she was trying to hide her identity. Bottom line if you want to attract people I guess try to speak with particular dialect / accent.

[@Ayush_aj]

Masako nozawa 🐐🙏🏽

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Awesome DBZ voice actor!

[@PeterSkaOi]

She is Goku. My ears are hurting if im forced to watch or play anything from DBZ in the Englisch Version. The German version is fine but we never get the games dubbed

[@miguellopes7627]

I grew up with the portuguese dub, where goku is voiced by a man from DB to Super, so in anime even if it takes years I'll wait for the portuguese Dub, but on videogames where that isn't an option I have to changed the voices to english, the japanese dub just doesn't sound right for what I'm used to

[@Buddyboi633]

Yeah you absolutely bugging If you really think that. English dub is way better 💯 especially sean his a way better goku

[@PeterSkaOi]

@@Buddyboi633 what?

[@Buddyboi633]

@@PeterSkaOi are you illiterate that was pretty easy to read or are you just acting slow on purpose?

[@Buddyboi633]

@@PeterSkaOi that was really easy to read if you actually don’t get it then you need to start learning how to read

[@stephvondames6369]

She wanted to play as a princess but ended up as a spiky-haired fighter and a Red Dinosaur, now that's ironically funny.

[@muayboran6111]

There's a video proving that Goku is a princess

[@boxinaboxfullofboxes]

but can he beat goku? "my grandma is goku"

[@corkystorky]

I slept until it's goku's part, do we really have to backtrack to the times of the dinosaurs?

[@turbomoisty]

Personally I think they should’ve got somebody different to voice Gohan and Bardock. But hey, props to her for voicing these characters for this long

[@donaldpetersen2382]

Luffy's English VA being a woman is OP continuing yet another dragon ball legacy.

[@user-ne6gh5hp9p]

Indeed, she has not been able to hide her age-related decline over the past few years. But her performance at the time of the Z broadcast was truly god like..

[@supamilkplays3706]

how many ppl here know she was Manerva(probably saying it wrong but whatever)the Witch from 5 Lion??? I had a great time hearing her voice in that classic show.... also she has been chicks in short series before but she just happened to be the va for one of Japans longest running shows so I wouldn't take anything she says serious... and besides she purposefully wears her hair like Ronald McDonald so yeah....

[@sassuki]

It's not "the Universe", but "God".

[@TallWartortle]

BIG BUFF MEN WITH SQUEEKY GIRL VOICES!!!! welcome to japan!

[@grandsaga]

Tears, bro.

[@real_Pinoy]

woman voice Luffy, Bart Simpson and many more Characters

[@captainmalice]

Born to Shoujo Forced to Shounen

[@CucukocokTobeyi]

The father of shounen to booth

[@NameTag00]

Well, technically she voiced a dude who married a princess so he's a Prince

[@miadatenshi9903]

She could have been a Precure

[@darkflame5821]

to be fair, goku married chichi which is the daughter of the ox-king, so chichi is then a princess, and goku married in, therefore he should be a prince. Extremely close, but wrong gender I'm afraid.

[@snuuy0]

2:58 O EM GEE KUGISAKI NOBARA

[@sigmaforte2903]

the dialect of an alien race.