Danica Davidson
October 4, 2024 
Dragon Ball Daima will debut very soon. And while it will bring back many beloved characters from the Dragon Ball franchise, there is going to be one major voice change in the Japanese version. That’s because Yamcha, who has been played by Toru Furuya since 1986, will be played by Ryota Suzuki going forward.
The official Dragon Ball Daima site put out this statement:
The decision has been made to recast the voice of Yamcha, a role which has been played by Toru Furuya in the Dragon Ball series for many years. Starting with Episode 1 of Dragon Ball Daima, which will air on October 11, the character will be voiced by Ryota Suzuki.
The statement did not say why Furuya was being replaced, but it doubtless has to due with a scandal in his personal life. Furuya, who has also voiced Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon and Sabo in One Piece, confessed he’d been having a years-long affair with not just any random woman, but with a fan of his. Part of the scandal is that Furuya is a married man — and has been since before he started playing Yamcha. Part of the scandal also involves the abusive details of the affair. Furuya confessed he hit his girlfriend. After she got pregnant, he pushed her into getting an abortion she didn’t want to get.
As part of the repercussions from the business world, Furuya also no longer has his roles as Sabo in One Piece or as Toru in Detective Conan (a.k.a. Case Closed).
Suzuki, meanwhile, has voiced Red in Banished from the Hero’s Party, Junichi Wanima in BLUE LOCK, and Yūichi Kurosawa in Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!, among other roles.
Crunchyroll gave this description for Dragon Ball Daima:
Dragon Ball Daima Plot
Dragon Ball DAIMA: Due to a conspiracy, Goku and his friends are turned small. What sort of adventure awaits Goku, Supreme Kai, and the new characters Glorio and Panzy in this unknown world, the “Demon Realm”?
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
