Renowned Japanese voice actor Junko Hori passed away on November 18 at the age of 89. Her talent agency, Production Baobab, attributed her death to old age and announced her passing this week, respecting the wishes of her grieving family. The agency shared that the wake and funeral services were held privately for close relatives, urging fans not to visit the funeral home or send gifts.
Professional Front
Hori was best known for her iconic role as Hattori-kun in Ninja Hattori, which became one of her most celebrated performances. Alongside her anime work, she lent her voice to video game characters, including Sunakake Baba in Gegege no Kitaro and Sasuke in the Ganbare Goemon series. Her contributions extended to dubbing Western films, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and Annie Get Your Gun.
Additionally, Hori voiced Bart Simpson during the first 15 seasons of The Simpsons and brought life to Jerry in the Tom & Jerry cartoon series. Her expansive anime credits included roles in Astro Boy, Anne of Green Gables, Doraemon, Speed Racer, Tokyo Mew Mew, Super Mario Bros: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach, and The Adventures of Gamba, among many others.
Show: The Simpsons
Language: JapaneseRest in peace Junko Hori (1935 – 2024) pic.twitter.com/s2u0e0kGiw
— Out Of Context International Dubs (@OutOfContxtDubs) November 26, 2024
The anime community has faced multiple losses this year, including industry greats such as Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Z narrator Doc Harris, Mob Psycho art director Ryo Kono, Nobita voice actress Noriko Ohara, Doraemon voice actress Nobuyo Oyama, Natsume’s Book of Friends art director Yukihiro Shibutani, and My Hero Academia singer Sayuri. Hori’s passing adds to the heartbreak felt by fans worldwide.
Rest in peace to legendary voice actress Junko Hori 🙏
Her voice acting performances in Mach GoGoGo / Speed Racer anime as the voice actress of Kurio Mifune which is her 1st major role in an anime program was the best #マッハGoGoGo#SpeedRacer #堀絢子https://t.co/H2ZcFIf8kD pic.twitter.com/A9Ny33wyvO— Koneko Retro Video Gamer 🐯 (@PPRetroGamer) November 25, 2024
Junko Hori’s Legacy Celebrated on Social Media
Anime enthusiasts have taken to social media to share heartfelt tributes and memories of Hori’s beloved characters, particularly Hattori-kun. One fan wrote, “Thank you for making my childhood Ninja Hattori. Hope you have a safe peaceful trip to heaven🙇 Thank you Hori san.”
Another shared, “Rest in Peace, Junko Hori, Ninja Hattori will always be in my heart, and I will always sing the opening whenever I climb the mountain or sailing through the sea.”
A third fan expressed, “Thank you Junko Hori for being the mechanical ninja we all loved. Thank you for being part of our very special memories.. ~ de gozaru. Hopefully, the legend of karakuri Sasuke will continue. Ganbare Konami.”
Junko Hori’s contributions to the world of anime, gaming, and entertainment will remain etched in the hearts of fans forever. Rest in peace, Junko Hori.
