Toshio Furukawa

Toshio Furukawa (古川 登志夫, Furukawa Toshio, born July 16, 1946 in Ōhira, Tochigi) is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production. Being the youngest of 15 siblings, he moved to Tokyo to pursue a career in stage acting and attended Nihon University. He eventually switched to voice acting in 1974 and married his colleague Shino Kakinuma. The couple have owned two Shih Tzus named after some of Furukawa's notable roles.

His hobbies are collecting action figures, constructing dioramas, reading, and sports fishing. He is also skilled in stage combat and guitar playing, the latter of which he made use of during his stint with Slapstick, a band that consisted of him, Toru Furuya, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Yūji Mitsuya, and Akio Nojima.

During his formative years, Furukawa was inspired to join a theater troupe after reading a pamphlet his brother had given him. When his parents disapproved his chosen profession, it took him great effort to change their minds and allow him to follow his own dreams. Another challenge he struggled with early on was overcoming his native dialect which constantly interfered with his work. He looked up to the late Ichiro Nagai as his mentor and in turn influenced other voice actors like Kishow Taniyama and Nobutoshi Canna.

Known for his passionate, comedic, or stoic roles, Furukawa has lent his baritone voice to a wide variety of characters over the years. He is credited for voicing Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura, Piccolo in the Dragon Ball series, and Kagege in Sgt. Frog.

Works

 * Pang Tong - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CDs, Kessen II
 * Jann Lee - Dead or Alive 1~4
 * Taishi Ci - Kessen II
 * Kai Shiden - Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series; reprise of his role in Mobile Suit Gundam
 * Portgas D. Ace - One Piece: Pirate Warriors series; reprise of his role in the anime
 * Ieyasu Tokugawa - CR Sengoku no Arashi ~Nobunaga no Shou~