Japanese Voice Actor Furuya Tooru's Affair with Woman 37 Years Younger
Relationship Over 4 Years... Assault and Forced Abortion Shock
Fans Outraged by Character Use... Flood of Calls for Withdrawal
Japanese veteran voice actor Furuya Tooru (70), known for roles in "Detective Conan," "Mobile Suit Gundam," and "One Piece," has shocked the public by revealing an affair with a fan 37 years his junior. On the 22nd, Japan's Shukan Bunshun reported that "Furuya maintained an extramarital affair with female fan A for four and a half years, during which he committed acts of assault and forced abortion."
In 2019, Furuya first contacted A via text message after receiving a fan letter from her through her agency. They continued meeting at hotels and Furuya’s villa, but in 2021, after A informed him of her pregnancy, his attitude reportedly changed drastically. Furuya pressured A to have an abortion and committed acts of violence, including physical assault.
On the 22nd, Furuya posted a statement on his social media acknowledging the affair. He said, “I was involved in an extramarital relationship with a female fan for a long period of four and a half years until September last year. During our relationship, I once raised my hand unintentionally during an argument. It was the worst act as an adult and as a human being.” He also admitted, “I committed an unforgivable wrong by forcing an abortion. I sincerely apologize for deeply hurting the woman’s body and mind,” fully acknowledging the reported details.
He apologized to animation fans and industry personnel, saying, “I betrayed the trust of fans who have supported me for a long time, disappointed and hurt them, and tarnished the characters I portrayed. No apology is enough. I broke trust and caused great trouble.”
Furuya is a leading Japanese voice actor who has played famous characters for over 60 years since his childhood acting days. He has voiced iconic roles such as Amuro Ray in "Mobile Suit Gundam," Tuxedo Mask in "Sailor Moon," Yamcha in "Dragon Ball," and Sabo in "One Piece." He married fellow voice actress Majima Satomi in 1985 and has a daughter.
Fans are outraged that Furuya used the characters he voiced in his affair with A. Videos released by Shukan Bunshun show Furuya whispering love to A in the voice of Amuro Tooru from "Detective Conan." He also performed as Sabo from "One Piece" in front of A.
On social media, reactions include, “I don’t want to watch ‘Detective Conan’ anymore,” “This is too shocking. Violence and forced abortion cannot be overlooked,” and “How can a voice actor use characters as tools for an affair?”
With Furuya’s admission of the affair, attention is focused on whether voice actor replacements will be made for his ongoing roles. Amid demands from fans for his removal, Furuya’s official website server reportedly crashed at one point.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
