Isamu Tanonaka (田の中 勇, Tanonaka Isamu, July 19, 1932 – January 13, 2010) was a Japanese voice actor from Taitō, Tokyo. He was best known for voicing Medama Oyaji in nearly every adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitarō made during his lifetime.
During his life he had been attached to Gekidan Tōgei and then Theatre Echo; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. He had a naturally deep voice but became famous for voicing characters with a high pitched voice. In addition to GeGeGe no Kitarō, he also had prominent roles in Tensai Bakabon (as the first voice of Honkan-san), Mazinger Z (as Mucha), Paul's Miraculous Adventure (as Doppe), Magical Princess Minky Momo (as Sindbook), Akuma-kun (as Youaltepuztli), Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (as Gara and Akira Toriyama), Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken (as Brass), and the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series (as Igor).
In 1968, he was cast in the first GeGeGe no Kitarō anime as the title character's father Medama Oyaji, an anthropomorphic eyeball. He reprised the role, alongside co-stars Masako Nozawa (Kitarō) and Chikao Ōtsuka (Nezumi-Otoko), in the 1971 follow up color series. When it came time for the 1980s series the producers decided to go with an all new voice cast, but auditions for Medama Oyaji came up short so Tanonaka was asked to reprise the role yet again. From there he continued to voice the character in practically every adaptation made during his lifetime, the sole exception being the PS2 games from the early 2000s, in which the role was given to Kazuo Kumakura, and a single episode of the '68 series where Hiroshi Ōtake filled in for him. Tanonaka even performed the voice of Medama Oyaji for the live action adaptations, and also appeared on many variety shows and in many commercials as the character. In 2008, he reunited with Nozawa and Ōtsuka to reprise their respective roles for the darker Kitarō adaptation Hakaba Kitarō. As Medama Oyaji is actually the reanimated form of Kitarō's deceased father, the character was voiced by Daisuke Gōri when he appeared alive in the first episode.
On January 13, 2010, he suffered a heart attack in his Tokyo home and was found dead by family members. He was 77 years old at the time of his death. His final performance was in Marie & Gali as the voice of Leonardo da Vinci. Memorial services were held in Tokyo Memolead Hall on January 19, 2010. He is survived by his older brother Hiroshi.
After Tanonaka's death, his roles were taken over by the following:
Takeshi Aono - Kitarō: The Journey to Find Happiness (Medama Oyaji), Marie & Gali 2.0 (da Vinci)Ryōichi Tanaka - Dragon Ball: Raging Blast and subsequent media (Elder Kai)Bin Shimada - Mizuki Shigeru no GeGeGe no Kaidan (Medama Oyaji)Yuji Mitsuya - Digimon Adventure (Piximon), Star Wars (Jar Jar Binks)Yasuhiko Kawazu - Chibi Maruko-chan (Fuyuta's Grandpa)Takumi Yamazaki - Dragon Ball Heroes (Bibidi)Naoki Tatsuta - Dragon Ball Z Kai (Bibidi)1964Zero Sen Hayato (Ichihisō Hosokawa)1965Kaitō Pride (Scope)Obake no Q-tarō (TBS edition) (Shōta's Papa)1967Punpunmaru (Gatekeeper, Narrator)1968Akane-chan (Kadomatsu)Animal 1 (Tōgorō)GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)1969Hakushon Daimaō (Kan-chan's Papa)Sazae-san (Ceiling Mouse)1970Ashita no Joe (Miss Oyama (episode 35))1971GeGeGe no Kitarō (second series) (Medama Oyaji)Kunimatsu-sama no Otōridai (Odeko)Tensai Bakabon (Honkan-san)1972Mazinger Z (Mucha)1973Cutie Honey (Saint Chapel Academy Principal)Wansa-kun (Roro)1975UFO Robo Grendizer (Mucha)1976Paul no Miracle Daisakusen (Doppe)1978Ginga Tetsudō 999 (President Derumukade (episode 38))Majokko Tickle (Ago)1979Cyborg 009 (Loki, Doctor Rōson)Ginga Tetsudō 999 (Kokku (episode 53))1980Haero Bun Bun (Big)Moero Arthur Hakuba no Ōji (Sandee)1981Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (Gara, Toriyama (Tori Robo), Annai Obake, Dodongadon, Villager, Crow Leader)Shin Taketori Monogatari: Sennen Joō (Ramen-monger's uncle)Yattodetaman (Chairman)1982Gyakuten! Ippatsuman (Urashima)Mahō no Princess Minky Momo (Sindbook)Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron (Beauty Artist)1983Itadakiman (Nika)Manga Nihonshi (Sesshū)1985GeGeGe no Kitarō (third series) (Medama Oyaji)1987Dragon Ball (Gara)1989Akuma-kun (Youaltepuztli)Dragon Ball Z (Raichi (episodes 40-44))Gakiden (Father)Peter Pan no Bōken (Ton Chihōte)Ranma ½: Nettōhen (Nikuman #2)1991Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken (Brass)Getter Robo Gō (Doctor Tama)1992Crayon Shin-chan (Saint)1993Kenyū Densetsu Yaiba (Obaba)1995Bonobono (Kuzuri-kun's Father)Dragon Ball Z (Bibidi (episode 277))1996Elf wo Karumono-tachi (Jii-chan Elf)GeGeGe no Kitarō (fourth series) (Medama Oyaji)1999Digimon Adventure (Pikkoromon)2000Pocket Monsters (Old Man Tsubo)2002Final Fantasy: Unlimited (Frog Hermit (episode 17))2003One Piece (Shōjō)2007GeGeGe no Kitarō (fifth series) (Medama Oyaji)2008Hakaba Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)Negibōsu no Asatarō (Jii-san)Persona: Trinity Soul (Igor)2009Marie & Gali (Leonardo da Vinci)2011Persona 4: The Animation (Igor, archived audio)2014Persona 4: The Golden Animation (Igor, archived audio)Bokuha Ōsama series (Cabinet Minister Wan)Haja Taisei Dangaiō (Shoulder Clown)Tengai Makyō: Jiraiya Oboro Hen (Oboke)Dr. Slump (Gara)GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Daikaijū (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Daihanran (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Obake Nighter (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!! (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daisensō (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Tokkyū! Maboroshi no Kishu (Medama Oyaji)Gekijōban: GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu (Medama Oyaji)Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishōgun (Mucha)Mazinger Z tai Devilman (Mucha)Nagagutsu o Haita Neko (Killer B)Nagagutsu Sanjūshi (Killer B)Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Hachijū Nichi-kan Sekaiisshū (Killer B)One Piece: Negimaki Jima no Bōken (Boo Jack)Persona 3 The Movie: No. 1, Spring of Birth (2013) (Igor, archived audio)Persona 3 The Movie: No. 2, Midsummer Knight's Dream (Igor, archived audio)Palme no Ki (Zakuro)Ultraman USA (Ulysses)Urusei Yatsura: Itsudatte My Darling (Commanding Officer)Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (Rō Kaiōshin)Dragon Ball Z 3 (Rō Kaiōshin)Dragon Ball Z Sparking! (Rō Kaiōshin)Dragon Ball Z Sparking! Meteor (Rō Kaiōshin)Dragon Knight II (Pharmacist)GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji)GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Daiundōkai (Medama Oyaji)Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (Farmer)One Piece Grand Battle! 3 (Shōjō)Persona 3 (Igor, Mister Ekoda)Persona 4 (Igor)Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena (Igor, archived audio)Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold (Igor, archived audio)Persona 5 (Igor, archived audio)Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (Bara Baby)Bewitched ("Daddy Comes for a Visit", "Darrin the Warlock") (Silas Bliss Junior)Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Grand Nagus Zek)Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Jar Jar Binks)Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (Jar Jar Binks)Alice in Wonderland (TBS edition) (The King of Hearts, The Dormouse)Aladdin (TV series) (Aziz)The Flintstones (Barney Rubble)One Hundred and One Dalmatians (Old edition) (Pongo)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Video edition) (Krang)Top Cat (Officer Dibble)GeGeGe no Kitarō (Medama Oyaji (voice))GeGeGe no Kitarō: Sennen Noroi Uta (Medama Oyaji (voice))Seishun Adventure ("Fengshen Yanyi") (NHK-FM) (Yúnzhōngzǐ)Gakkō no Kaidan (Trailer voice-over)Kitaro ga Mita Gyokusai - Mizuki Shigeru no Senso (2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice)Masudaya Corporation Mōrā commercial (1975) (Mōrā (voice))Nep League (May 7, 2007) (Medama Oyaji's voice)
