Today it was announced that Keiji Fujiwara, a veteran voice actor with an extensive resume spanning the world of Japanese anime and video games, has passed away.
Air Agency, the company that represented Fujiwara, confirmed in a post on its website that the 55-year-old voice actor succumbed after a battle with cancer that lasted several years. Between August 2016 and June 2017, the actor had taken a break from work to undergo treatment.
Fujiwara enjoyed a career as a successful seiyuu for nearly 30 years, contributing his voice to a number of well-known and beloved roles such as Axel/Lea in the Kingdom Hearts series, Ardyn in Final Fantasy 15 and, most recently, Reno in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Over the years, the actor also voiced Reno in other Final Fantasy 7 related projects including Advent Children and Crisis Core.
Outside of video games, Fujiwara was incredibly popular in Japan for his role as Hiroshi Nohara in Crayon Shin-chan. He also played Maes Hughes in Full Metal Alchemist, Ali Al-Saachez in Gundam 00, Leorio Paradinight in Hunter x Hunter 2011, and even Tony Stark as the Japanese voice of Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel movies.
In response to Fujiwara’s passing, a number of companies and other seiyuu offered their condolences and paid homage to the voice actor on social media. Arc System Works wished the actor a peaceful rest on Twitter upon hearing the news. Fujiwara had worked with the company as the voice of Kagura Mutsuki in the BlazBlue series. Toshio Furukawa, the voice of Piccolo in Dragon Ball and a longtime colleague who had worked with Fujiwara on a number of anime series, expressed his regret as well.
In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Reno is a key member of the Turks, the investigative bureau of Shinra. Along with his partner Rude, Reno serves as comic relief in the game, taking on the role of a cocky and cynical agent who takes pride in his work. During the game, players must face the pair in a fight that can prove difficult for the unprepared due to Reno's use of electricity-infused attacks and a powerful counterattack.