Masako Nozawa, the iconic voice actress who has brought Goku to life for nearly 40 years in the Dragon Ball franchise, has surprised her fans by revealing an interesting detail about her working method. In a recent interview, Nozawa confessed that she has never read the Dragon Ball manga. This decision aims to keep the surprise her character would feel when facing new enemies intact, which she considers essential for her performance.
Doesn’t want to know more than Goku
“I am one with Goku, so I would feel the same as him and I would say it bluntly: ‘What kind of villain is going to come out…?!’ If I know what is going to happen and Goku does not, it would create a sense of dissonance,” Nozawa explained. This approach allows her to remain authentic in her role and prevents the knowledge of future events from affecting her interpretation.
The actress also mentioned that in the dubbing studio she tries to avoid any type of spoiler, and that the producers respect her decision to not be aware of what is coming next in the series. This system has proven to be effective, as the audience has come to associate her voice inseparably with the character of Goku, making her an irreplaceable figure within the realm of anime.
Nozawa considers Goku as a part of herself, which makes her dedication to the character even deeper. Over the decades, her commitment to the role has not only contributed to the ongoing success of the franchise but has also left an indelible mark on pop culture and in the hearts of Dragon Ball fans around the world.
