Kaneto Shiozawa

Toshikazu Shiozawa (Japanese: 塩沢 敏一 , romanized: Shiozawa Toshikazu , January 28, 1954 – May 10, 2000), better known by the stage name Kaneto Shiozawa (Japanese: 塩沢 兼人 , romanized: Shiozawa Kaneto ), was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Tokyo. At the time of his death, he was attached to Aoni Production. He had a distinctive calm, aristocratic-sounding voice, which often typecast him as villainous or anti-heroic strategists and intellectuals. His stage name originated from the Japanese director Kaneto Shindō. He was best known for his performances as Rei in Fist of the North Star, M'Quve in Gundam, Buriburizaemon in Crayon Shin-chan, D in Vampire Hunter D, Cyborg Ninja in Metal Gear, Paul von Oberstein in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Devimon in Digimon, Prince Demande in Sailor Moon, Vega in Street Fighter, R. Ichiro Tanaka from Kyūkyoku Chōjin R, Inspector Ninzaburo Shiratori from Detective Conan, Zato-1 in Guilty Gear, Hyo Imawano in Rival Schools and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.

Shiozawa graduated from Nihon University Second Senior High School, where he learned to perform in its art department.

On May 9, 2000, at 4pm, Shiozawa fell down the stairs of his home in Shinjuku, Tokyo, claiming that there were no injuries found on him, he insisted that he was fine. 6 hours later, at 10pm, Shiozawa's body condition suddenly changed, he collapsed and was rushed to the Tokyo Medical University Hospital; he died of a cerebral contusion at 12am on May 10, at the age of 46. Fellow voice actor Hidekatsu Shibata was one of the attendees at his funeral. Shiozawa's ongoing roles were replaced by other voice actors after his death.

Hikaru Midorikawa said, "Kaneto Shiozawa was my hero."

Due to his death, two of the characters he played (Zato-1 from Guilty Gear and Hyo from Rival Schools) were killed off in-universe. Zato-1 was replaced by the shadow parasite Eddie (voiced by Takehito Koyasu), who took over Zato's body following his death until Guilty Gear Xrd.