The One
Piece anime has officially announced a major casting change for one of its
central characters. Kazuhiko Inoue has been confirmed as the new voice actor
for Monkey D. Dragon, replacing Hidekatsu Shibata, who has stepped down from
the role at the age of 88.
The
announcement was made in mid-July 2025, with fans quickly reacting to the
change. While Shibata’s departure has not been formally labeled as a
retirement, it is widely regarded as the conclusion of his long-standing career
in voice acting.
“Kazuhiko
Inoue officially replaces Hidekatsu Shibata as the voice of adult Monkey D.
Dragon. Shibata, now 88, is believed to have retired,” stated a post by
anime news source @pewpiece on Instagram.
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The
change comes as One Piece prepares to enter a major narrative arc
centered on the Revolutionary Army—a storyline in which Dragon is expected to
play a significantly larger role. As the series approaches the climax of its
final saga, the casting transition signals the production team's efforts to
maintain the strength and appeal of key characters.
Kazuhiko
Inoue is a veteran Japanese voice actor with a career spanning over five
decades. He is best known for voicing prominent anime characters such as
Kakashi Hatake in Naruto, Kars in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,
Nyanko-sensei in Natsume’s Book of Friends, and Hatori Sohma in the 2001
version of Fruits Basket.
Early
reactions from fans have been largely positive. Inoue’s mature yet sharp vocal
tone is seen as a fitting match for Dragon’s role as the enigmatic and
charismatic leader of the Revolutionary Army. Many believe he will bring both
authority and emotional depth to the character as the story unfolds.
Monkey
D. Dragon was first introduced during the Loguetown arc, where he aided Luffy
in escaping from Marine Captain Smoker. Known as the “Revolutionary Dragon,” he
is the supreme commander of the Revolutionary Army and the world’s most wanted
man. Once a Marine, he left the organization after becoming disillusioned with
its concept of justice following the Ohara Incident.
Since
then, Dragon has openly opposed the World Government and has worked for over 30
years to overthrow it. As the leader of a powerful global resistance force, he
commands influential figures such as Sabo and five elite army commanders—all of
whom have demonstrated significant strength in battle.
Although
Dragon’s own combat skills remain mostly unseen, his mysterious presence and
the unexplained gusts of wind that accompany him have fueled speculation about
the true extent of his power. Notably, he once stopped Smoker’s attack on Luffy
without direct confrontation, and he has appeared seemingly out of nowhere to
save others, such as when he rescued Sabo from drowning near Dawn Island.
The
voice actor transition marks a pivotal moment for the One Piece anime as
it delves deeper into its final saga. With major conflicts and hidden truths
about the World Government set to be revealed, Dragon’s expanded role will be
crucial—and Kazuhiko Inoue’s performance will play a key part in bringing this
legendary character to life.
SEVENKIX ANIME
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