A memorial service for voice actress Nobuyo Oyama (90 years old at the time of her death), known for her role as Doraemon in the popular anime series " Doraemon " and who passed away last September, was held in Tokyo on September 29th. Voice actress Michiko Nomura gave a farewell speech and remembered Oyama, with whom she co-starred as Shizuka Minamoto (Shizuka-chan) in the anime series " Doraemon ."
Nomura said, "Nobuyo Oyama, the last time I saw you was 12 years ago at my husband's wake. The moment our eyes met, you ran over to me and hugged me, saying, 'That must have been hard.' When I talk about you, the warmth of that time comes back to me." Recalling memories of a trip the three of them went on together with the late Noriko Obara, who played Nobita Nobita in " Doraemon ," Nomura said, "Peko-san (nickname for Oyama) was a reliable, kind, and caring older sister."
"I've gotten to a good age now. It's no exaggeration to say that I have the life I have today because of Doraemon. I'd like to thank Fujimoto (Hiroshi) sensei, who drew Doraemon, all the people involved in making it into a film, Gian, Suneo, and, as always, you as Doraemon, for giving me the opportunity to meet you. I'm truly grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.
After the memorial service, Nomura, who was interviewed, said in Shizuka's voice, "Peko-chan, thank you so much for all these years. I still miss you."
The memorial service was organized by Sandayu Dokumamushi and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi and was held on September 29th, the first anniversary of Oyama's death. Other attendees included voice actors Masako Nozawa , Mari Shimizu, Michio Usama, and current Doraemon actor Wasabi Mizuta , who plays Doraemon in the Doraemon series, as well as Yukiyo Toake and Kuniko Yamada.
Oyama was born on October 16, 1933. He played the role of Doraemon in the TV Asahi anime series for approximately 26 years, from 1979 to 2005. He was also active as an actor and essayist. He passed away on September 29, 2024.
