The industry legend passed due to a heart attack.
Japanese talent agency Apte Pro announced on their official website yesterday, 28 August, that company president, CEO, and voice actor Takaya Kato, professionally Takaya Hashi, passed away due to a sudden and fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack) just this Wednesday, 27 August. He was 72 years old.
Takaya Kato remembered for voice acting legacy
Born on 8 September, 1952 in Tokyo, Hashi was first a theatre actor of the Seinenza Theatre Company before stepping into the anime voice acting sphere. He also appeared in television dramas, and performed dub work for Hollywood films.
Hashi is best remembered for his deep and charismatic voice, having taken on the role of Toki in the original 1984 anime adaptation of Fist of the North Star. His other notable roles include:
- James Black, Detective Conan: Case Closed
- Teddy Bomber, Cowboy Bebop
- Shirosuke Inudo, Golden Kamuy
- Dogstorm, One Piece
- Kakuzu, Naruto
- Pharaoh 90, Sailor Moon Crystal
Hashi voice acted even through his retirement, and as recently as 2022 had the role of Vearn from Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai. He was also the voice of Donovan Desmond in Spy x Family, which is set to return with Season 3 this October.
He also voiced in two Original Net Animations (ONA), as Gerry Strydum in Baki Hanma, and James Moriarty in Fate/Grand Carnival.
Hashi also did voice work for video games, most notably featuring in titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Uncharted 4, to name a few.
