The Fall of an Anime Icon: Toru Furuya’s Descent into Scandal

The anime community was left reeling last month when allegations surfaced about legendary voice actor Toru Furuya’s involvement with a fan. The scandal has led to Furuya stepping down from his iconic roles in Detective Conan and One Piece, leaving fans wondering what’s next for the embattled voice actor.

The face of anime’s latest scandal

Furuya’s fall from grace began when an interview with Weekly Bunshun 1 revealed his four-and-a-half-year affair with a fan, which included physical abuse and pressure to abort a pregnancy. The news sent shockwaves through the anime community, with fans and industry insiders alike calling for accountability.

The consequences of Furuya’s actions were swift and severe. His talent agency, Aoni Production, announced that he would no longer be playing the roles of Toru Amuro in Detective Conan and Sabo in One Piece. This decision is likely to have far-reaching implications, affecting not only the anime television series but also other extensions of the IP, such as audiobooks and video games.

Furuya has apologized for the burden he has placed on others due to his selfish actions, stating that stepping down from these roles is the only way he can make amends to those involved in the series and to his fans.

A franchise left reeling by Furuya’s departure

The future looks bleak for Furuya, with Atlus, the video game development company behind the Persona series, also announcing that he will no longer be involved in their upcoming role-playing game, Metaphor: ReFantazio. His X account has been deactivated, and it remains to be seen whether he will make a comeback.

As the anime community grapples with the fallout of Furuya’s scandal, one thing is clear: the consequences of his actions will be felt for a long time to come.

A beloved franchise left to pick up the pieces