Yamazaki Wakana, the voice actor of the well-known Japanese animation "Detective Conan" heroine Mouri Ran, passed away due to illness on April 18, 2026 at the age of 61. On May 15, his agency Qingji Production officially released this obituary, and the news immediately detonated the animation circle.
Yamazaki Wakana has been voicing the heroine Mouri Ran since the TV animation "Detective Conan" was launched in 1996. It has been nearly 30 years. Not only did she participate in the dubbing of all the series, but she also lent her voice to all previous theatrical versions, never missing, and can be called the most important "soul voice" of the character. In February this year, she suspended her dubbing work due to physical discomfort and entered a state of recuperation. However, her agency announced that she unfortunately passed away despite all-out treatment. In accordance with the wishes of the family, the funeral has been held quietly by close relatives.
After the news was announced, "Kudo Shinichi" voice actor Yamaguchi Kappei, who had worked with Yamazaki and Kana for nearly 30 years, posted a message on the platform to express his condolences. He wrote:
"When I heard the obituary, my first reaction was 'It's a lie, right?' There was a hole in my heart, and only the sound of my heartbeat echoed in my head. Wakana-chan's obituary was really shocking... Although my mind and heart are still in chaos, I believe that doing my best to complete the performance in front of me at this moment is the best consolation for her. I will work hard with this belief."
Similarly, Gosho Aoyama, the original author of "Detective Conan", left a message saying: "The voice that has been by my side as a matter of course and that makes people feel safe and gentle can no longer be heard... It is really sad."
Yamazaki and Kana's continuous interpretation of the role of Maori Ran has accompanied the childhood and youth of countless viewers. After the news of her death due to illness came out, animation fans around the world expressed their condolences on social platforms and recalled the hero behind the scenes who gave the heroine a gentle and strong voice.
