Akiko Yajima Steps Down From Crayon Shin-chan's Title Role After 26 Years

The official website for the Crayon Shin-chan anime announced on Friday that voice actress Akiko Yajima will step down from her role as the show's protagonist Shinnosuke Nohara, after voicing the character since the show's premiere in 1992. The last episode featuring Nohara's voice acting will premiere on June 29, with the show's staff still deciding on the character's new voice cast member. The new cast member will debut in the show in July.

Yajima said that it has become more difficult for her to produce the character's voice naturally. She came to the decision to step down from the role after consulting with the anime's staff.

After the June 29 episode, Yajima will have voiced the character for 26 years and three months.

TV Asahi has been airing the Crayon Shin-chan anime based on Yoshito Usui's manga of the same name since 1992. The show is consistently one of the most watched anime series in Japan. The anime also has a series of 25 films. The latest film, Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Bakumori! Kung-Fu Boys ~Ramen Tairan~ (Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Bakumori! Kung-Fu Boys Ramen Rebellion), opened in Japan on April 13. It ranked #2 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend.