Unshō Ishizuka
Voice ActorVersatile voice actor known for iconic Dragon Ball roles including the divine Shenron and Mr. Popo, plus acclaimed work in Cowboy Bebop and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Dragon Ball Roles
Unshō Ishizuka voiced the divine wish-granting dragon Shenron and the enigmatic Mr. Popo across the Dragon Ball franchise. In Dragon Ball Super, he also voiced Kahseral. His deep, distinctive voice brought gravitas and otherworldly presence to these characters, especially Shenron's commanding announcements of the wishes being granted. Beyond Dragon Ball, Ishizuka's deep vocal tone made him perfect for authority figures and antagonists across numerous major anime series.
Career and Legacy
Born on May 16, 1951, in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan, Ishizuka was affiliated with Aoni Production and became a legendary voice actor known for roles like Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Kizaru in One Piece. He also voiced Professor Oak in the Pokémon anime. Ishizuka passed away on August 13, 2018, at age 67, from esophageal cancer, leaving behind an influential legacy in anime voice acting.
Related Reading
See all
Namek Has No Women, and Piccolo Pulls Anyway
There are no women on Namek. That isn't an oversight, it's the biology. Why we handed Piccolo the one thing his own species rules out, and why it had to be trap soul....
1000 Times Over: Who Is John Dragon Ball Singing To?
Dragon Ball handed us a protagonist with no history and the internet named him John Dragon Ball. So we built him somebody to talk to....
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Unshō Ishizuka in Dragon Ball?
Unshō Ishizuka is a Japanese voice actor known in the franchise as the Japanese voice of Shenron and Mr. Popo. Popo, plus acclaimed work in Cowboy Bebop and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Which Dragon Ball character did Unshō Ishizuka voice?
Unshō Ishizuka provided the Japanese voice of Shenron and Mr. Popo.
What language does Unshō Ishizuka dub Dragon Ball in?
Unshō Ishizuka dubs Dragon Ball in Japanese, working as a Japanese voice actor. Born on May 16, 1951, in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan, Ishizuka was affiliated with Aoni Production and became a legendary voice actor known for roles like Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Kizaru in One Piece.
What other anime has Unshō Ishizuka worked on?
Born on May 16, 1951, in Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan, Ishizuka was affiliated with Aoni Production and became a legendary voice actor known for roles like Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Kizaru in One Piece. He also voiced Professor Oak in the Pokémon anime. Ishizuka passed away on August 13, 2018, at age 67, from esophageal cancer, leaving behind an influential legacy in anime voice acting.
When did Unshō Ishizuka start voice acting?
Unshō Ishizuka (1951-2018) has been part of the anime voice acting industry.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Unshō Ishizuka? The Dragon Ball Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byAkira Toriyama
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byToei Animation
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Toei Animation and Shueisha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to Bandai Namco, Atari, and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Akira Toriyama.
Browse our episode guides:
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.
