Kiyoshi Kobayashi retires at 88
Voice actor for Daisuke Jigen, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, is to retire at 88 years old.
Japanese sport and entertainment magazine Sponichi Annex broke the news as part of their September 7th issue, which contains correspondence from an official spokesperson for Mr. Kobayashi. The story will be confirmed once more during a special Lupin III: Part 6 themed broadcast, which is part of NTV’s morning show tomorrow, on September 7th.
The article mentions that due to his retirement, Kobayashi is not to act as Daisuke Jigen in upcoming TV series Lupin III: Part 6. A successor is to be named at a later date.
Kanichi Kurita (left) and Kiyoshi Kobayashi (right) at the opening night of Lupin III: The First in 2019
As the only remaining member of the original Japanese voice cast, Kobayashi has been a part of the Lupin III franchise since its inception as a pilot film in 1969.
Since then, he has voiced the hatted hitman Daisuke Jigen in every iteration of the series (aside from the 1987 OVA The Fuma Conspiracy, which used a one-off voice cast).
Kobayashi has leant his talents to many other characters during his career, including Crystal Boy / Bowie from Space Adventure COBRA, Watari in Death Note, James Moriarty from Case Closed, and more. He has most recently starred as the narrator in a live-action TV drama about voice actors come detectives, named Seiyū Tantei.
A young Kiyoshi Kobayashi, from a television interview around the year 1980
Cast members set to star in the Japanese broadcast of Lupin III: Part 6 are due to be revealed in the coming days, ahead of the show’s initial broadcast on October 10th, 2021.
Kobayashi (second from right) stands with fellow cast members at the opening night of The First
While sad news to many, it was only a matter of time before Kiyoshi Kobayashi was to take a step back from his career as a voice actor. The very idea that he has been such an active and prolific member of the industry in recent years, even at the age of eighty-eight, is astonishing.
Of course, after spending fifty-three years as Daisuke Jigen, he has most certainly earned his rest.
Kobayashi’s retirement was previously discussed in late 2019, where the actor confirmed he wished to continue in the role “a little more”. It seems that with a brand-new series on the horizon, the time for the legendary actor to step down has been decided.
While it will be interesting to hear who his successor will be - for now, we would rather not speculate, and instead think back to Kobayashi’s work over the years. He has played such a fantastic part in franchises fifty-year journey, and his work will be fondly remembered for years to come.
From the pilot all the way up until Lupin III: The First, we feel confident in saying his talent never once slipped. He was, and always will be, the cool, dependable, Daisuke Jigen we know and love.
We hope that you enjoy your retirement, Mr. Kobayashi!
