Tensai Bakabon and Unico in the Island of Magic voice actor Ryūji Saikachi passed away in a Tokyo hospital on September 29 due to congestive heart failure. He was 89.

Saikachi was born in Tokyo in 1928. He voiced the role of the old engineer in Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky film in 1986. He played major roles in anime such as Anne of Green Gables (Matthew Cuthbert), Unico in the Island of Magic (Rocking Horse), Paranoia Agent (Old Person), 3x3 Eyes Seima Densetsu (Tinzin), Mermaid Forest (Dr. Shiina), and Tensai Bakabon (Rerere no Ojisan).

He has played minor roles in more than 80 anime projects, including Yū Yū Hakusho (Dr. Ichigaki), Galaxy Express 999 (Bartender), Dragon Ball Z (Grand Kai), Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honnêamise (Professor Ronta), Roujin Z (Old Man A / Hacker), Wolf's Rain, Tokyo Godfathers, Fūsen no Doratarō, Yadamon, Little Women II Jo's Boys, Rurouni Kenshin, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee, Night on the Galactic Railroad, Monster, Coo: Tōi Umi kara Kita Coo, and Gegege no Kitarō.

As a dub actor, he played roles in Japanese dubs of Disney films, such as Rafiki in The Lion King. He reprised the role for the Kingdom Hearts II video game. He also did dub work for foreign live-action shows and narrated commercials.

Image via Theater Echo Agency

Source: Oricon via Otakomu