Kazuki Yao, the voice behind Franky in One Piece, sent shockwaves across the manga and anime fandom when he announced he was leaving the role. This has naturally made fans curious as to why Yao is departing the fan-favorite series. Has he found new opportunities or there’s some other reason behind the exit?
Here is what we have learned.
Why One Piece’s Kazuki Yao is leaving as the voice of Franky
Kazuki Yao revealed a huge disconnect between him and the ideal portrayal of Franky as the reason for his departure from the role on X (formerly Twitter).
Yao called his departure “sad” and “frustrating.” He also apologized to fans for leaving but assured them of a “super replacement” for the role.
This post garnered over 20 million views, as of writing. Many fans expressed sadness at his departure but also thanked him for his portrayal.
“Thank you for all that of your hard work and amazing voice acting for Franky and other characters,” one fan wrote. “You will truly be missed,” they added.
“Thank you for everything! Your voice brought Franky to life in a special way and made us happy over the years. You have touched the hearts of fans, and we will always remember you. We will miss you a lot, and we wish you the best!” another fan tweeted.
Yao’s successor in the role of Franky will be revealed on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at Jump Festa 2025’s Super Stage RED event, according to the official One Piece X account. They also mentioned that a graduation ceremony would be held to honor Yao’s portrayal.
Besides Franky, Yao also lent his voice to Bon Clay and Jango. As a voice actor, Yao’s other credits include Initial D, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, and Rance the Animation.
Fans had been concerned since earlier this year for Franky’s health and his portrayal of the character. Japanese website Josei Jishin had brought to people’s notice via a post (later translated on Reddit), Kazuki Yao’s troubles voicing Franky and that he could not articulate his lines as well as he used to before. However, whether this had anything to do with Yao’s departure remains unclear.
