# Ichirō Nagai

Ichirō Nagai (永井 一郎, Nagai Ichirō, May 10, 1931 – January 27, 2014) was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Ikeda, Osaka. He was previously affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society, and was affiliated with Aoni Production at the time of his death.

## Career

Nagai played GeGeGe no Kitarō's Konaki Jijii, a comic, absent-minded old yōkai man who attacks enemies by clinging to them and turning himself to stone, increasing his weight and mass immensely and pinning them down between the 60s and 80s alongside Masako Nozawa and Keiko Toda (Kitaro), Isamu Tanonaka (Medama oyaji), Chikao Ohtsuka and Kei Tomiyama (Nezumi-Otoko), Nana Yamaguchi, Yūko Mita (Neko Musume), Yoko Ogushi, Keiko Yamamoto (Sunakake Baba), Yonehiko Kitagawa, Kenji Utsumi and Yusaku Yara (Nurikabe) and Jōji Yanami, Keaton Yamada and Kōsei Tomita (Ittan Momen).
Nagai was cast as Sazae-san's character, Namihei Isono, Sazae's father and patriarch of the family in the longest running Anime in 1969 alongside co-stars Midori Katō (Sazae) and Miyoko Asō (Fune) until Chafurin filled in for him after his death.
He was cast in Urusei Yatsura as the wandering monk Cherry in 1983 alongside co-stars Toshio Furukawa (Ataru Moroboshi), Saeko Shimazu (Shinobu Miyake), Fumi Hirano (Lum) and Akira Kamiya (Shutaro Mendo).
He was cast in 1989 until 2008 in Ranma ½ as Happosai, the founder and grandmaster of Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū. He often alternates between his role as a villainous grandmaster to one as a lighthearted pervert, alongside co-stars Kappei Yamaguchi and Megumi Hayashibara (Ranma Saotome), Kenichi Ogata (Genma), Masako Ikeda (Nodoka), Noriko Hidaka (Akane Tendo), Aso (Cologne), Hirotaka Suzuoki and Kōji Tsujitani (Tatewaki Kuno), Koichi Yamadera (Ryoga Hibiki) and Hiromi Tsuru (Ukyo Kuonji).

## Death

On January 27, 2014, while recording narration for a program in Hiroshima, Nagai suffered a bout of myocardial infarction and was found by a hotel employee. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead; Nagai was 82 years old at the time of his death.

## Filmography
### Television animation

| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 1964 | Big X | Dr. Hanamaru | |
| 1968 | Cyborg 009 | Chang Changku/Cyborg 006 | |
| 1968 | GeGeGe no Kitarō | Konaki Jijii | Played this role in the 70s and 80s series as well |
| 1969 | Sazae-san | Namihei Isono, Umihei Isono | |
| 1972 | Devilman | Alphonne Louis Steinbeck III | |
| 1974 | Great Mazinger | Spectral General Hadias | |
| 1974 | Space Battleship Yamato | Dr. Sakezo Sado | |
| 1975 | Maya the Bee | Philip | |
| 1979 | Mobile Suit Gundam | Narrator, Degwin Sodo Zabi | |
| 1980 | Astro Boy | Detective Tawashi, Ham Egg (eps 2-3) | |
| 1981 | Queen Millennia | Professor Amamori | |
| 1981 | Urusei Yatsura | Cherry | |
| 1985 | GeGeGe no Kitarō | Konaki Jijii | |
| 1986 | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Cowardly Lion | |
| 1987 | Dragon Ball | Tsuru-sen'nin, Karin | |
| 1988 | Gegege no Kitaro: Jigoku Hen | Konakii Jijii | |
| 1989 | Akuma-kun | Dr. Faust | |
| 1989 | Dragon Ball Z | Karin | |
| 1989 | Ranma ½ | Happosai | |
| 1989 | Yawara! | Jigoro Inokuma | |
| 1997 | Detective Conan | Shuji Tsugawa | |
| 1998 | Master Keaton | Tahei Hiraga | |
| 2000 | Soreike! Anpanman | Furudokei-san | |
| 2001 | Detective Conan | En Kenzou | Episode 252 |
| 2001 | Pokémon | Doctor Namba | |
| 2002 | Lupin III: Episode 0: The First Contact | Detective George McFly | |
| 2003 | Pokémon Chronicles | Doctor Nanba | |
| 2004 | Detective Conan | Jirokichi Suzuki | |
| 2004 | Monster | Dr. Reichwein | |
| 2006 | Pokémon: Advanced | Dr. Nanba | Episode 176 |
| 2008 | Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl | Dr. Nanba | Episode 65 |
| 2009 | Dragon Ball Kai | Karin | |
| 2009 | Inuyasha: The Final Act | Yōreitaisei | |
| 2009 | Hajime No Ippo: New Challenger | Ginpachi Nekota | |
| 2011 | Hunter × Hunter | Isaac Netero | Episodes 6-114 |
| 2014 | Dragon Ball Kai: The Final Chapters | Karin | |

### OVA

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1985 | Vampire Hunter D | D's Left Hand |
| 1988 | Dominion Tank Police | Chief |
| 1991 | Yūkan Club | Maotai |
| 1993 | The Cockpit | Soldier Godal |
| 2000 | Grandeek | Grandeek |
| 2010 | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn | Syam Vist |

### Theatrical animation

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1979 | Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro | Jodo |
| 1984 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | Mito |
| 1985 | GeGeGe no Kitarō | Konaki Jijii |
| 1986 | Gegege no Kitarō: Yōkai Daisensō [jp] | Konaki Jijii |
| 1986 | Gegege no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nihon Jōriku!! [jp] | Konaki Jijii |
| 1986 | Castle in the Sky | General Muoro |
| 1986 | Gegege no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! ljigen Yōkai no Daihanran [jp] | Konaki Jijii |
| 1988 | Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure | Tsuru-sen'nin, Karin |
| 1991 | Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge | Karin |
| 1995 | 2112: The Birth of Doraemon | Principal Teraodai |
| 2001 | Case Closed: Countdown to Heaven | Hohsui Kisaragi |
| 2010 | Detective Conan: The Lost Ship in the Sky | Jirokichi Suzuki |
| 2009 | Summer Wars | Mansuke Jinnouchi |
| 2013 | Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission | Isaac Netero |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2002 | Kingdom Hearts | Philoctetes (Phil) |
| 2007 | Final Fantasy IV Nintendo DS | Cid Pollendina |
| 2008 | Soulcalibur IV | Yoda |
| 2010 | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | Philoctetes, Grumpy |
| 2013 | Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen | Adaro |
| 2015 | Tales of Zestiria | Gramps |
* Dragon Ball: Origins (Karin)
* Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo (Karin)
* Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (Karin)
* Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Meteor (Korin)
* Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Neo (Korin)
* Hunter × Hunter: Wonder Adventure (Isaac Netero)
* Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (Samos the Sage)
* Jak II (Samos the Sage)
* Kingdom Hearts II (Philoctetes)
* Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (Philoctetes, Grumpy)
* Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix (Philoctetes (Phil))
* Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Yoda)
* Phantasy Star Portable (Lucaim Nav)
* Phantasy Star Universe (Lucaim Nav)
* Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (Kainen)

### Tokusatsu

* Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Baseball Mask)
* J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (Devil Batter)
* Juken Sentai Gekiranger (Master Xia Fu)
* Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (Master Xia Fu)
** Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger the Movie: The Flying Ghost Ship (Baseball Mask)
* Kamen Rider G (Narrator)

### Dubbing
#### Live action

* Michael Gambon
** Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Albus Dumbledore
** Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Albus Dumbledore
* Frank Oz
** The Empire Strikes Back (1980 Movie theater edition) – Yoda
** The Muppet Christmas Carol – Fozzie Bear
** Muppet Treasure Island – Fozzie Bear
** Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace – Yoda
** Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – Yoda
** Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – Yoda
* Walter Matthau
** Dennis the Menace – George Wilson
** Charade (1994 NTV edition) – Carson Dyle
** Grumpy Old Men – Max Goldman
** The Odd Couple II – Oscar Madison
* Arthur and the Invisibles – Archibald (Ron Crawford)
* Batteries Not Included – Frank Riley (Hume Cronyn)
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2010 theatrical version) – Grandpa George (David Morris)
* Doctor Who – Charles Dickens (Simon Callow)
* Ewoks: The Battle for Endor – Noa (Wilford Brimley)
* The Fifth Element (2002 TV Asahi edition) – Father Vito Cornelius (Ian Holm)
* Freaky Friday – Alan Coleman (Harold Gould)
* Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone – Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris)
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris)
* The Holiday – Arthur Abbott (Eli Wallach)
* Independence Day – Julius Levinson (Judd Hirsch)
* Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – Alexander Anderson (Michael Caine)
* Jurassic Park – John Hammond (Richard Attenborough)
* The Lost World: Jurassic Park – John Hammond (Richard Attenborough)
* L.A. Confidential – Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito)
* Lassie – The Duke of Rudling (Peter O'Toole)
* Lawrence of Arabia (2000 TV Tokyo edition) – Mr. Dryden (Claude Rains)
* Little Nicky – Mr. Beefy (Robert Smigel)
* Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1988 Fuji TV edition) – Master (Angelo Rossitto)
* The Muppet Movie – Rowlf the Dog
* Night at the Museum – Gus (Mickey Rooney)
* Rawhide – George Washington Wishbone (Paul Brinegar)
* Scanners (1987 NTV edition) – Dr. Paul Ruth (Patrick McGoohan)
* The Sound of Music – Max Detweiler (Richard Haydn)
* The Sting – J.J. Singleton (Ray Walston)

#### Animation

* The Black Cauldron – King Eidilleg
* Galaxy High School – Professor Icenstein
* The Great Mouse Detective – Dr. Dawson
* Hercules – Philoctetes
* Home on the Range – Rusty
* The Jetsons – Cosmo Spacely (first voice)
* Lady and the Tramp – Toughy
* Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole – Ezylryb
* Looney Tunes series – Yosemite Sam (first voice)
* Magic Adventures of Mumfie – Napoleon Jones
* Star Wars: Clone Wars – Yoda
* Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film) – Yoda
* Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV) – Yoda
* Tintin and the Lake of Sharks – Thomson and Thompson
* Tintin and the Temple of the Sun – Thomson and Thompson
* Toy Story – Slinky Dog
* Toy Story 2 – Slinky Dog
* Toy Story 3 – Slinky Dog
* Watership Down – Black Rabbit