Legendary Voice Actor Norio Tsukui Releases New Book Detailing His Battle with ALS
The original voice of Nyanchu, one of Japan's most beloved children's program characters, master artist Norio Tsukui (Kyousei Tsukui), has released a new essay book today detailing his difficult yet hopeful days living with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Published by Kodansha on April 27, 2026, and titled "Living with a Smile with ALS: The 'Skill Factory' of a Voice Actor Who Lost His Voice," the work reveals with complete sincerity how the artist held onto life despite losing his voice and mobility.
Norio Tsukui became a favorite of generations of children by voicing NHK's popular character Nyanchu for a full 31 years, from 1992 to 2023. Throughout his career, the master artist was not limited to just Nyanchu; he also took on unforgettable roles such as Straight Cougar in the s-CRY-ed series, Shinji Sekiguchi in Chibi Maruko-chan, and Yatsudenwani in Bakuryu Sentai Abaranger. However, his ALS diagnosis in 2019 completely changed the artist's life. After losing the ability to walk in 2020 as the disease progressed, Tsukui was forced to bid farewell to his professional voice acting career following a tracheostomy surgery in 2023.
In his new book, Tsukui explains the creative solutions he developed despite his physical limitations through the concept of the "Kufuu Factory" (Skill Factory). The artist, who used a keyboard with chopsticks held in his mouth when he could no longer use his hands and now communicates solely through eye-tracking technology, wrote this 288-page work entirely with his eye movements. The book includes not only his journey with the illness but also his memories from the voice acting world and the support he received from industry friends such as One Piece's Luffy voice actress Mayumi Tanaka. Emphasizing the support of his wife Masako, Tsukui conveys the message, "I may have lost my voice, but I still have so much to say."
This work is not just a diary of an illness, but also a testament to an artist's passion for his profession and life. Tsukui, who handed over the role of Nyanchu to Wataru Hatano in 2023, is determined to maintain his connection with fans through digital voice synthesis technologies and social media. The artist's resilient stance is met with great appreciation both in the Japanese voice acting industry and among communities battling ALS. For his fans, this book is seen as the final and most meaningful letter from the voice of their childhood.
