Naoki Bando (坂東尚樹), a veteran Japanese voice actor known for giving voice to the robotic cat Robonyan in the hit franchise Yo-kai Watch, has died at the age of 69. His talent agency, Production Ace, confirmed his death in a statement posted on its official website.
According to the agency, Bando passed away on September 28 while undergoing medical treatment. No further details about the cause of death or funeral arrangements were disclosed in the announcement. The news was reported by Oricon and other Japanese entertainment outlets on October 2.
Bando had been a familiar voice to generations of Japanese anime and game fans. Beyond his role as Robonyan in Yo-kai Watch, Japanese reports note that his career also included work connected to major franchises such as Detective Conan and Pokemon, though specific character credits in those series were not detailed in the agency’s statement.
Who is Naoki Bando?
Naoki Bando was a Japanese voice actor (seiyuu) affiliated with the talent agency Production Ace. He is most widely recognized internationally for voicing Robonyan, a mechanical cat character and one of the signature yokai in Level-5’s Yo-kai Watch franchise, which spawned a hit anime series, video games, and a wave of merchandise after its 2013 debut. His filmography also connects him to two of Japan’s longest-running media franchises, Detective Conan and Pokemon, reflecting a career spent largely in supporting and character roles within some of the country’s most recognizable anime properties.
No details have yet been released regarding memorial services. Production Ace’s statement simply informed fans of his passing and asked for their understanding during this time.
Author’s Comment
Robonyan. Say it out loud and half of you just heard that voice in your head without even trying — that’s the kind of mark a character actor leaves, even when his own name never trended higher than the character he played. That’s the job, though, and it’s a very Japanese kind of quiet devotion: you give your voice to a tin cat so completely that millions of kids grow up and never learn your face. Production Ace’s announcement was barebones, no cause, no ceremony details, and I respect that restraint in an industry that loves to turn grief into content. Rest well, sir. Somewhere, a Robonyan toy on a shelf just got a little heavier.
