Shioya was most known for voicing the character of Majin Buu in the Dragon Ball series.
The voice acting agency Aoni Production announced in its official website that voice actor Kōzō Shioya passed away on 20 January, 2026, due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 70 years old.
The company further confirmed that a funeral was held, with only the presence of close relatives in accordance with the wishes of his family.
Kōzō Shioya is remembered for an unforgettable role
Kōzō Shioya was born on 18 August, 1955 in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, and began his voice acting career in the 1980s. He has been an experienced part of the industry since then, with his recent roles being Yukihiro Kiyomizu in “The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited" in 2020, ShogunGekomon and Olegmon in “Digimon Adventure” (2021), and Temruogtaf in “Ragna Crimson” in 2023.
But what Shioya was most known for was the role of Majin Buu in Dragon Ball Z. Majin Buu was the primary antagonist of Z, and would also later appear in different iterations. Shioya would voice all but one version of this character, that being the younger form of Majin Buu in Dragon Ball Daima, in all media attributed to the Dragon Ball franchise.
This news comes as a shock to many Dragon Ball fans, as Dragon Ball has recently announced an enhanced edition of “Dragon Ball Super”, where Shioya also voiced Majin Buu.
Across decades of work, Shioya is remembered as a familiar and beloved presence in anime, his voice shaping a number of childhoods in the process. His portrayal of Majin Buu, in particular, stands as one of the most memorable villain performances in Dragon Ball history, helping define one of the series’ most iconic arcs.
Shioya is survived by his family. He will be remembered not only for his contributions to Dragon Ball, but for the breadth of his work, and the legacy he leaves behind in the voice acting industry.