It was confirmed in the official website of talent management agency Aoni Production on Friday that Usnho Ishizuka, the man who provided the Japanese voices of Cowboy Bepop’s Jet Black and Pokemon’s Professor Oak has passed away by 67 due to esophageal cancer. In traditional Japanese age reckoning, he died at the age of 68.
The company stated that he had been receiving medical support for some time before he passed away but hasn’t shown any signs of improvement. A private wake and funeral was held by his close relative with a public farewell ceremony to be announced in a later time.
Aside from providing the voices of Jet Black and Professor Oak, he also provided the voice of Mr. Satan in Dragon Ball Super and Joseph Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure : Stardust Crusaders and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable. Most recent voice role was being a narrator in Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online.
Source: Mantan Web