Written by Ross Locksley on 22 May 2024
Voice actor Tōru Furuya, widely known for his performance as original Gundam protagonist Amuro Ray, posted on his account to admit to a 4 year affair with a fan that included physical abuse and an abortion. He was interviewed in Japan's Weekly Bunshun after details of the affair emerged.
The news comes as a shock to fans globally who hold the actor in high regard, his role as Amuro introduced him to millions and has been further enhanced by other iconic roles, such as Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon, Yamcha in Dragon Ball, Sabo in One Piece, Kyosuke Kasuga in Kamigure Orange Road and in a more current Gundam role, Ribbons Almark in Gundam 00.
The voice actor has apologised unreservedly for the mental and physical abuse he caused his girlfriend and to his fans for betraying their trust and damaging the legacy characters he helped bring to life. He intends to spend the rest of his life atoning for his mistakes and is prepared to accept any punishment.
Responses from Japanese fans on X were a mix of disappointment and support for the actor, while English language responses were notably more critical.
Source: X (Tōru Furuya)
Ross founded the UK Anime Network waaay back in 1995 and works in and around the anime world in his spare time. You can read his more personal articles on UKA's sister site, The Anime Independent.
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