Wakana Yamazaki, a Japanese voice actress best known for her role as Ran Mouri in Detective Conan, died on April 18, 2026. She was 61 years old. [Thanks, Livedoor!]
Yamazaki’s agency, Aoni Production, announced the news on May 15, 2026. The funeral and wake were only for family and friends. Yamazaki had taken time off work to treat an illness. Akemi Okamura (Nami from One Piece) had already replaced Yamazaki as Ran in Detective Conan since the episodes that aired from mid-March 2026. Okamura will continue to voice Ran from here on out.
Her co-stars in Detective Conan have also reacted to her news on social media with shock and grief. Kappei Yamaguchi (Shinichi) and Naoko Matsui (Sonoko) are among those who posted short tributes and reactions. In the show, Shinichi is Ran’s boyfriend/childhood friend, and Sonoko is her best friend. As the anime started in 1996, they’d been working on the show together for thirty years.
Wakana Yamazaki debuted as a voice actress in 1991. Aside from voicing Ran in Detective Conan, her prominent roles included Ayane in Dead or Alive, Arukenimon in Digimon Adventure 02, and Meiko in Marmalade Boy. She also voiced Nojiko, Nami’s sister, in One Piece, as well as portrayed Nami for episodes 70 to 78 when Okamura was on maternity leave.
As Yamazaki had already finished recording her lines for the latest Detective Conan movie, Fallen Angel of the Highway, you’ll be able to hear her Ran there. The movie is currently in theaters in Japan.
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