Essay by Voice Actor Norio Tsukui, Who Battled ALS and Voiced Nyanchu for 30 Years, Written with "Hands, Mouth, and Eyes," Released Today! Featuring Support from Nyanchu's "Sisters," "ONE PIECE" Director & Luffy's Voice Actor, and More!

Voice actor Norio Tsukui, who has voiced the popular E-Tele character "Nyanchu" for over 30 years and has been active in many anime and stage productions, including "Chibi Maruko-chan." In September 2019, he was informed of his diagnosis with "ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)," an intractable disease where the body gradually loses movement while sensation remains, after feeling abnormalities from a sudden fall and undergoing half a year of hospitalization for examination. Today, April 27th (Monday), his essay, "Living with ALS and a Smile. The Voice Actor Who Lost His Voice's 'Ingenuity Factory'," has been released. This work is a "battle diary" written character by character by a voice actor afflicted with the intractable disease "ALS," where the body loses its ability to move. It is also a valuable firsthand account that candidly describes the "true feelings of those being cared for" and the sensations of those who have undergone gastrostomy and tracheotomy, as well as a "guide to vocalization" that Tsukui, who has served as an instructor at many schools as a "voice actor," wishes to leave behind. What is particularly noteworthy is that even in despair, Tsukui never forgets laughter and humor. And even when he becomes unable to do something, he continues to make every effort to find solutions and never gives up on what he wants to do. Even with this cruel intractable disease, the source of his vitality to "never give up, give it his all, and live with a smile" is the presence of his wife, Masako. Their exchanges, such as her saying "You always do something spectacular at these turning points, don't you?" when he was diagnosed, and laughing "Just live!" after he lost consciousness due to respiratory distress, teach us much. The book also recounts warm interactions with fellow voice actors, including Nyanchu. In fact, the past "sisters" and "brothers" of Nyanchu are incredibly luxurious. The book states: "When the 30th-anniversary special was recorded in 2022, a total of 12 people gathered, including the first sister Marumi Shiraishi, the second sister Hiro Furumura, the third sister Hitomi Ishikawa, the fourth sister Ai Sasamine, the fifth sister Kazue Ito, the sixth sister Yumi Shimizu, the seventh sister Mika Kikuchi, the eighth sister Kumiko Kogami, the ninth sister Rumi Hiiragi, the tenth sister Rion Kawanishi, the eleventh sister Miki Yokota, and the twelfth sister Suzuka Chinzei. (Excerpt) From April 2023, broadcasts began with the thirteenth sister Myra and the energetic Nyanchu and friends. And he continued to chat happily with the fourteenth sister Mirai Hyuga, laughing loudly and joyfully with his fellow Berabora. From April 2025, Haruo Kawano, the first 'brother' as the fifteenth generation, took over." From these "sisters" and many other colleagues and friends from "Chibi Maruko-chan," "s-CRY-ed," and more, messages of support for Tsukui have been arriving continuously. For example, Marumi Shiraishi, the first Nyanchu sister, shared that their children were the same age and they had been together on set since their babies were small. Hiro Furumura, the second sister who has publicly announced her battle with cervical cancer, recalls rushing to meet Tsukui as soon as she heard about his ALS diagnosis. Goro Taniguchi, director of the popular anime "s-CRY-ed," for which Tsukui voiced Straight Cougar, and the film "ONE PIECE FILM RED," writes that this book is Tsukui's new form of expression, including their time together on stage. Voice actor Mayumi Tanaka, popular for her role as Luffy in "ONE PIECE," shared that their relationship is like real siblings. Many other colleagues have also expressed their feelings for Tsukui, which will be published sequentially on FRaUweb, where Tsukui has a series. Messages to Norio Tsukui from "Living with ALS and a Smile": 1) What Hiro Furumura, who has publicly announced her battle with cervical cancer, wants to convey to Norio Tsukui, who has ALS. 2) What Hitomi Ishikawa, the third Nyanchu sister and known for "Machibuse," wants to convey to Norio Tsukui, who has ALS. 3) A letter to Norio Tsukui, who has ALS, from "s-CRY-ed" director Goro Taniguchi: "Our encounter was in 'Mobile Fighter G Gundam'." 4) What Marumi Shiraishi, the "first sister," talks about with Norio Tsukui, who has ALS.