was a Japanese actor from Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture.
He is best known for his roles as Admiral Majin in Kamen Rider, Nobisuke Nobi in Doraemon, Ehrenberg in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Mulligan in Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings, and Nijūemon Tsuzureya (20 Emon) in 21 Emon.
Biography Career Born in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan on March 30, 1930, Naka graduated from Chiba Prefectural Chiba First High School.
In 1953, Naka joined the Chiba City Civic Hall. Despite wanting to originally become a writer, he was a somewhat naturally lazy person, so he never even got as far as to think that he'd ever try to write plays, but instead, he ended up in the world of acting. He moved to Tokyo during the Shinkigeki boom and was introduced to several Shinkigeki-style theatre companies by Yotaro Nishizawa, the editor-in-chief of theatre magazine Tragedy and Comedy by Hayakawa Publishing. While he still couldn't decided on which company to join, Naka had heard that the Enza Theater Company had been searching for actors, so he ended up joining without as much as a second thought. After he joined Enza in 1956, he joined the Mirai Gekijō theater company two years later, then the Zokei theater company three years after that, before finally joining the Tōgei theater company「新劇俳優名鑑」『新劇便覧1984』(in Japanese). Teatro. 1984., where he ended up spending days on-stage. Though at that period in time, the attitude that society had grown toward theater company actors was harsh, to the point where even renting an apartment became a struggle, and life was incredibly hard.『東映ヒーロー悪役俳優列伝』(in Japanese). Tatsumi Publishing. December 30, 2006. .
During this time, Naka would take on performing small roles in dramas such as Dial 110, Crime Reporter, and Seven Detectives, but his income remained stagnant, and he would spend days juggling part-time jobs while resuming his work on-stage. Eventually he began to receive offers to perform dubbing for foreign shows. Although the pay then was only about 70% of the usual rate, the amount of shows was huge, and Naka was finally able to stabilize his livelihood.
While continuing to dub foreign dramas, Naka met a manager who invited him to "give it a serious try", leading him to start appearing in Toei Company television dramas. On Special Mobile Investigation Squad, Naka would play criminal roles. He was approached regarding this when the show switched to a three-unit system: "Hey, Naka, isn't it about time you played a detective instead of a criminal?" He turned down the offer, replying, "It's more interesting to play villains because I can portray so many different types." People told him that he was weird for thinking that, which Naka himself would later reflect on, saying, "Looking back now, it might have been a mistake."
Eventually, as the mainstream of television dramas shifted to two-hour specials and work began to dwindle, Naka asked the president of his agency to if they could let him partake in dubbing the foreign drama Hill Street Blues. While he going on record to say that the long monologues were painful, from that point on, voice acting became his main profession.
After working with G&B Planning, Murakami Office, and Kumazawa Production, he joined Mausu Promotion, his last affiliation.
Death Naka died on October 20, 2023, at the age of 93.Voice Actor Yousuke Naka Passes Away at 93. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. November 10, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026."Doraemon" voice actor Yousuke Naka passed away. yahoo! life. Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore. Cinema Online. November 13, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026. Mausu announced his death that November."訃報" (in Japanese). Mausu Promotion. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
Personality In tokusatsu productions, Naka often portrayed villainous commanders, most famously Admiral Majin in the Kamen Rider series. He would also often portray villainous roles in period dramas and yakuza bosses in police dramas.
His most famous voice acting role was as Nobita's father Nobisuke Nobi in the Doraemon anime from 1992 to 2005. Naka was cast on short notice, as the previous voice actor, Masayuki Katō, had stepped down due to ongoing health problems. Naka was a personal friend of Katō's and accepted the offer with the intention of "carrying on his friend's legacy".
He stepped down from the role of Nobisuke in March 2005 with the end of the 1979 series, with the role being succeeded by Yasunori Matsumoto for the 2005 reboot.
Successors After his death, the following individuals have taken over his roles. SuccessorCharacterWorkDebutChihiro NishimoriNikko KadorInvasion U.S.A.Blu-ray release bonus content
Filmography Television dramas + List of performances in television dramas Year Title Role Notes Source 1957 Dial 110 1958 Crime Reporter 1961 Seven Detectives 1965 Taikōki 1968 Ryōma ga Yuku 1965–1977 Special Mobile Investigation Unit Various characters 1967 Kaiju Booska Totsu-Otsu Real Estate employee 1968 Three Outlaw Samurai Carpenter, Akamatsu, Zōngjí Akamatsu in Season 5, Zōngjí in Season 6 1968 Princess Comet Site Supervisor 1968 Key Hunter 1969 Kappa Sanpei: The Yokai Operation 1969 Playgirl Various characters 1969 Tokyo Bypass Directive 1969 Muyōnosuke Two-Eyed Demon Ep. 9 1980 Kamen Rider Admiral Majin Episodes 17–53 1980 New Edo no Kaze Sugai Ep. 1 1983 The Chronicles of Nemuri Kyoshiro Dōan Ep. 21 1983 Asadora / Oshin 1983 Thursday Prime-Time Drama / The Sea Wall 1984 Sakichi the Shooting Star 1985 Saturday Wide Theater / The Woman Loved by a Rapist 1990 Tsukikage Hyogo's Wild Journey Dojo Master Season 2 2003 THE MONDAY NIGHT MYSTERY THEATER / Seiichi Morimura Suspense Series Angler
Theatrical films + List of performances in theatrical films Year Title Role Notes Source 1967 A Fallen Woman Yakuza B 1969 From a Married Woman: The Rules of the Night Ishiyama 1970 Rebel Against Glory Buddhist Monk 1974 Lupin the Third: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy Assassin Dōkasen 1979 G.I. Samurai Defeated Warrior 1980 Kamen Rider: 8 Riders VS Galaxy King Admiral Majin 1985 Fire Festival Fisherman 1989 Yawara! Yanagisawa Director
Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1979 Heidi, Girl of the Alps The Doctor 1982 Dash Kappei Katsuhei's grandfather 1983 Space Adventure Cobra Pumpkin Episodes 28, 29, and 31 1983 Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman Catsburg 1984 Cat's Eye Maejima 1984 Lupin the Third: Part III Wang Daquan Ep. 21 1989–1990 The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee Stag Beetle Grandpa, Ronin 1991 Oishinbo Hiyama, Director of Personnel 1991 Yawara! Director Yanagisawa, University President 1991 21 Emon Nijūemon Tsuzureya (20 Emon) 21エモン ★ キャスト・スタッフ (in Japanese), Shin-Ei Animation official website, 21 Emon, Shin-Ei Animation, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1992–2005 Doraemon Nobisuke Nobi Second voice "スタッフ&声のしゅつえん" (in Japanese), Doraemon, TV Asahi, Archived from the original on January 4, 2003, Retrieved April 28, 2026.ドラえもん (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1992 The Laughing Salesman Shuro Yuji 1995 Ninku Old Man Ep. 16 1996 The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Bob O'Callaghan Ep. 9 1996 KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops Owner 1997 Berserk Military Officer A 1998 Master Keaton Mr. Shinjo Ep. 7 2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Nogi 2002 Secret of Cerulean Sand Duncan 2005 Black Jack Kenmochi (Karte 38) ブラック・ジャック (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2006 Black Jack 21 Kenmochi (Karte 38) ブラック・ジャック21 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2018 Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These - Encounter Ehrenberg
Theatrical animation + List of voice performances in theatrical animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1991 The Heroic Legend of Arslan Bahman Ep. 2 1992 The Heroic Legend of Arslan II Bahman 21 Emon: To Space! The Barefoot Princess Nijūemon Tsuzureya (20 Emon) 21エモン 宇宙いけ！裸足のプリンセス (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.21エモン 宇宙いけ!裸足のプリンセス (in Japanese), Eiga.com, Retrieved April 27, 2026.21エモン 宇宙（そら）いけ！裸足のプリンセス (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1993 Doraemon: Nobita and the Tin Labyrinth Nobisuke Nobi ドラえもん のび太とブリキの迷宮 (ラビリンス) (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1994 Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen General ドラえもん のび太と夢幻三剣士 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. Pom Poko Food Stand Customer B 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ (in Japanese), Eiga.com, Retrieved April 27, 2026.平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1995 Doraemon: Nobita's Diary on the Creation of the World Nobisuke Nobi 映画ドラえもん のび太の創世日記 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ドラえもん のび太の創世日記 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1996 Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express Mayor 映画ドラえもん のび太と銀河超特急 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ドラえもん のび太と銀河超特急 (エクスプレス) (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1997 Doraemon: Nobita and the Spiral City Nobisuke Nobi 映画ドラえもん のび太のねじ巻き都市冒険記 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ドラえもん のび太のねじ巻き都市 (シティー) 冒険記 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. Spasibo at the End of the Edo Period Kakichi Oaki 1998 Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas Nobisuke Nobi 映画ドラえもん のび太の南海大冒険 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026. Doraemon Comes Back Nobisuke Nobi Short film 帰ってきたドラえもん (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.帰ってきたドラえもん (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1999 Doraemon: Nobita Drifts in the Universe Nobisuke Nobi 映画ドラえもん のび太の宇宙漂流記 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ドラえもん のび太の宇宙漂流記 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2000 Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King Leader 映画ドラえもん のび太の太陽王伝説 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026. 2001 Good Luck! Gian!! Nobisuke Nobi Short film がんばれ！ジャイアン!! (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.がんばれ! ジャイアン!! (in Japanese), Eiga.com, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2002 The Day When I Was Born Nobisuke Nobi Short film ぼくの生まれた日 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ぼくの生まれた日 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2003 Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters Captain of Time Patrol 映画ドラえもん のび太とふしぎ風使い (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.映画ドラえもん のび太とふしぎ風使い (in Japanese), Eiga.com, Retrieved April 27, 2026.ドラえもん のび太とふしぎ風使い (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 2004 Nitaboh Kengyo NITABOH 仁太坊 津軽三味線始祖見聞 (in Japanese), KINENOTE, Retrieved April 27, 2026.NITABOH 仁太坊 津軽三味線始祖見聞 (in Japanese), eiga.com, Retrieved April 27, 2026.NITABOH 仁太坊—津軽三味線始祖外聞 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026.
Original video animation (OVA) + List of voice performances in original video animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1989 Shinshuu Sudama Hen Ōno Kurobei 1989 David no Hoshi Chief Detective, Genpei Ōtaguro Chief Detective in Ep. 2, Genpei Ōtaguro in Ep. 4 堕靡泥 (ダビデ) の星 (1～4) (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1990 Kentōshi Eddie Williams 拳闘士 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1990 Mad Bull 34 Don Enrico Ep. 2 1991 Legend of the Phantom Heroes Douglas 1991 Tales of Yajikita College Chairman Yoshida Ep. 2 やじきた学園道中記 牡丹慕情編 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026.やじきた学園道中記 牡丹慕情編 (in Japanese), J.C.Staff, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1991 Shin David no Hoshi: Inma Densetsu Priest 新・堕靡泥 (ダビデ) の星 淫魔伝説 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved April 28, 2026. 1992 Spirit of Wonder: Miss China's Ring Sullivan 1992 Sohryuden: Legend of the Dragon Kings Mulligan 1994 Wild 7 Ginkaku Daigishi
Web animation + List of voice performances in web animation Year Title Role Notes Source 2017 Mouse Zoo Yōsuke the Crane
Video games