Overview

• Japanese broadcasters named Nozawa among 21 honorees for the 2025 Persons of Cultural Merit recognized for advancing the nation’s culture.
• Nozawa said she accepts the honor on behalf of the voice acting community and thanked creators and fans for sustaining the work.
• The state honor includes an annual lifetime pension of about 3.5 million yen for recipients.
• Her career spans more than six decades, she first voiced Goku in 1986, and she holds Guinness records tied to her long-running voice roles.
• A ceremony is expected in early November in Tokyo, though reports differ on whether it is November 3 or 4 and on whether top officials such as the prime minister and emperor will attend.