After a protracted struggle with sickness, Japanese actress Wakana Yamazaki, who rose to popularity as Ran Mouri's voice actor in the popular detective anime series Detective Conan, passed away at the age of 61. The legendary voice actress played a key role in defining the childhood of several generations through her various legacy roles for some of the most famous titles in anime history. 

The news of her passing away is deeply saddening for the industry and for those who grew up watching her characters.

Local media, including Yahoo Japan, reported on Friday, May 15, that famous voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, unfortunately, passed away on April 18, 2026, while fighting a chronic disease. The official animation website for Detective Conan issued a message regarding Wakana Yamazaki's unexpected passing.

“We express our deepest condolences upon receiving news of the passing of voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, who played Ran Mouri for nearly 30 years since the TV series began airing in 1996,” the statement said.

Before confirming that Akemi Okamura (the official Japanese voice of Nami in One Piece) will continue to voice Ran Mouri going forward, the statement acknowledged Yamazaki for her enormous devotion and many years of contribution to the series. She voiced Ran Mouri in Detective Conan for almost 30 years.

Despite leaving the Detective Conan television series in February 2026, Wakana Yamazaki is still given credit in Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway release on April 10, 2026, the show's most recent theatrical production. This is the 29th Detective Conan movie, and sadly, it is now Yamazaki's last voice performance as Ran. 

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However, her legacy is not limited to her performance in Detective Conan and extends to several other popular anime.

Wakana Yamazaki was well-known for her appearances as Ayane in Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden, in addition to providing the voice of Ran Mouri in Detective Conan. Moreover, she provided the voice of Nojiko, Nami's sister in One Piece, which has recently announced a Netflix reboot, and briefly portrayed Nami herself in episodes 70 through 78 while regular actor Akemi Okamura was on maternity leave.

After graduating from the Aoni Production training school, she professionally started her voice acting career in 1990-1991. And now, almost thirty-five years later, she bids farewell to the world, leaving behind some of the most cherished characters of anime’s history. Her legacy will still live on through these roles, even after her passing to the other world.

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Which of the characters voiced by Wakana Yamazaki is your favorite? Do let us know in the comments.