The Japanese entertainment industry was stunned this month after voice acting icon Toru Furuya publicly confessed to an abusive extramarital relationship with a fan.
The 70-year-old actor, known for his decades-long career portraying beloved characters such as Sabo in One Piece, Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam, and Pegasus Seiya in Saint Seiya, admitted to both physical assault and emotional manipulation during a four-year affair with a woman in her 30s.
Furuya revealed the details through an official statement, acknowledging his misconduct and admitting that the affair led to severe harm. He confirmed that he coerced the woman into having an abortion and physically struck her during their relationship.
The revelations sparked outrage across social media, with many fans and industry figures expressing disappointment at the betrayal of trust from one of anime’s most respected veterans.
The scandal has resulted in significant professional consequences. Furuya has stepped down from his role as Sabo in One Piece, as well as from other active projects.
Several production houses have confirmed his dismissal or acceptance of his resignation, citing the severity of the incident and the importance of maintaining accountability within the entertainment industry.
A Career Spanning Six Decades
Toru Furuya’s legacy before the scandal was monumental. Born in Tokyo in 1953, his voice became synonymous with the rise of Japanese animation’s global influence. Starting as a child actor in the 1960s, Furuya transitioned into voice work in the early 1970s and quickly rose to prominence.
In 1979, his role as Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam cemented him as a household name. The character helped define the modern mecha genre, and Furuya’s performance brought emotional sincerity to a format that had primarily focused on spectacle.
His portrayal resonated with audiences, exploring themes of war, morality, and youth, establishing him as one of anime’s defining performers.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Furuya expanded his range with equally iconic roles, including Pegasus Seiya in Saint Seiya, Yamcha in Dragon Ball, and Rei Furuya (also known as Bourbon) in Detective Conan.
Toru Furuya (Credit: BBC)
Generations of fans associated his distinctive voice with courage, determination, and idealism, themes deeply rooted in the characters he embodied.
In later years, his addition to the One Piece cast as Sabo revived his connection to younger audiences. Sabo’s moral complexity and loyalty provided another outlet for Furuya’s known ability to balance intensity and empathy.
His performances were celebrated not only for their energy but also for the emotional intelligence that made even fantastical characters feel human.
Because of that legacy, the scandal carries deeper emotional consequences for fans who grew up with his work. Many expressed heartbreak at reconciling the beloved characters he helped define with the harm he caused privately.
The Scandal Unfolds
Reports surfaced earlier this year indicating that a woman in her 30s had maintained an on-and-off relationship with Furuya for nearly four years.
According to multiple Japanese media outlets, the relationship began when she approached him as a fan at an event. Initially congenial, their relationship evolved into a secret affair while Furuya was married.
The woman later came forward, alleging instances of violence and emotional coercion throughout their relationship. She claimed that Furuya struck her during arguments and pressured her into terminating a pregnancy despite her hesitation.
Following these public allegations, Furuya issued a written confession, corroborating portions of her account and expressing remorse for his behavior.
“I betrayed the trust of many people, including my family, colleagues, and fans,” he wrote. “What I did was inexcusable. I deeply regret my actions and the suffering I caused.”
The statement did not shield him from consequences. Almost immediately, the production company behind One Piece released a statement announcing his withdrawal from the series.
Several other franchises, including ongoing projects related to Saint Seiya and Detective Conan, followed suit or confirmed they would no longer employ him in upcoming installments.
His management also announced that he would suspend all professional activities indefinitely. Industry observers note that, given his age and the severity of the case, this effectively marks the end of his career.
Industry Reaction and Public Response
The Japanese voice acting community is often regarded for professionalism and fan engagement, which made the details of this scandal particularly shocking.
For decades, Furuya had represented the standard of consistency in voice performance, frequently appearing at conventions, delivering lectures, and mentoring younger actors. His scandal has reopened discussions within entertainment circles about boundaries between performers and fans.
Colleagues responded with measured grief rather than outright condemnation, expressing sorrow for both the victim and the damage caused to the industry’s trust. Younger voice actors have since taken to social media, urging respect for professional integrity and personal accountability.
Fan responses have been divided between anger and sorrow. On one hand, many criticized the long-standing culture of overlooking ethical misconduct among veteran entertainers. On the other hand, others lamented seeing a cherished figure’s legacy crumble due to personal failings.
International audiences, particularly within anime communities online, have amplified discussions about parasocial relationships, the pressures of fame, and systemic issues surrounding accountability for high-profile figures in Japanese media.
The Broader Impact on Anime Culture
Toru Furuya’s downfall arrives amid a broader reckoning within Japan’s entertainment circles. With the industry increasingly globalized, transparency and ethical standards are being scrutinized not only domestically but also by international audiences who demand accountability from creators and performers alike.
This incident also reignites debates on power dynamics between celebrities and fans. Anime fandoms are built on emotional proximity; voice actors often occupy near-mythical roles in the lives of viewers, blurring lines between admiration and personal connection. The case demonstrates the potential dangers when those lines are crossed or exploited.
The production committees behind series like One Piece and Detective Conan have reaffirmed policies emphasizing respect and professionalism from cast members. Industry guilds are reportedly reviewing conduct guidelines to address relationships that could lead to ethical violations or reputational risk.
Furuya’s departure also triggers logistical challenges for the series he contributed to. Recasting Sabo in One Piece and other roles will require careful consideration, both in preserving continuity and in respecting the emotional weight fans attach to these characters.
For many, this controversy signals not only an end but also a warning. Fame and artistic longevity cannot shield anyone from accountability. In an age where professional conduct intersects with public morality, transparency matters more than ever.
A Legacy Tarnished
For over six decades, Toru Furuya shaped the sound of Japanese animation. His voice narrated the emotional journeys of heroes who inspired millions worldwide. Today, that same voice has fallen silent under the weight of his own actions.
The scandal does not erase the cultural impact of his past work, but it irrevocably changes how it will be remembered. For fans and peers alike, it is a sobering reminder that art and artist, though often intertwined, carry separate responsibilities.
As his resignation statements circulate across media outlets, the industry braces to move forward, learning from the pain while striving for renewal.
And while Toru Furuya’s performances remain immortalized through the characters he gave life to, his own legacy now serves as a cautionary story of betrayal, accountability, and the consequences of crossing the boundaries of trust.
After more than four decades, Tron: Ares shifts the franchise’s premise: instead of humans entering the digital grid, programs cross back into reality. Directed by Joachim Rønning, this third entry picks up the saga years after Tron: Legacy, attempting to deepen the exploration of what digital consciousness means.
Unfortunately, this daring concept falls short of delivering a thought-provoking meditation, morphing instead into a fast-paced action spectacle resembling a tech commercial for 3D printers.
At the heart of the story is Ares (Jared Leto), a highly sophisticated AI created to be the perfect soldier. The film tracks his journey as he navigates the messy boundary between program and personhood.
Opposing him is Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), head of a rival corporation willing to exploit any means to seize control of a mysterious “permanence code,” the key to allowing digital entities to survive indefinitely in the real world.
Supporting them is Eve Kim (Greta Lee), the cool-headed CEO of ENCOM, whose brilliance is motivated by the loss of her sister.
The Struggle to Humanize Ares
Jared Leto’s portrayal of Ares is one of the film’s greatest challenges. Tasked with embodying a machine’s awakening to human sensations, Leto delivers a visually striking presence, but his performance often feels detached and vacant.
Ares’ wonder at simple human experiences, raindrops on his arm, and the allure of music by Depeche Mode should be moments of transformation, yet Leto’s muted expressions create an emotional distance.
This detachment makes it difficult for audiences to root for Ares’ evolution or empathize with his developing conscience.
The film leans heavily on this classic Frankenstein narrative of a created being striving for autonomy. Ares encounters echoes of Kevin Flynn’s digital consciousness and wrestles with why he feels what he cannot fully understand.
While the philosophical groundwork is promising, it is hampered by a surface-level script and a frenetic editing style that often prioritizes spectacle over substance.
Visuals and Action: A Mixed Bag
One of Tron: Ares’s undeniable strengths is its visual design. With Jeff Cronenweth as cinematographer and editing by Pietro Scalia, the film boasts slick, neon-lit sequences, intense light-cycle chases, and futuristic battlegrounds that honor the original Tron’s geometric aesthetic while attempting a more modern, “naturalistic” feel.
Yet, the two realities, digital and physical, end up too similar, diluting the franchise’s trademark contrast and wonder.
Tron: Ares (Credit: Paradox)
Action scenes are plentiful, featuring everything from sophisticated hacking duels aboard airborne gliders to massive combat with units wielding advanced tech and weaponry. The addition of Nine Inch Nails’ pulse-pounding soundtrack promises energy but often overwhelms scenes with noise rather than momentum.
Conversational sequences during chase moments struggle to balance character development with escalating thrills, resulting in chaotic, sometimes incomprehensible exchanges.
Characters Lost in the Crossfire
Amid the action, human stories flicker but fail to fully ignite. Greta Lee’s Eve Kim brings warmth and intelligence to her role, providing the film’s emotional core, yet her motivations occasionally get buried under corporate intrigue and digital warfare.
The grief driving her efforts, losing a sister to technology’s shadow, is a missed opportunity for deeper emotional resonance.
Julian Dillinger, played by Evan Peters, embodies the reckless ambition of tech moguls but leans into villainy stereotypes without added complexity.
Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), a lethal digital program, is compelling as the embodiment of unflinching obedience, intensifying the threat against Eve and Ares. Still, the characters’ intimate struggles often feel sidelined by the film’s relentless action pacing.
Missed Opportunities and Franchise Fatigue
Tron: Ares rehashes many story beats from Legacy without expanding or critiquing the philosophical questions at the franchise’s core. Technology’s promise and peril have been central before, yet this film treats those themes more as a backdrop than driving narrative forces.
The mysterious “permanence code” symbolizes endless digital life but remains insufficiently explored beyond its plot functions.
The film’s climax revisits the original Tron grid, delivering a nostalgic visual moment that momentarily rekindles the spirit of adventure missing from much of the story. However, the scene feels more like a fleeting detour within an otherwise formulaic stretch of franchise filler.
Tron: Ares is an ambitious attempt to update a beloved sci-fi series, delivering visual dazzle and some intriguing ideas about consciousness and identity.
However, its overstuffed plot, underdeveloped characters, and lack of emotional engagement prevent it from truly resonating. Jared Leto’s Ares, while conceptually fascinating, lacks the charisma or complexity needed to anchor the film’s themes.
For long-time fans, the movie offers enough nods and high-tech spectacle to entertain in bursts. For newcomers, it may feel like a confusing, noisy action film found lacking in soul. Ultimately, Tron: Ares stands as a reminder that even the brightest neon lights cannot mask a story struggling to find its heart.
