Akira Kume

Akira Kume
久米 明
Born(1924-02-08)February 8, 1924
Tokyo Prefecture, Japan[1]
DiedApril 23, 2020(2020-04-23) (aged 96)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupations
Years active1947–2019
ChildrenShusaku Kume
Daisaku Kume
Nanako Kume

Akira Kume (久米 明, Kume Akira; February 8, 1924[1] – April 23, 2020[2][3]) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator.

As of 2019, with his role as the narrator of the NHK show Tsurube's Salute to Families, he was the world's oldest active voice actor.

Biography

Kume was born in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan[1] on February 8, 1924.

He graduated from Azabu Junior High School under their older school system and Tokyo University of Commerce, now known as Hitotsubashi University.[2] Tadashi Nagai, the former president of Mitsui Home, was his classmate in junior high and college.[4] People such as Masaru Hayami were his classmates in the university's preparatory program.[5]

After experiencing the end of World War II as a student soldier and returning to university, he was deeply moved by the Haiyuza Theatre Company's production of Nikolai Gogol's The Government Inspector and decided to found a drama research group.[6] In 1947, he co-founded the "Budou no Kai" theater troupe with Junji Kinoshita, Yasue Yamamoto, and other people.[6]

He was appointed lecturer at the College of Art, Nihon University in 1972, and professor at the same university in 1975. In 1992, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and received the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette in 1997.[7][2]

In 2019, he officially retired from narration work and moved into a Tokyo nursing home.[2]

Death

Kume died from heart failure on April 23, 2020, at the age of 96.[2][3]

Personal life

He was the father of Daisaku Kume, who married Saki Kubota in 1985.[8][9][10]

Filmography

Films

Television dramas

Stage

Television animation

Theatrical animation

Video games

Dubbing

Live-action

Animated films

Television animation

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 3 「男性篇」in『声優名鑑』(in Japanese). Published by Seibido Shuppan on August 10, 1999. Page 436. ISBN 4-415-00878-X.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Narrator/Voice Actor Akira Kume Passes Away Due to Heart Condition". Anime News Network. April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "俳優・久米明さん死去、96歳...ボガートなどの洋画吹き替え、ナレーターでも活躍". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). April 24, 2020.
  4. ↑ /06/04, 日経産業新聞 (in Japanese).
  5. ↑ 「戦争末期から戦後初期の東京商科大学」(in Japanese).
  6. 1 2 "朗読は楽しからずや 久米明さん". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 20, 2007. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ 「秋の叙勲 晴れの受章者520人 あふれる喜び、3氏に聞く」in『読売新聞』(in Japanese). November 3, 1997. Morning Edition.
  8. ↑ 俳優・声優の久米明さん死去、義娘に教会音楽家の久米小百合さん Archived August 11, 2025, at the Wayback Machine. Christian Today. April 23, 2020.
  9. ↑ 「異邦人」のヒットから40年　久保田早紀が久米小百合として音楽宣教師になった理由 Archived August 25, 2025, at the Wayback Machine. Daily Shincho of Shinchosha. September 18, 2020.
  10. ↑ 89 週刊朝日 (Shukan Asahi) 156
  11. ↑ "草燃える". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ "徳川家康". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ "武蔵坊弁慶". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ "八代将軍吉宗". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "SPACE ADVENTURE コブラ". allcinema.net (in Japanese).
  16. ↑ "クラッシャージョウ". allcinema.net (in Japanese).
  17. ↑ "ペンギンズ・メモリー 幸福物語". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "のび太の結婚前夜 The night before a wedding". allcinema.net (in Japanese).
  19. ↑ "映画 のび太の結婚前夜". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  20. ↑ "チャーリーとチョコレート工場". Nippon Television. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
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