[Obituary] Voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, known for her role as Ran Mouri in 'Detective Conan,' has passed away.

Voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, best known for playing the main heroine Ran Mouri in the anime 'Detective Conan' since its initial broadcast, passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 61. Yamazaki had been on hiatus since February 2026 due to illness.

Announcement of the passing of Wakana Yamazaki, who played the role of Ran Mouri.
(PDF file) https://www.ytv.co.jp/conan/pdf/conan_0515.pdf

Wakana Yamazaki | Aoni Production Co., Ltd.
https://www.aoni.co.jp/search/yamazaki-wakana.html

Yamazaki was born in 1965 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, and grew up in Kyoto. He reportedly studied organic chemistry while enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering at Doshisha University.

I started acting in the sixth grade of elementary school and was a member of the drama club at Doshisha Women's Junior and Senior High School. During my university years, I was active in the theater company Sotobakomachi, which is known for having members such as Takuro Tatsumi and Katsuhisa Namase.

After graduating from university, she worked a regular job while enrolling in the Aoni Juku Osaka School, the training school of the voice acting agency Aoni Production. She passed the audition and was able to become a junior member, so she quit her job and moved to Tokyo, and in 1991 she landed her first major role as Ran Tenjinbayashi in ' Emergency Takeoff Saber Kids '.

[Episode 1] Emergency Launch Saber Kids 'THE RESCUE KIDS' (1991) | TMS 60th Anniversary - YouTube


In ' GS Mikami ,' which aired from 1993 to 1994, she voiced Maria, a female-type artificial human created by Dr. Chaos.

[Official] Anime 'GS Mikami' OP video: Chie Harada 'GHOST SWEEPER' / Ghost Sweeper Mikami - YouTube


Additionally, in the anime adaptation of the Ribon manga series 'Marmalade Boy,' I voiced Akizuki Meiko, the best friend of the protagonist, Mitsuki.

[Official] Marmalade Boy Episode 1 'I Want to Fall in Love 'He's Cool, But I Can't Forgive Him!'' - YouTube


In the anime series 'Detective Conan,' which began airing in 1996, she played the role of the main heroine, Ran Mouri. She contributed to the success of the series for 30 years until she took a break from work in February 2026 due to illness.

[Official] Detective Conan 'The Roller Coaster Murder Case' | Season 1 Episode 1 - YouTube


In addition, she played the role of Nojiko, Nami's adoptive sister, in 'ONE PIECE.' She also filled in for Akemi Okamura, who played Nami, while Okamura was on maternity leave. Furthermore, while Yamazaki was recuperating, Okamura filled in for Ran Mouri, and it has been announced that Okamura will continue to play the role in the future.

Upon hearing of his passing, Gosho Aoyama, the author of 'Detective Conan,' has provided the following comment:

It's so sad to think that I'll no longer be able to hear that comforting, gentle voice that was always there beside me...