After four decades voicing the hero of millions’ childhood, your voice becomes invaluable. That’s why legendary Masako Nozawa isn’t holding back on her criticism of AI videos using her voice without permission, calling the practice outright theft.

In an interview with Japanese media, the 89-year-old actress expressed her deep anger at those using her work to train digital tools. The iconic seiyuu explained that technology can never replicate the real emotion and feeling an actor brings to a character. While a copy might sound technically similar, Nozawa made it clear that without heart, an interpretation is useless—since even a cry sounds different when acted with genuine emotion.

The actress’s strong statements come as Japan’s Actors Union, representing over 2,600 industry professionals, introduced official guidelines to protect performers’ voices. These new rules require content creators and companies to get explicit artist consent before using voices to train AI models or release recordings, ensuring fair compensation.

Note that Nozawa isn’t against technological advances themselves; she even expressed enthusiasm for these tools’ future potential. However, her anger stems from the lack of ethics in taking others’ work without permission. The Saiyajin’s voice joins others like Megumi Ogata, known for Shinji Ikari in Neon Genesis Evangelion, who previously called voice cloning heartbreaking for creators.

Masako Nozawa is one of Japan’s most respected and influential dubbing actresses. Born in 1936, she has voiced legendary characters like Goku, Gohan, and Goten in the Dragon Ball franchise since its 1986 TV debut. Her historic career and cultural impact made her the first voice actor to receive Japan’s prestigious Cultural Merit award.

What do you think of Masako Nozawa’s stance on AI in dubbing?