81 Produce is marking its 45th anniversary with a merchandise line tied to its birthday live event, announced in August 2026. In October 2026 the agency announced that actor Hiroshi Tsuchida, who was affiliated with it, died on October 11 at 54.
81 Produce's 45th anniversary took the form of a merchandise line before it took the form of a statement about the agency itself. Bandai Namco Nui announced the Chibi Nui Sitting Mascot series on August 10, 2026, built around 14 male voice actors from the 81PRODUCE 45th Birthday LIVE event, among them Takuya Eguchi and Soma Saito. Each plush is about 10.5 cm tall. Release date, price, and sales method were not announced at the time.
Two months later, the agency's name appeared in a different register. On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 81 Produce announced that screen and voice actor Hiroshi Tsuchida died on October 11 due to heart failure. He was 54. The funeral was private, with close relatives only, in line with the family's wishes.
The roles listed in that announcement span animation, tokusatsu, and game dubbing. Tsuchida was born in Tokyo on February 8, 1972. He played Ninja Blue in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger and voiced Grisha Yeager in Attack on Titan, Koichiro Iketani in the Initial D: Legend film series, and J.J. Sexton in the four-episode Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt net anime. He voiced Trainer Okita in the 2023 Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top net series and its 2024 compilation film. His most recent anime roles were Shippo Marimo in Mebius Dust, which premiered on July 9, and King Lionel in The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom, which premiered on October 3. In dubbing he was the Japanese voice for Lightning McQueen in Cars and Cade Yeager in the Transformers live-action films.
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4d ago
Talent agency 81 Produce announced on Tuesday that screen and voice actor Hiroshi Tsuchida died on October 11 due to heart failure. He was 54. A private funeral was held with close relatives only, in line with the family's wishes. Tsuchida was born in Tokyo on February 8, 1972. He played Ninja Blue in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger and voiced Grisha Yeager in Attack on Titan, along with Kōichirō Iketani in the Initial D: Legend film series and J.J. Sexton in the four-episode Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt net anime. He voiced Trainer Okita in the 2023 Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Road to the Top net series and its 2024 compilation film. His most recent anime roles were Shippo Marimo in Mebius Dust, which premiered on July 9, and King Lionel in The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom, which premiered on October 3. In dubbing, he was the Japanese voice for Lightning McQueen in Cars and Cade Yeager in the Transformers live-action films.
Aug 15
Bandai Namco Nui announced the 81 Produce 45th anniversary Chibi Nui Sitting Mascot series on August 10, 2026. The lineup features 14 male voice actors from the 81PRODUCE 45th Birthday LIVE event, including Takuya Eguchi and Soma Saito. Each plush is about 10.5 cm tall. Release date, price, and sales method are not yet announced.