🚨 SHOCKING BETRAYAL TO ONE PIECE LEGACY: GOL D. ROGER’S ICONIC VOICE JUST GOT REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN EPISODE 1153 – AND FANS ARE LOSING THEIR MINDS! 😱🔥

One Piece may be on the cusp of its biggest anime change ever thanks to adopting the seasonal format in April 2026, but its latest subtle swap of Gol D. Roger has not gone unnoticed. As confirmed by One Piece episode #1153’s ending credits, Roger’s latest voice actor per the flashback to his execution at Loguetown is Shunsuke Sakuya.

Considering the series has run for over 26 years at this point, One Piece has run into similar issues as The Simpsons, with its cast aging out of their roles. Roger’s adult voice has had two other key actors before, Chikao Ōtsuka and Masane Tsukayama, but in this latest instance, his weathered, powerful final words immediately stood out to viewers.

One Piece Features a New Roger Voice Actor in the Egghead Arc

Passing on the Straw Hat

With Chikao Ōtsuka tragically passing away in 2015, and latest Roger actor Masane Tsukayama now being 81 years old, it makes sense why One Piece would need to recast the role over time. He’s a pivotal figure to the One Piece, and this latest change suggests potentially more recorded lines in the near future as the Elbaph arc plays out.

While Kazuki Yao’s retirement from the Franky role was met more ceremoniously with a proper graduation moment, Roger’s role is not bound to be as consistently present in the One Piece anime. This change begs the question of what else the former Pirate King has to say via flashbacks. But the striking vocal difference is quite clear for Roger’s voice.

Shunsuke Sakuya, who is commonly miscredited with the surname Sakino, appears with his name next to Roger’s among the cast in the ending credits of One Piece episode #1153. Known for his roles as Kashiwagi and the Bartender from the Yakuza games, as well as Sakon and Ukon of the Sound Four from Naruto, the 60-year-old talent shows impressive range.

Voice Casting in One Piece Continues to Make Headlines

Just Ask Shamrock

Custom Image by Merlyn De Souza

With recent stories like Joyboy’s voice being confirmed, and Kenjiro Tsuda lending his unique and iconic voiceover talents for Figarland Shamrock, it’s clear how seriously One Piece’s anime takes its casting. With it standing as anime’s most iconic ongoing franchise, any choices and changes to foundational figures like Gol D. Roger are bound to be noticed.

Still, with no formal statement yet given about Roger’s voice, it’s uncertain whether this will be addressed, such as at Jump Festa 2026. With the anime now featuring three different voices for the role, as well as Takeshi Kusao portraying a young Roger, Sakuya’s reveal may be the final one as One Piece cruises into its final arc.