It appears that a new voice actor has joined the cast of One Piece. Recent reports had hinted at the anime’s search for new talent to voice Dragon, Luffy’s enigmatic father and leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Now, that search has concluded, and the character of Dragon has been brought to life once again. One Piece has reintroduced Dragon to the screen after years of absence, and Kazuhiro Inoue, known for his role as Kakashi, has been chosen to lend his voice to the sailor.

Inoue, who is 69 years old, has taken over the role of Dragon from Hidekatsu Shibata, who turns 87 later this month.

Shibata, renowned for his voice work as Hiruzen Sarutobi in Naruto and Igneel in Fairy Tail, has gradually stepped back from his roles in recent years. Now, Inoue steps into the shoes of Dragon, adding another iconic character to his extensive resume.

Although Inoue is best known for portraying Kakashi in Naruto, his career spans various anime titles, including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Now, he brings his talents to the world of One Piece.

In terms of Dragon’s portrayal, the character remains as formidable as ever. He makes his return in One Piece’s Egghead Island arc through a flashback, revealing an unexpected connection to Dr. Vegapunk.

For those eager to delve deeper into their shared history, the One Piece anime is available for streaming on Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Netflix.

For fans seeking more information about One Piece, the official synopsis provides a glimpse into the series’ adventurous spirit:

“Monkey D. Luffy, inspired by the tales of the buccaneer ‘Red-Haired’ Shanks, dreams of becoming the king of pirates. However, his life takes a drastic turn after consuming the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit, granting him the ability to stretch like rubber but condemning him to a life without swimming. Undeterred, Luffy embarks on a journey in search of the legendary ‘One Piece,’ the greatest treasure in the world.”