Sad news for One Piece fans: the legendary Kazuki Yao, voice of Cyborg Franky, is officially stepping away from the role. The franchise’s X (formerly Twitter) account broke the announcement on Sunday, stating this decision followed extensive discussions. Yao’s departure will be marked with a “graduation ceremony” during the One Piece stage event at Jump Festa ’25 on 22 December, where his successor will also be revealed.

Yao, who has given life to Franky for nearly 25 years, shared his thoughts on X, expressing the bittersweet nature of the decision.  “A sad farewell has come, a separation with a person I have spent nearly a quarter of a century with.” he wrote. Yao explained that a gap had grown between his portrayal of the “ideal” Franky and his current self, leading him to “depart from the Thousand Sunny for now.” While the news is heart-wrenching, Yao hinted at exciting prospects, reassuring fans that a “su~per~ replacement” is ready to take the helm.

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According to Anime News Network, this isn’t the first role Yao has stepped back from recently. Due to health concerns, Wataru Takagi replaced him as Jango in One Piece Episode 1,121, and the actor has also been substituted in other projects. For instance, KENN took over Yao’s role as Judau Ashta in the Mobile Suit Gundam: U.C. Engage game in September, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts.

Meanwhile, the One Piece anime is on a brief hiatus. Its current Egghead arc is set to resume in April 2025, while fans can enjoy the Fish-Man Island Saga Log, a polished, abridged retelling of the beloved arc, in the meantime.

As we prepare to bid farewell to Yao’s unforgettable Franky, one thing’s clear: his contributions have left a super legacy for the One Piece crew and fans alike. We will all miss him dearly.