On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the anime Detective Conan (名探偵コナン) re-aired the classic episode #R166 “Conan vs. the Magician (Part 1)” (digital remaster version), returning to broadcast one day after fans worldwide learned of the passing of Yamazaki Wakana, the long-serving voice actress behind Mouri Ran (毛利蘭), who passed away on April 18, 2026.
Yamazaki Wakana and Her Unforgettable Role
Yamazaki Wakana was born on March 21, 1965, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She voiced Mouri Ran in the TV series Detective Conan from the very first broadcast in 1996, and continued in the role for nearly 30 years. In February 2026 it was announced that she would be stepping back from work to receive treatment for an illness, beginning from episode #1266 on March 14, 2026. Okamura Akemi, known for voicing Nami in ONE PIECE (ワンピース), stepped in as her temporary replacement.
For the most recent theatrical film Detective Conan: The Angel Who Glides Through the Skies (名探偵コナン ハイウェイの堕天使), which opened on April 10, 2026, Yamazaki had already completed her voice recording in full before falling ill, and thus continued to appear in the film as originally scheduled.
A Farewell Tribute from the Anime World
Following news of her passing, the staff of Detective Conan, including original creator Aoyama Gosho, publicly expressed their grief, as did fellow cast members such as Yamaguchi Kappei (voice of Kudou Shinichi / Conan Edogawa) and Matsui Naoko (voice of Suzuki Sonoko, Ran’s close friend). It was also confirmed that Okamura Akemi will permanently take over the role of Ran in the TV series going forward.
The Broadcast Fans Had Been Waiting for with Bated Hearts
Before the episode aired, social media was already flooded with messages from fans declaring their determined intent to watch — whether “sad, but I’ll watch through to the end,” “today I’m watching with my full heart, I won’t do anything else,” or “it’s been so long since I’ve watched Conan live.”
Because this was a re-air of a classic episode, the voice of Ran remained that of Yamazaki Wakana. The moment Ran’s image appeared during the opening theme, fans posted in droves: “I was already crying just from the OP,” “just seeing her face next to Shinichi and I’m in tears,” and “I heard Yamazaki’s voice from the very first line — I can’t hold it together.”
A Tribute Message and Fan Reactions
During the opening of the episode, a message appeared at the bottom of the screen reading: “Voice actress Yamazaki Wakana passed away very recently. We offer our deepest condolences.” Some fans were moved to tears simply seeing it appear, while others felt the message was somewhat brief, with comments such as “I didn’t expect a tribute message right at the start” or “Is that really all? Feels a little short, doesn’t it?”
Beyond that, the fact that Kamiya Akira, the original first-generation voice actor, was still providing the voice of Mouri Kogoro in this episode drew much discussion. Long-time fans shared feelings like “today Conan has its veteran cast together — the whole Mouri family,” and “Yamazaki’s voice alongside Kamiya’s — that’s the combination we all grew up with.”
End Credits and a Closing Song That Made Tears Flow Without End
In the closing credits, the name “Mouri Ran — Yamazaki Wakana” appeared alongside an image of Ran standing beneath a cherry blossom tree, accompanied by the song “TOWA ～永久に風に乗る～” performed by Kuraki Mai. The delicate, sorrow-laden melody reduced countless fans to unstoppable tears, with comments such as “it hurts too much,” “I want to keep this song on repeat forever,” and “this song today felt especially precious.”
Next Week — One Last Chance to Hear Her Voice Once More
This broadcast felt like a precious gift sent straight to the fans, offering one final opportunity to hear Yamazaki Wakana’s voice. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, fans will get to meet Ran in her voice one more time in the episode “Conan vs. the Magician (Part 2)”, before this beloved role is passed on for good.
Source: aniani
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