Akio Otsuka links Metal Gear return to Hideo Kojima

What happened

In a multi-part interview with Weekly Bunshun, Akio Otsuka discussed his career and whether he would ever want to work on a new Metal Gear game. The core of his response is that he does not see that possibility separately from Hideo Kojima, with whom he was tied to the series for many years. The report describes that as a clear condition: without Kojima, Otsuka does not feel naturally connected to a new step in the franchise.

The report does not include a full direct quote, but it clearly frames Otsuka as being cautious about a new Metal Gear without Kojima. That lines up with earlier coverage of the same remark, where his connection to Kojima was the main focus. The available summary also notes that the comments came as part of a multi-part interview, suggesting the Metal Gear remarks were one part of a broader conversation about his career rather than a standalone short answer.

Alongside his work as a voice actor, the article also touches on his life before that career. Otsuka reportedly left school, worked as a truck driver for Nissan, and even considered becoming a tuna fisherman before moving into acting through the theater. According to the report, he followed in his father’s footsteps in theater before eventually entering the voice-acting world. That background is used in the article to show how unusual his path to a long career in voice acting was.

The report also mentions several well-known roles to underline his standing in Japanese entertainment. In addition to Solid Snake, it cites Master Xehanort in the Japanese dub of Kingdom Hearts and Blackbeard in One Piece. That positions Otsuka as a voice actor with a broad portfolio, which matters because his Metal Gear comments come from someone associated with major franchises for decades, not from a one-off guest performance.

Background

Akio Otsuka is a well-established name in the Japanese voice-acting scene and is identified in the report as the voice of Solid Snake. The article also cites roles such as Master Xehanort in the Japanese dub of Kingdom Hearts and Blackbeard in One Piece, underlining his status as an experienced voice actor. Together, those roles show that he is not tied to just one franchise, but to multiple major long-running series in games and anime.

Hideo Kojima remains the key factor in this story. According to the report, Otsuka ties any possible return to Metal Gear directly to Kojima’s involvement, bringing the old collaboration between voice actor and director back into the spotlight. That matters because Metal Gear has historically been strongly associated with Kojima, and Otsuka’s name comes up in the report precisely because of that long-running connection to the series.

The provided text also emphasizes that Otsuka’s career did not begin in a standard way. He reportedly left school, worked as a truck driver for Nissan, and even considered becoming a tuna fisherman. Only after that did he move into acting through theater, eventually becoming a voice actor. That sequence is explicitly mentioned in the report and forms an important part of the portrait it paints of him.

That portrait is further rounded out by the mention that he is 66 years old. Combined with his long list of roles and his history in theater and voice work, the report presents him as a veteran who has been active in the industry for a long time. That is exactly why his Metal Gear comment carries extra weight: he is not just a recognizable voice, but someone who knows the franchise from years of involvement.

Related GAME-scanner articles

• Akio Otsuka wants a new Metal Gear, but only with Hideo Kojima

Sources

• Weekly Bunshun, multi-part interview with Akio Otsuka, as cited in the provided report.
• Kotaku, report on Akio Otsuka and a possible Metal Gear return with Hideo Kojima.