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Square Enix Replaces Pierre Taki as Voice of Olaf in Kingdom Hearts III in Patch

Square Enix announced on Thursday that it is replacing Denki Groove member and actor Pierre Taki (real name Masanori Taki) as the voice of Frozen's Olaf in the Japanese-dubbed version of the Kingdom Hearts III game. The game will get an update that replaces Taki, and the company will provide more details in the future.

The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported on Wednesday that Walt Disney Japan is considering replacing Taki as the voice of Olaf in the Frozen 2 sequel film. Taki also voiced the character Olaf in the Japanese dub of Disney's original Frozen film. Disney plans to release the Frozen 2 film sequel simultaneously in the United States and Japan on November 22.

Square Enix released the Kingdom Hearts III game on January 25 in Japan for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on January 29 in the West.

The Narcotics Control Department of Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry arrested Taki on Tuesday for alleged illegal possession and use of cocaine.

According to authorities, Taki tested positive for cocaine in a urine test conducted on Tuesday night. Authorities have confiscated his smartphone, and are investigating when and where he used it. Authorities also confiscated a rolled up South Korean won bill that he supposedly used as a straw. According to the Narcotics Control Department, Taki had been under investigation since fall last year.

Sega announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily cease sales of its Judgment (Judge Eyes: Shinigami no Yuigon) PlayStation 4 game. Taki voices a character in the game whose in-game model is also based on him. The game shipped in Japan last December, and is slated to ship worldwide in June.

Taki was also playing roles on NHK's Idaten ~Tokyo Olympic Banashi~ Taiga historical drama, TBS' Jinsei Saikō Restaurant variety show and Genbabito documentary program, and TBS' Tamamusubi radio program, all of which announced that they are "investigating appropriate responses" to the situation. He also narrates BS11's Sekai no Kokkyō o Aruitemitara program, which has announced that it will change the narrator for the program. Shizuoka Asahi TV canceled its Pierre Taki no Shonnai TV variety show.

Denki Groove's planned concert at Zepp Tokyo on Friday and Saturday has also been canceled.

Taki has performed theme songs for the Hakaba Kitarō anime, and he has also voiced roles in the Odenkun and Ganbare! Odenkun anime. He played the character Sōda in the live-action Attack on Titan films. His synthpop group Denki Groove performed songs for Eureka Seven, Hakaba Kitarō, Welcome to Irabu's Office, and the recent Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us film.

Sources: Square Enix, Famitsu.com