Chibi Maruko-chan Voice Actress Tarako Passed Away at 63
Renowned voice actress Tarako, known for her role as the voice of Chibi Maruko-chan in the popular anime, has passed away at the age of 63.
The sad news comes just a day after the announcement of the death of the Dragon Ball anime creator last Saturday.
Chibi Maruko-chan, a beloved manga and anime series in Japan, revolves around the everyday life of a cheerful and imaginative third-grade girl named Maruko. Living with her parents and grandfather in a small town, Maruko and her friends navigate various adventures and common challenges faced by children of their age in each episode.
Tarako, a versatile artist not only known for her voice acting but also as a singer-songwriter, actor, and TV show narrator, passed away under unconfirmed circumstances. The official Chibi Maruko-chan website, in collaboration with Nippon Animation, released a statement to inform fans about this unfortunate news.
While Tarako's exact cause of death remains uncertain, reports from The Japan Times suggest that she may have succumbed to an illness she had been battling since the beginning of the year, persevering in her work despite the health challenges.
The final episode of her project with Fuji Television Network is scheduled to air on March 24. Prior to her iconic role as Maruko, Tarako lent her voice to characters in other anime series such as 'Mezon Ikkoku' and 'Urusei Yatsura' during the 1980s.
Having won the audition and being personally chosen by Momoko Sakura, the manga's creator, Tarako dedicated 34 years to voicing Maruko. The semi-autobiographical TV show featuring a 9-year-old girl achieved remarkable success, reaching a viewership share of 39.9% in Japan in October – a milestone for an anime series.
Source: ANN