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so long and thanks for all the fish

Prolific Anime Voice Actress Tomoko Kawakami Dies

by Jamie Frevele | 12:30 pm, June 10th

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Tomoko Kawakami, who provided the voices of numerous anime characters including Soifon in Bleach and most famously, Utena in Revolutionary Girl Utena, has passed away after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 40 years old, and had continued to perform while she was ill. Kawakami had found a niche voicing tomboyish characters, including Utena, the teenage girl who decided to become a prince.

In addition to her most famous role, Kawakami has starring roles in Air, Chrono Crusade, Hikaru no Go, and Sgt. Frog. Her first role came, in which she played a young boy in Metal Fighter Miku, in 1994 and was quickly followed by her first regular gig, Fushigi Yuugi. She became well-known in the shōjo-ai genre during her career and played a number of characters in paranormal films and series. In her star-making role as Utena, Kawakami gave voice to a teenage character who crossed the lines of gender to protect a fellow student from abuse who might also be the key to an upcoming revolution.

Kawakami had been hospitalized since 2008. Anime News Network reports that as a result of her illness, she had to give up the role of Kaoru in the adaptation of Yamane Ayano‘s Ikoku Irokoi Romantan.

(Anime News Network)

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  • Anonymous

    Oh no!

    My prayers are with her family at this time.

    Fandom in general has taken a big hit with her death.  Q.Q

  • http://twitter.com/WanderinDreamr dreamer

    And just as the (gorgeous) rerelease of Utena is hitting the states, think I might have to start rewatching that sooner than I expected. Rest in peace and her family is in my thoughts.

  • Ceili

    Oh, god, that’s so sad! I’m a huge fan of her work, have been for years and years now. And so young, too… ugh. Why does the world suck so much? 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001290784496 Rena Current

    Oh my god…. RIP you fought hard…there was no one else like you

  • wallace werner

    NOT CHIRIKO!! i loved her in fushigi yuugi. she will be missed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Javon-Hernandez/706489182 Javon Hernandez

    Aw man. She was really pretty. :l

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Justin-Singletary/100000537557513 Justin Singletary

    rip miss Tomoko Kawakami your beautful voice will nit before gotten