One of the
longest-running careers in voice acting has come to an end. It has been
officially confirmed that seiyuu veteran Masako Ikeda passed
away on March 3 at the age of 87.
The
information shared by his representative agency details that the cause of death
was a brain hemorrhage. In accordance with the actress's wishes, her closest
relatives have already held a private funeral in Tokyo, without announcing
immediate plans to hold a memorial event open to the public or the industry.
Masako
Ikeda Details
Born on
January 1, 1939, in Tokyo, Ikeda maintained an uninterrupted career that
spanned more than seven decades, spanning voice acting, narration, and
international dubbing. Throughout his professional career, his work was
recognized with important awards, including the Merit Award at the first
edition of the Seiyuu Awards in 2007 and the Meritorious
Service Award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2020.
About the actress
Beyond
traditional Japanese animation, Ikeda served as the lead narrator on works such
as Katanagatari, Barbapapa, and Before Green
Gables. Her impact also extended to the dubbing of Western productions,
where she established herself for years as the official Japanese voice of
Hollywood stars such as Audrey Hepburn and Meryl Streep.
