Midori Katō

is a Japanese actress, voice actress, and narrator who is most famous for the role of Sazae Fuguta from the long-running family anime Sazae-san. She is also known for voicing Yoshiko in Sally the Witch and Osomatsu Matsuno in Osomatsu-kun (1966).

Biography Early life and career Midori Katō was born on 15 November 1939 in Tokyo Prefecture, which would later become Tokyo Metropolis four years after her birth, in the Empire of Japan. She was educated at in Suginami ward and , the now-defunct school of the troupe. She originally wanted to be an actress in shinpa, but she was unable to perform any of the required arts, and she expected that it would change if it was taught at a low price.

After the expiration of her three-year priority contract with NHK, Katō met a producer at Toei Animation and started her career as a voice actor in anime television. Kato introduced herself as "Sazae", believing that she would be recognized with just the nameplate, and the Emperor and Empress responded with a smile.

In 2013 Guinness World Records recognized Sazae-san as the longest running animated series, surpassing The Simpsons which went on air in 1989. On 6 October 2019, Katō and fellow Sazae-san voice actor Takako Sasuga were recognized by Guinness World Records in the category of "longest career as a voice actor for the same character in an animated television series", having at that point voiced their characters for 50 years and 1 day.

With the death of Takako Sasuga in 2023, Kato became the only cast member to continue appearing in the series since the first episode, making her the oldest. 2024 saw her break her own Guinness World Record. In an interview with The New York Times, she predicted that she would continue to voice-act “as long as I'm healthy and alive,” and revealed that she does not drink or smoke and does not stay out late at night for her role as Sazae.

Other work In 1989, Katō began performing on her own stage, receiving a request from a producer of a television station who watched the stage. The series' selection in the 2003 "New Word / Buzzword Awards" earned her an appearance at an award ceremony there.

Filmography Anime Shōnen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru (1964) - Midori, Mika Sally the Witch (1966) - Yoshiko Hanamura, Ultra Bā-san Tobidase! Bacchiri (1966) - Benmatsu Kaminaribō ya Pikkari Bi (1967) - Pontarō Pyunpyunmaru (1967) - Chibimaru Fight Da!! Pyūta (1968) Yuuyake Banchō (1968) - Chuji Akagi Sazae-san (1969) - Sazae Fuguta Hakushon Daimaou (1969) - Kan-chan

TV drama Fushigi'na Pack (1960, voice) Oyako (1960) Tenshi no heya (1960), Yōko Harada Nōfu arite (1961) Speed Jidai episode 1 "Speed no miryoku" (1963) Tegami no Onna (1963) Docchi ga docchi (1972) Wild 7 (1972-1973, episodes 1, 2, 3 and 9) Ganbare!! Robocon (1974-1976) - Mama/Shoko Oyama Dakara Seishun: Naki Mushikōshien (1983) Nihon no On'na Series II: Haru no Kage (1981) Watashi no Kawaii Hito (1986) Sazae-san (2009) - Namihei's co-worker Ōsama no Mimi wa Roba no Mimi: Girisha Shinwa yori (1999, voice)