Tarako

Biography Early life Born in Japan in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo Ever since she was in the second or third grade of elementary school, she had been a member of the music club, and would play the recorder.

In the fifth grade, she moved from Edogawa Ward to Gunma Prefecture.

Career In 1981, Tarako made her debut as a voice actress as a preschooler in the Urusei Yatsura television anime series. At the time, she couldn't make a living from just doing voice acting, so also worked in various part-time jobs.

In 1990, she started voicing the titular character of Momoko "Maruko" Sakura in the Chibi Maruko-chan television anime series,

She was the head of the theater company WAKU, also writing, directing, and performing in numerous stage productions.

In 2016, it was announced that she had been selected to replace Nobuyo Ōyama in the role of Monokuma for the Danganronpa franchise due to Ōyama suffering from dementia.

Around November 2023, Tarako was diagnosed with a serious illness for which she was immediately hospitalized. At the beginning of her hospital stay, she was still well enough to continue voice acting. However, her condition gradually worsened to the point where she could no longer stand up and showed no signs of improvement.

Tarako died on March 4, 2024, at the age of 63. She had recorded her final lines for Chibi Maruko-Chan in the days before her death.

The producers of Chibi Maruko-chan, as well as her talent agency Troubadour, Fuji Television and Nippon Animation announced her death to the public five days later on March 9, 2024.

At the beginning of the March 10 broadcast of the Chibi Maruko-chan anime that year, a memorial message from the entire voice cast and staff of Chibi Maruko-chan was shown at the beginning. Days later on March 15, Megami no Marche, a show that she had served as the narrator for many years on, had a memorial tribute message for her shown at the beginning of that day's episode broadcast.

In the eulogy written by the staff of Chibi Maruko-chan, they said she had been eager to continue voicing Maruko even while in the hospital and continued through her illness with "great love" for her work.

The last episode Tarako recorded as Maruko aired as a one-hour special on March 24, 2024 on Fuji TV and other FNS stations.

Following her death, Kokoro Kikuchi took over the role of Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan after the show resumed with new episodes on April 21, 2024.

On June 15, 2024, a farewell gathering titled TARA-chan Arigatou no Kai ~Taisetsu na Kimi he~ was held, with Yusaku Yara, Bin Shimada, Machiko Toyoshima, Keaton Yamada (who retired from voice acting in March 2021), Kōichi Yamadera, Bakushō Mondai (Hikari Ōta, Yuji Tanaka), and Minoru Kihara being amongst those in attendance. Yamada and Hikara gave out eulogies as "words of graditude".

Filmography Animation Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role(s) Notes Source 1981 Urusei Yatsura Preschooler, Sugar, Sakura's mother, Additional voices Debut voice acting role Miss Machiko Additional voices 1983 Story of the Alps: My Annette Pierre Mrs. Pepper Pot Chip, Don Main roles The Many Dream Journeys of Meme Orville Wright (childhood) Ep. 10 Bemubemu Hunter Kotengumaru Nina Debuts in Ep. 16 Tao Tao Ehonkan Tao Tao Lead role Fushigi no Kuni no Alice Alice Lead role 1984 Noozles Mark, Louie, Cassowary Bird 1985 Star Musketeer Bismark Bena, Ron Cat's Eye Yūichi Ep. 64 Lupin the 3rd Part III Additional voice Ep. 44 1986 Maison Ikkoku Boy A, Akemi, Asami Boy A in Ep. 11, Akemi in Ep. 93 Ganbare, Kickers! Taichi Ōta Main role 1988 Mami the Psychic Tennis Club Member Debuts in Ep. 47 The Three Musketeers Andre Ep. 17 Bigger and Better: Dommel & Ron Bob Lovely Main role Bikkuriman Yoisuke, Jikeseen 1989 Patlabor the Mobile Police on Television Tamiko Shinshi Debuts in Ep. 2 The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion Additional voices, Lulu Lulu in Ep. 38 1990 Chibi Maruko-chan Momoko "Maruko" Sakura Lead role Sally the Witch 2 Penguin, Chun Penguin in Ep. 12, Chun in Ep. 31 Let's Go! Anpanman Little Cupid, Frankenrobo First voice NG Knight Ramune & 40 Heavy Meta-Ko Debuts in Ep. 2 Delightful Moomin Family Martian Child, Mesomeso Martian Child in Ep. 16, Mesomeso in Ep. 23 Magical Taruruto-kun Taruruto Lead role 1992 Dragon Ball Z Tama Debuted in Ep. 123 Mikan Enikki Mikan Lead role 1994 Tama of Third Street: Have You Seen My Tama? Navi Appears in "Futari no Nora" Cooking Papa Ako 1995 Chibi Maruko-chan Momoko "Maruko" Sakura Lead role; First voice 1996 VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fire Heavy Meta-Ko 1997 Sakura Momoko Theater Coji-Coji Suzie 1998 Kindaichi Case Files Asuka Minatoya Debuted in Ep. 56 2000 Hunter × Hunter Melody 2001 Noir Altena Tantei Shōnen Kageman Kageman 2002 Kasumin Straw Doll Ep. 18 2003 Astro Boy Shiowamu Ep. 1 Pluster World Maurie Main role 2005 Akuei to Gacchinpo: Tenkomori Cake Fairy Ep. 17 Mushiking: King of the Beetles Chibi King Lead role 2006 Majime ni Fumajime: Kaiketsu Zorori Kaiju-ko Ep. 73 2011 Nichijou Plus-screw, Narration Ep. 16 2013 Minna Daisuki Sorajiro Sorajiro 2016 Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School Monokuma 2023 Trigun Stampede Zazie the Beast First voice Urusei Yatsura Wishing Star Ep. 17 2024 Kaiju No. 8 Mysterious Young Beast

Original video animation (OVA) Hunter × Hunter OVA (Melody) NG Kishi Ramune & 40 DX (Hebimetako) NG Kishi Ramune & 40 EX (Hebimetako)

Theatrical animation Xabungle Graffiti (Chill) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Boy) Castle in the Sky (Madge) They Were 11 (Toto) My Neighbor Totoro (Friend B) Chibi Maruko-chan (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura") Chibi Maruko-chan: A Boy from Italy (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction (Debeko)

Commercials Seiko Epson Colorio (Narration)

Drama CDs Eiyū Densetsu III: Shiroki Majo "Wakatareta Mizuumi" (Ban Ban) Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II: Heroine-tachi no Tanjōbi (Kururu) Popful Mail Paradise 4–5 (Nairu) Tarako Pappara Paradise (Tarako-neesan, Kururu, Nairu, Ban Ban, Obāsan

Live action

Films Tsuribaka Nisshi 3

Video games 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-Hen (Chill) Chibi Maruko-chan: Maruko Deluxe Quiz (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan: Mezase! Minami no Island!! (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan no Taisen Puzzle Dama (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan: Maruko Enikki World (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan DS Maru-chan no Machi (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams (PC Engine version) (Nata de Cotton) Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Monokuma) Inuyasha (Kirara) Magical★Taruruto-kun (Mega Drive game) (Taruruto, listed as Taluluto) Momotarō Dōchūki (Chibi Bonbī) One Piece: Unlimited World Red (Pato) Sakura Momoko Gekijō Koji Koji (Sūjī) Super Bomberman: Panic Bomber W Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden (Chill) Super Robot Wars NEO (Hebimetako) Super Robot Wars OE: Operation Extend (Hebimetako) Super Robot Wars Z (Chill) Tail Concerto (Panta) Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (Zero III)

Radio Tarako Falcom Pīhyarara

Other voiceover Fuji TV The Judge! Tokusuru Hōritsu File "Korette Tsumi Janai no" segment (Narration) Naruhodo! The World (Reporter) Quiz & Game Tarō to Hanako (Host)

NHK Educational Okome (Narration)

TBS Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (Narration)

TV Asahi Zenigata Kintarō (Narration)

Other Chibi Maruko-chan (Screenplay director) Noozles (Theme song performance)

Discography Listed chronologically.

Albums Totte Oki no Shunkan (1983) Kaze ga Chigau (1984) Warawanai Koibito (1985) Kokuhaku (1985) Sukoshi Dake Ai ga Tarinai (1986) Anata ga Daisuki (1990) Kanojo (1991) My dear (1991) Tengoku yori Takai Toko Ikō yo (1993) Wāi. (1995)