Seiyuu Yuuko Mizutani Dies at 51

by arsonal
May 19, 2016 1:34 AM | 50 Comments

Talent management agency Aoni Production announced on Thursday that seiyuu Yuuko Mizutani has died from breast cancer on Tuesday, May 17, at the age of 51.

The announcement was also posted on the official website of Chibi Maruko-chan, in which Mizutani voiced the title character's older sister Sakiko Sakura. She has voiced Sakiko since the first series began airing in 1990. Fuji Television released a statement that Mizutani has already completed recordings for the episodes scheduled for May 22 and 29, and the selection of a replacement will be announced at a later date.

Mizutani debuted as a seiyuu in 1985, voicing an unnamed announcer character in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, later also playing the role of Sarah Zabiarov. Her first lead role came the following year in Machine Robo: Chronos no Dai Gyakushuu. In 1987, Mizutani gained prominence as a seiyuu with her role as Apple Akai Koudan Zillion.

Following her role in Chibi Maruko-chan, Mizutani was also selected as the Japanese voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse character in 1991 and has continued to play that role to date. She is also well-known as a the voice of Pinoko in numerous iterations of the Black Jack anime. Mizutani joined Aoni Production in 2012, having left Production Baobab a year earlier.

Mizutani was married to director Mizuho Nishikubo, whom she met during the production of Akai Koudan Zillion.

Source: Gigazine, Oricon Style

Seiyuu Life Event

20 of 50 Comments Recent Comments

Say what?! Yuuko died? the voice of Sora and Pinoko? well, rest in peace and we'll never forget you.

Oct 15, 2016 12:54 PM by Kurt_Irving

:( sad to hear when good actors/voice actors die at sutch a young age she will be missed RIP

Jun 9, 2016 3:20 AM by An9el

What am I fighting for?

May 20, 2016 5:42 PM by QuattroVaginas

I've been avoiding death posts because I hate it, and I'm sick of this year.

I was legitimately devastated yesterday that I cried that morning. It doesn't make any sense. Basically, Mizutani was one of the main heroine C.Vs in anime, dubbing, and games (next to Miyamura, Yajima, Hayashibara if she's not MC; or today, it's Sato Rina, Kugimiya, Aoi Yuki, etc).

I'm gonna have to do something for her....

(now today, we lost Alan Young)

May 20, 2016 4:42 PM by shakeyourpup45

51 is not an age people should pass away.
Rest in peace and fuck cancer.

May 20, 2016 10:56 AM by TrashDax

RIP, sad news to hear ;_;

May 20, 2016 10:56 AM by Stark700

May she rest in peace..

May 20, 2016 8:39 AM by Elanin

May she rest in peace.

May 20, 2016 8:33 AM by removed-user

Rest in peace

I'm so sad :(

May 20, 2016 8:31 AM by Rayl1ght

Btw, not saying that look is important, but at her age to look so beautiful and have such a sweet smile...

May 20, 2016 7:53 AM by Kleferi

Rest in peace :'(
This sucks man.

May 20, 2016 4:34 AM by Tengai

Much, much too young...

May she rest in peace wherever she is now.

May 20, 2016 4:32 AM by Rachmaninow

Wow, she died pretty young. :/ May she rest in peace. :<

Fuck Cancer.

May 20, 2016 3:08 AM by Kotarou_

RIP and my condolences to her family and loved ones.
Excellen, Mihoshi, Sora, Apple (I loved Zillion on the SMS); She voiced a lot of great characters.

May 19, 2016 11:13 PM by Sainijon

She's dead!?

Never has an acchonburike been more appropriate than now, goodbye to one of the best cutesy voices in the industry, she will be greatly missed.

May 19, 2016 8:40 PM by Jerkhov

RIP. Done in by breast cancer, such a shame.

May 19, 2016 8:30 PM by bobzanny

Rest in Peace ;(

Anime industry is surely affects the health stability of the people who are involve in making anime series, specially those seiyuus that have irregular schedules :/

May 19, 2016 5:03 PM by HunterKhim

RIP 😓 ............

May 19, 2016 4:25 PM by rainsinz

Sora from Digimon? That sucks. Cancer is horrible. :(

RIP

May 19, 2016 3:38 PM by malvarez1

Damn it, what the fuck is with this year...?! A another star in the sky is disappeared, R.I.P. Mizutani-san, I hope that you peace finding will!

My deep condolences going to her family first and then to her friends.

Edit: Man, really. My childhood voices dying and dying...T_T

May 19, 2016 1:32 PM by Tenryuu1

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