Japanese actress
Yūko Mizutani (水谷 優子, Mizutani Yūko, November 4, 1964 – May 17, 2016) was a Japanese actress, voice actress, narrator and singer from Ama District, Aichi. Throughout her career, she worked with Production Baobab, and was working with Aoni Production at the time of her death. Mizutani was best known for her anime voice roles of Sakiko Sakura in Chibi Maruko-chan, Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo! and Pinoko in Black Jack. She also portrayed Excellen Browning in Super Robot Wars, Sora Takenouchi in Digimon Adventure, Leina Stol in Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos, and Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Mizutani was the official Japanese voice actress for Minnie Mouse,[1] and voiced her in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.[2]
Since her death, Aya Endō took over as the new Japanese voice of Minnie Mouse.
Machiko Toyoshima took over as Sakiko Sakura as replacement in Chibi Maruko-chan.
Career
After graduating from the Institute for Youth Theater in 1985, Mizutani was signed to the Seinenza Theater Company's talent agency until 1989. She debuted in 1985 as an airfield announcer for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam while appearing on television in TV dramas. After playing the role of Sarah Zabiarov in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, her portrayals of Leina Stol in Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos and Apple in Zillion were highly praised and her popularity grew. In 1988, she starred as Hiromi Oka in Aim for the Ace! 2.
Since 1991, Mizutani had been the official voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse. In addition to animation and video games at the Tokyo Disney Resort, she also appeared as Minnie Mouse in attractions, shows, and parades.
She voiced the role of Sakiko Sakura in the anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from 1990 until her death.
In 1993 she voiced Pinoko, Black Jack's loyal assistant/adopted daughter, in Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack OVA. She reprised the role in an anime series from 2004 to 2011.
Mizutani was cast from 1995 to 1997 as Galaxy Police detective Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo!.
Personal life
In November 1994, she married Mizuho Nishikubo.[citation needed]
Death
On May 17, 2016, Mizutani died from breast cancer at the age of 51.[3]
Filmography
Anime television
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985–1986) – Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa
- Dirty Pair (1985) – Security Guard, Creamy Girl
- Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (1986–1987) – Leina Stōl
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986–1987) – Milly Childer
- Zillion (1987–1987) – Apple
- City Hunter (1987–1988) – Yoshimi Iwai
- Esper Mami (1987–1989) – Midori
- Tenkū Senki Shurato (1989–1990) – Lakshu of Kisshō Ten, Hōraisan
- Idol Densetsu Eriko (1989–1990) – Kaori Yamaguchi, Catherine, Reporter
- Idol Angel Yokoso Yoko (1990) – Kyoko Hoshihana
- Oishinbo (1990) – Kimiko Oide
- Yawara! (1990–1992) – Anna Teleshikova
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991) – Marie
- Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (1990–1991) – Omitsu
- Brave Exkaiser (1990) – Kumiko Morita
- Momotaro Densetsu (1990–1991) – Princess Kaguya (Second)
- Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–2016) – Sakiko Sakura, Keiko Uchida, Wakabayashi, Nagasawa's Mother, Yamane's Mother, Hiroshi Sakura (young)
- Jankenman (1991) – Aikko
- Ashita e Free Kick (1992) – Alyssa Montino
- Boyfriend (1992) – Aki Togawa
- Floral Magician Mary Bell (1992) – Paula
- Tekkaman Blade (1992) – Miyuki Aiba/Tekkaman Rapier, Noal's mother
- Tonde Burin (1994–1995) – Rikako Kokubu
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994–1995) – Black Joker
- Tico of the Seven Seas (1994–1995) – Cheryl Christina Melville
- Chō Kuse ni Narisō (1994–1995) – Sayaka Seijo
- Haō Taikei Ryū Knight (1994–1995) – Iori
- Dino Adventure Jurassic Tripper (1995) – Princess
- Tenchi Universe (1995) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
- Sorcerer Hunters (1995–1996) – Chocolate Misu
- Soar High! Isami (1995–1996) – Jasmine
- Shadow Skill (1995–2004) – Fouly
- Kiko-chan's Smile (1996) – Megumi-Sensei
- Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (1996) – Mihoshi Mizutani
- After War Gundam X (1996) – Carris Nautilus
- Martian Successor Nadesico (1996–1997) – Aqua Crimson
- Brave Command Dagwon (1996–1997) – Erika Serizawa
- Saber Marionette J (1996–1997) – Luchs
- Tenchi in Tokyo (1997) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
- Gakkyu-Oh Yamazaki (1997–1998) – Memeko-Sensei, Nakamoto
- Weiss Kreuz (1998) – Tot
- The Kindaichi Case Files (1998) – Satsuki Munakata
- Saber Marionette J to X (1998–1999) – Luchs
- Digimon Adventure (1999–2000) – Sora Takenouchi
- Excel Saga (1999–2000) – The Great Will of the Macrocosm
- Inuyasha (2000) – Sōten
- Detective Conan (2000) – Shinobu Shimon
- Digimon Adventure 02 (2000–2001) – Sora Takenouchi
- Go! Go! Itsutsugo Land (2001–2002) – Kinoko Morino
- The Family's Defensive Alliance (2001) – Junko Ejima
- Kirby: Right Back at Ya! (2001–2003) – Memu (Lady Like), Waddle Doo (Third), Mabel, Coo, Chilly, Walky, and Devil Frog
- Someday's Dreamers (2003) – Sachiko
- Cinderella Boy (2003) – Kei
- Zatch Bell! (2003–2006) – Sisters
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX (2004–2008) – Sara
- Black Jack (2004–2006) – Pinoko
- The Snow Queen (2005) – Claus
- Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl (2006) – Namiko Tsuki
- Super Robot Wars Original Generation: Divine Wars (2006–2007) – Excellen Browning
- Shiki (2010) – Kyōko Ozaki, Atsuko Yasumori
- Notari Matsutarō (2014) – Reiko Minami
- Ai Tenchi Muyo! (2014) – Mihoshi[4]
- Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal (2014–2016) – Ikuko Tsukino
- The Rolling Girls (2015) – Aya Suzumoto
OVA
Video games
Films
Dubbing
Live-action
Animation
Drama CDs
- Analyst no Yuutsu series 1: Benchmark ni Koi wo Shite – Chizuru Mizusawa
References
- ^ 声優・水谷優子さんが乳がんで死去、代表作は『ちびまる子ちゃん』 (in Japanese). Mynavi. May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ Lovett, Jamie (May 19, 2016). "Original Voice Actress For Digimon's Sora, Yuko Mizutani, Dies At 51". comicbook.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ 声優・水谷優子さん、乳がんで死去 『ちびまる子ちゃん』お姉ちゃんなど. Yahoo! News (in Japanese). May 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
- ^ "CAST・STAFF" (in Japanese). 愛・天地無用!アニメ公式サイト. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
- ^ "THE JUON/呪怨". Star Channel. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "サウスランド・テイルズ[吹]". Star Channel. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "バッドサンタ". The Cinema. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "Cast/ビバリーヒルズ高校白書". Paramount. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "嵐が丘(1992)". Star Channel. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
- ^ "(吹)ゴールデン・チャイルド[テレビ朝日版]". The Cinema. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "ノックオフ". DMM. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ "ロミーとミッシェルの場合". Star Channel. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ "狼女の香り-日本語吹替版コレクターズBOX-Vol.1". Happinet. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "ルームメイト". Star Channel. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ "ウェイトレス~おいしい人生のつくりかた [DVD]". Amazon. 7 November 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
External links
- Official agency profile (in Japanese)
- Yūko Mizutani at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Yūko Mizutani at IMDb