TARAKO (たらこ, Tarako, December 17, 1960 – March 4, 2024)[1][2][3][4] was a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. Her debut role was as a preschooler on Urusei Yatsura. She is better known as the voice of Momoko "Maruko" Sakura, the popular title character in the long-running anime series Chibi Maruko-chan which has been on the air since 1990, before her eventual death in March 2024 while the series is currently in its 34th season. She was employed by the talent management firm Troubadour Musique Office.[5][6] Tarako died on March 4, 2024, at the age of 63.[3][4]
TARAKO | |
|---|---|
 Tarako in 2015 | |
| Born | December 17, 1960 Ōta, Gunma, Japan[1] |
| Died | March 4, 2024 (aged 63) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–2024 |
| Employer | Troubadour Musique Office |
| Height | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
Filmography edit
Animation edit
Television edit
- Fushigi na Koala Blinky (Mark)
- Anpanman (Frankenrobo)
- Chibi Maruko-chan (Momoko Sakura – Marukochan) (1990-2024; her death)
- Coji-Coji (Suzie)
- Combat Mecha Xabungle (Chill)
- Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School (Monokuma)[7]
- Ganbare, Kickers! (Taichi Ohta)
- Hunter × Hunter (1999) (Melody)
- Kaiju no 8 (as the parasite)
- Kimba the White Lion (Lulu, other voices)
- Kindaichi Case Files (Asuka Minatoya)
- Magical Tarurūto-kun (Tarurūto)
- Meitantei Kageman (Kageman)
- Mikan Enikki (Mikan)
- Mushiking: King of the Beetles (Chibi King)
- NG Knight Ramune & 40 (Hebimetako)
- Nichijou (Plus-screw at episode 16)
- Noir (Altena)
- Patlabor: The TV Series (Tamiko Shinshi)
- Pluster World (Maurie)
- Trigun Stampede (Zazie the Beast)
- Urusei Yatsura (Sugar, preschooler, Sakura's Mother, Additional Voices)
- VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fire (Hebimetako)
- Urusei Yatsura (2022) (Wishing Star)
- Kaiju No. 8 (Mysterious Young Beast)
Original video animation (OVA) edit
- Hunter × Hunter OVA (Melody)
- NG Kishi Ramune & 40 DX (Hebimetako)
- NG Kishi Ramune & 40 EX (Hebimetako)
Films edit
- Castle in the Sky (Madge)
- My Neighbor Totoro (friend B)
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (boy)
- They Were 11 (Toto)
- Xabungle Graffiti (Chill)
- Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction (Debeko)[8]
Commercials edit
- Seiko Epson Colorio (Narration)
Drama CDs edit
- 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 edit
Films edit
Video games edit
- 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-Hen (Chiru)
- 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)[9]
- Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Monokuma)
- Inuyasha (Kirara)
- Magical Tarurūto-kun (Mega Drive version) (Tarurūto, 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 (Chiru)
- Super Robot Wars NEO (Hebimetako)
- Super Robot Wars OE: Operation Extend (Hebimetako)
- Super Robot Wars Z (Chiru)
- Tail Concerto (Panta)
- Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (Zero III)
Radio edit
- Tarako Falcom Pīhyarara
Other voiceover edit
- The Judge! Tokusuru Hōritsu File "Korette Tsumi Janai no" segment (Narration)
- Naruhodo! The World (Reporter)
- Quiz & Game Tarō to Hanako (Host)
- Okome (Narration)
- Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (Narration)
- Zenigata Kintarō (Narration)
Other
- Chibi Maruko-chan (Screenplay director)
- Noozles (Theme song performance)
Discography edit
Listed chronologically.
Albums edit
- 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)
References edit
- ^ a b "【TARAKO】プロフィール(年齢・身長) - エキサイトニュース". Excite News (in Japanese). Excite Japan. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ "TARAKO - タレントデータバンク" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "「まる子」声優のＴＡＲＡＫＯさん死去、６３歳…「いけずぅ」「わたしゃ疲れたよ」お茶の間に" (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "声優のTARAKOさん死去 「ちびまる子ちゃん」の主人公まる子役" (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ "TARAKO｜アニメキャラ・プロフィール・出演情報・最新情報まとめ". animate Times (in Japanese). animate. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Doi, Hitoshi. "Tarako". Seiyuu Database. July 5, 2010. Archived March 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "TARAKO Replaces Nobuyo Oyama as Monokuma in Danganronpa Franchise". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 24, 2024). "Tomokazu Sugita, TARAKO Join Cast of Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Anime Films". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "【2月12日】今日はPCE版『コットン』の発売26周年！【レトロゲーム】". Gamedrive. February 12, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
External links edit
- Official agency profile (in Japanese)
- Tarako at IMDb
- Tarako discography at MusicBrainz
- Tarako discography at Discogs
- Tarako at GamePlaza-Haruka Voice Acting Database (in Japanese)
- Tarako at Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database
- Official statement about the passing of Takaro
- Tarako at Anime News Network's encyclopedia