A day after news broke of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s passing, Japanese anime fans are reeling over another high-profile death.
Tarako, who voiced the lead in the popular anime series Chibi Maruko-chan, has died from an illness at the age of 63.
Source: @tweet_maruko on X
She had played the role since the series started airing 34 years ago.
According to the agency, Tarako — whose real name it did not reveal — died in the early hours of Monday (4 March) morning.
She had been battling an unspecified illness since the beginning of the year.
But her condition took a turn for the worse, leading to her untimely death.
Only close relatives attended her funeral, though the company is considering holding a memorial for her in the future.
Troubadour Musique Office declined to reveal more details as they were “personal information”.
According to a statement on the Chibi Maruko-chan official website, Tarako played the titular character Maruko for 34 years.
Source: @tweet_maruko on X
The first episode of the series aired on 7 Jan 1990.
An audition by the late Momoko Sakura — who created the manga the show is based on — led to the selection of the voice actress, reported Kyodo News.
She was 63 at the time of her passing.
Tarako’s final appearance as Maruko will happen on 24 March in a one-hour episode titled ‘Maruko, Do You Know the Taste of Water?’
Henceforth, producers are considering how the search for her replacement will be conducted, the official website said.
When the new episodes voiced by the successor will be aired is also under consideration.
The long-running series focuses on a nine-year-old girl, Maruko, and her friends and family living in Shizuoka, Japan in the 1970s.
Source: @tweet_maruko on X
Meant to depict the everyday lives of its characters, the show won viewers for the troublemaking adventures of its playful but loveable protagonist.
Source: @tweet_maruko on X
Staff of the show were quoted by the official website as saying that they were surprised by Tarako’s sudden passing.
She was “the very essence” of Chibi Maruko-chan, they added, and she was eager to record till the end even when lying in the hospital.
Yusaku Yara, who played Maruko’s father, said he was “stunned” and couldn’t find the words to say goodbye so suddenly.
Sadatomo Ichiryusai, who played Maruko’s mother, said she “can’t find a way” to deal with the loss as Tarako was a “master of caring” who always looked out for everyone.
Tarako’s death came just three days after that of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, who passed away on 1 March at the age of 68.
The cause of his death was acute subdural hematoma — a form of blood clot — according to a statement by the Dragon Ball franchise.
His passing prompted an outpouring of grief and disbelief from anime fans, with even French President Emmanuel Macron paying tribute to him on X.
Also read: Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama dies aged 68 from blood clot in brain
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Featured image adapted from @tweet_maruko on X.
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