VA Kawakami Tomoko Passes Away

by dtshyk
Jun 10, 2011 1:22 AM | 199 Comments

According to Production BaoBab, seiyuu Kawakami Tomoko passed away on June 9th. She was 41 years old. She had been struggling against ovary cancer since 2008.

Director Ikuhara Kunihiko posted on his twitter that he contacted Kawakami on March 14th. She told him that she wanted to play in his new anime Mawaru Penguindrum.

Director Sato Junichi said Kawakami recorded the drama CD of Aria in September 2009. She recorded the voice alone because she was taking anti-cancer drugs and her doctor forbade her to be in crowds. The producers waited for five months until Kawakami's condition got stable. Sato said she was one of the irreplaceable seiyu.

Sources: Production Baobab, Oricon News, Ikuhara's tweet, Sato's tweet

Seiyuu Life Event

20 of 199 Comments Recent Comments

ryshin said:
just read it... still so sad.
cant forget her as Athena, Misuzu & Sayuri... Thanks for Everything. :"(

Same here :(

Nov 15, 2013 10:53 PM by Gaburi_Aberu

↑　that comment is sorta rude. you haven't seen every show she was in so you can't say that for sure. if you really want to say that then go watch everything she was in. otherwise just keep your mouth shut...

I loved her voice for kris kristopher in battle athletes victory!

Nov 15, 2013 5:17 PM by midori-

A shame really, though there was no one I cared about on her list.

Jun 20, 2013 5:39 AM by GodlyKyon

just read it... still so sad.
cant forget her as Athena, Misuzu & Sayuri... Thanks for Everything. :"(

Jun 20, 2013 4:28 AM by ryshin

I don't know how many people mentioned it, but I think Tomoko's performance as Utena in Revolutionary Girl Utena is some of the best voice acting I've heard.

Feb 26, 2013 4:52 PM by Ston3_FreeN7

The VA of Misuzu from Air dies of cancer.

She was also the VA of Shindou Hikaru, the protagonist of my favourite anime ;_;

Feb 26, 2013 4:12 PM by Kiraly

omg this is why Kugimiya Rie replace her as seiyuu of Miu in History's Disciple Kenichi OVA.

RIP. I will miss her voice

Feb 26, 2013 4:04 PM by Blackbuster

Misuzu, Athena, Illusion Girl (Ushio), Sayuri & Sumi....What a huge loss for the VA scene...finding about her passing hits like a truck whilst listening to some Aria music.... T_T

RIP, thanks for all the Animu memories~

Dec 24, 2012 12:35 PM by PhAzEsHiFt

Noooo! Utena!!! Emily!!!!

Dec 3, 2012 12:39 PM by 9988

Even after 1 year, RIP

Dec 3, 2012 10:56 AM by Warskippy

Even though she passed away a year ago, I still would like to say RIP.

Dec 2, 2012 10:59 AM by NintenJen

rest in peace..
for a while, i was listening to your voice,
it's really sad to realize that the one who i listened to now has passed away..

Dec 1, 2012 6:45 AM by Ibuki_Fuuko

You're one of my favorites... I will always remember you through your roles.. May you rest in peace, Kawakami-san.. Thank you...

Oct 4, 2012 5:13 AM by KeaRei

Why, God?.. ;_;

Oct 1, 2012 10:24 PM by burbels

Most of her roles Died like Kanon, Air, And Chrono Crusade.......

May She RIP missed her voice in doing The Heroine in Kenichi

Jul 26, 2012 8:51 AM by kutchero

Rest in Peace

Mar 3, 2012 9:18 PM by Kyo_Kagami

Thank you for your wonderful contribution to the anime industry, RIP.

Nov 24, 2011 11:36 AM by Duzell

"Alright, we came in late on that, and...(sighs) folks, this is the hardest part of our job...and the last time I had to do this was 2004 with Ritsuko Okazaki, but we have lost Tomoko Kawakami today"

-Kouhei Hasekura

P.S.: Rest In Peace, Tomoko Kawakami

Nov 24, 2011 4:14 AM by Arrazi7Hasekura

Rest in peace, may your good work and awesome voice influence us all =/

Jul 2, 2011 8:56 AM by Duutzul

RIP T_T

Jun 20, 2011 4:00 AM by Shin-Shitsuji

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