Tarako, a famous Japanese voice actress best known for playing Maruko in the beloved TV show “Chibi Maruko Chan,” passed away due to illness on Monday at the age of 63.
Her talent agency shared that Tarako had been working despite her illness since the start of this year. Unfortunately, her condition took a sudden turn for the worse.
Tarako, originally from Gunma Prefecture in eastern Japan, started her career as a voice actress playing a kindergartner in the “Urusei Yatsura” anime series in 1981.
She voiced the character of Maruko, a young elementary school girl, in the “Chibi Maruko Chan” series for over 30 years. The anime series began in 1990, and Tarako continued to lend her voice to Maruko throughout its run.
After Tarako’s passing, Fuji Television Network Inc. announced that previous episodes of “Chibi Maruko Chan” will be aired again for now, starting from Sunday.
The last episode featuring Tarako as Maruko will be shown on March 24. As of now, a replacement for Tarako in the anime series has not been chosen.
Tarako also lent her voice to various other roles, such as Taruruto, the main character in the TV anime series “Magical Taruruto-kun.
Tarako’s family informed Fuji Television about her passing through a letter, explaining that her health had been getting worse since the beginning of the year. The exact cause of her death has not been shared.
In a 2023 interview, Tarako talked about being at peace with death, saying,
“I’m no longer afraid of death. When I go to heaven, I’ll be able to see my parents, my dog, and my cat. I’ll also meet my friends who have become angels.” She added, “Don’t wear mourning clothes. Just wear the clothes you would normally wear when meeting someone.”
Tarako’s nickname, which came from her way of talking as a child, stayed with her throughout her life. Aside from her voice acting work, she was also active in theater and even started her own theater group called “Waku Produce.”
The anime “Chibi Maruko-chan” showed the everyday lives of Maruko, her family, and friends in Shizuoka during the mid-1970s.
Created by Momoko Sakura, the series became a hit not just in Japan but also in other Asian countries such as China.
Before becoming famous for her role in “Chibi Maruko-chan,” Tarako voiced characters in anime series such as “Mezon Ikkoku” and “Urusei Yatsura” during the 1980s.
Besides her roles in entertainment, she was also known as a singer-songwriter, actor, and TV program narrator. Fans around the world will always remember her for her many contributions to anime and entertainment.