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Chibi Maruko-chan's Sister Sakiko Recast With Machiko Toyoshima
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The Chibi Maruko-chan television anime series has recast the title character's big sister Sakiko with Machiko Toyoshima (pictured at right) after Sachiko's previous voice actress Yūko Mizutani (pictured below left) passed away on May 17. Fuji TV announced that Toyoshima will start playing the role in the episode that airs on June 5.
Toyoshima provides the narration in NHK's Darwin ga Kita! Ikimono Shin Densetsu program, and has also voiced roles in such anime as One Piece (Kuina), Zatch Bell (Shion Hibiki), Gegege no Kitarō (Rokuro-Kubi), and Rocket Girls (Motoko Mihara).
The last two episodes that featured Mizutani's vocal performance aired on May 22 and on Sunday, May 29.
Kobunsha's Josei Jishin website posted an interview on Sunday with anime director Mizuho Nishikubo (Otogi Zoshi, Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai, Zillion), who was married to Mizutani. In the interview, Nishikubo said that Mizutani had her final recording for the show on April 22, and he accompanied her to the studio. Mizutani was feeling sick and held a wash basin during the recording, and Nishikubo added that she accomplished the last recording "through sheer force of will only," and he and the staff helped her through the process. He said it was very painful, but she said "I did it" and was able to go home. Mizutani said she was pleased to be able to finish the episode because it was focused on Sakiko, and she had a lot of lines in the episode.
Nishikubo added that Mizutani's condition worsened a week later, and she spent her last two weeks in the hospital. He said that even then she had the show's script with her, and was planning to continue working. But her condition continued to worsen, and she was unable to do so.
Besides playing Sakiko in Chibi Maruko-chan, Mizutani also played Pinoko in many of the Black Jack television anime, OVA, and films, and also played the role of Mihoshi Kuramitsu in the Tenchi Muyo! franchise. Other notable roles include: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal's Ikuko Tsukino, Time of Eve's Naoko, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam's Cheimin Noa and Sarah Zabiarov, Super Robot Wars OG: Divine Wars' Excellen Browning, Inuyasha's Sōten, Arc the Lad's Kukuru, Digimon Adventure's Sora Takenouchi (as well as Otamamon and Yuko Yagami), Saber Marionette J's Luchs, Gravitation: Lyrics of Love's Maiko Shindo, Excel Saga's Great Will of the Macrocosm, Zillion's Apple, Sorcerer Hunters' Chocolat Misu, The Guyver: Bio-Booster Armor's Mizuki Segawa, Shiki's Kyōko Ozaki, Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl's Namiko Tsuki, One Piece "3D2Y" Ace no Shi wo Koete! Luffy Nakama to no Chikai's Nightin, Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water's Marie, and Magical Girl Pretty Sammy's Mihoshi Mizutani, among many others.
Source: Oricon via Hachima Kikō (Link 2)
