One of the longest careers in voice acting has come to an end. It has been officially confirmed that veteran seiyuu Masako Ikeda passed away on March 3 at the age of 87.

Information shared by her agency details that the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. According to the actress’s wishes, her close relatives have already held a private funeral in Tokyo, with no immediate plans announced for a commemorative event open to the public or industry.

Details about Masako Ikeda

Born on January 1, 1939 in Tokyo, Ikeda maintained an uninterrupted career spanning more than seven decades, covering voice acting, narration, and international dubbing. Throughout her professional career, her work was recognized with important awards, including the Merit Award at the first Seiyuu Awards in 2007 and the Meritorious Service Award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2020.

Iconic Roles

Her distinctive vocal tone allowed her to bring to life a wide variety of characters in the anime and video game industry:

• Maetel in the space franchise Galaxy Express 999 and Harlock Saga.
• Chimera Ant Queen in the 2011 animated adaptation of Hunter x Hunter.
• Hydaelyn in the massively multiplayer role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV.
• Reika Ryuzaki in the classic sports series Aim for the Ace!.
• Fuyuka Liqueur in the science fiction series Silent Möbius.
• Sharon in Space Brothers.

About the Actress

Beyond traditional Japanese animation, Ikeda served as the main narrator in works such as Katanagatari, Barbapapa, and Before Green Gables. Her impact also extended to dubbing Western productions, where she established herself for years as the official Japanese voice of Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn and Meryl Streep.

Which of Masako Ikeda’s performances do you believe had the greatest impact on the historical development of the anime industry?