Legendary voice actor Atsuko Tanaka passes away at 61

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As a gamer with over three decades of experience under my belt, I can say without a doubt that Atsuko Tanaka was a titan in the voice acting industry. Her contributions to the gaming world were nothing short of legendary, and her passing has left an indelible void that will be hard to fill.

As a lifelong fan of anime and video games, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Atsuko Tanaka at the age of 61. Her voice acting talents brought many beloved characters to life in the world of pop culture, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.

News of Atsuko Tanaka’s passing was announced through a letter penned by her son Hikaru, which Anime Corner shared. Tanaka was an exceptionally gifted figure in the entertainment world, creating characters beyond Bayonetta and Chun-Li, such as Makoto from Ghost in the Shell, Lisa Lisa from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Trish from Devil May Cry, Slan from Berserk, among many others. Gamers familiar with fighting games will undoubtedly acknowledge her talent, particularly in the creation of iconic Chun-Li, as immortalized by the legendary EVO Moment 37 battle between Justin Wong and Daigo Umehara.

The full draft of the letter revealing Tanaka’s death can be found below:

On August 20, 2024, my mother, the voice actress Atsuko Tanaka, peacefully passed away.

To all the fans who loved Atsuko Tanaka,

To everyone in the industry who worked with her during her lifetime,

I would like to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of her.

It is with great regret that I must inform you of this parent-child relationship in such a manner.

Following her desires, I won’t reveal the exact ailment, but she valiantly battled it for more than a year, displaying an abundance of grace, wit, and fortitude. I strongly feel that her life mirrored the spirit of Atsuko Tanaka.

I feel truly blessed to have had such a proud mother.

Last but not least, remember that Atsuko Tanaka poured all her heart and passion into the beloved characters she voiced, making sure to bring them to life effectively. This is about Atsuko Tanaka, the talented voice actress.

With love and respect for the woman and voice actress that was my mother,

I sign this message with love.
Hikaru Tanaka

As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Atsuko Tanaka, a remarkable artist whose work graced many of our favorite games over the years. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and all those who were touched by her incredible talent during this difficult time. May peace find you all.

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2024-08-20 19:27