TARAKO

Tarako (たらこ, Tarako; December 17, 1960 – March 4, 2024) was a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. Her debut role was as a preschooler on Urusei Yatsura. She was better known as the voice of Momoko "Maruko" Sakura, the titular character in the long-running anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from its debut in 1990 until its conclusion in 1992 and its subsequent revival, which premiered in 199...

Tarako (たらこ, Tarako; December 17, 1960 – March 4, 2024) was a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. Her debut role was as a preschooler on Urusei Yatsura. She was better known as the voice of Momoko "Maruko" Sakura, the titular character in the long-running anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from its debut in 1990 until its conclusion in 1992 and its subsequent revival, which premiered in 1995 and continues to air as of today. She was employed by the talent management firm Troubadour Musique Office. Following her death in March 2024, Kokoro Kikuchi took over the role of Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan after the show resumed from its month-long hiatus on April 21 of that year. Death Around November 2023, Tarako was diagnosed with a serious illness for which she was immediately hospitalized. At the beginning of her hospital stay, she was still well enough to continue voice acting. However, her condition gradually worsened to the point where she could no longer stand and she showed no sign of improvement. Tarako died on March 4, 2024, at the age of 63. She had recorded her final lines for Chibi Maruko-Chan in the days just before her death. The producers of Chibi Maruko-chan, as well as her talent agency Troubadour, Fuji Television and Nippon Animation announced her death to the public five days later on March 9, 2024. In a eulogy written by the staff of Chibi Maruko-chan, they said that she had been eager to continue voicing her character Maruko while in the hospital and continued through her illness with "great love" for her work. The following day a message board was put up at the entrance to Chibi-Maruko Chan Land in Shizuoka for guests and fans to contribute messages of commemoration and thanks for her years of work. The last episode Tarako recorded as Maruko aired as a one-hour special on March 24, 2024, on Fuji TV and other FNS stations. Filmography Animation Television Fushigi na Koala Blinky (Mark) Anpanman (Frankenrobo) Chibi Maruko-chan (Momoko Sakura – Marukochan, both 1990 and 1995 incarnations, until 2024) Coji-Coji (Suzie) Combat Mecha Xabungle (Chill) Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School (Monokuma) Ganbare, Kickers! (Taichi Ohta) Hunter × Hunter (1999) (Melody) Kaiju No. 8 (as the parasite) Kimba the White Lion (Lulu, other voices) Kindaichi Case Files (Asuka Minatoya) Magical Taruruto-kun (Taruruto) Meitantei Kageman (Kageman) Mikan Enikki (Mikan) Mushiking: King of the Beetles (Chibi King) NG Knight Ramune & 40 (Hebimetako) Nichijou (Plus-screw at episode 16) Noir (Altena) Patlabor: The TV Series (Tamiko Shinshi) Pluster World (Maurie) Trigun Stampede (Zazie the Beast) Urusei Yatsura (Sugar, preschooler, Sakura's Mother, Additional Voices) VS Knight Ramune & 40 Fire (Hebimetako) Urusei Yatsura (2022) (Wishing Star) Kaiju No. 8 (Mysterious Young Beast) Original video animation (OVA) Hunter × Hunter OVA (Melody) NG Kishi Ramune & 40 DX (Hebimetako) NG Kishi Ramune & 40 EX (Hebimetako) Films Castle in the Sky (Madge) My Neighbor Totoro (friend B) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (boy) They Were 11 (Toto) Xabungle Graffiti (Chill) Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction (Debeko) Commercials Seiko Epson Colorio (Narration) Drama CDs Eiyū Densetsu III: Shiroki Majo "Wakatareta Mizuumi" (Ban Ban) Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II: Heroine-tachi no Tanjōbi (Kururu) Popful Mail Paradise 4–5 (Nairu) Tarako Pappara Paradise (Tarako-neesan, Kururu, Nairu, Ban Ban, Obāsan Live action Films Tsuribaka Nisshi 3 Video games 2nd Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-Hen (Chill) Chibi Maruko-chan: Maruko Deluxe Quiz (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan: Mezase! Minami no Island!! (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan no Taisen Puzzle Dama (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan: Maruko Enikki World (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Chibi Maruko-chan DS Maru-chan no Machi (Momoko "Maruko" Sakura) Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams (PC Engine version) (Nata de Cotton) Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (Monokuma) Inuyasha (Kirara) Magical★Taruruto-kun (Mega Drive game) (Taruruto, listed as Taluluto) Momotarō Dōchūki (Chibi Bonbī) One Piece: Unlimited World Red (Pato) Sakura Momoko Gekijō Koji Koji (Sūjī) Super Bomberman: Panic Bomber W Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden (Chill) Super Robot Wars NEO (Hebimetako) Super Robot Wars OE: Operation Extend (Hebimetako) Super Robot Wars Z (Chill) Tail Concerto (Panta) Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (Zero III) Radio Tarako Falcom Pīhyarara Other voiceover Fuji TV The Judge! Tokusuru Hōritsu File "Korette Tsumi Janai no" segment (Narration) Naruhodo! The World (Reporter) Quiz & Game Tarō to Hanako (Host) NHK Educational Okome (Narration) TBS Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (Narration) TV Asahi Zenigata Kintarō (Narration) Other Chibi Maruko-chan (Screenplay director) Noozles (Theme song performance) Discography Listed chronologically. Albums Totte Oki no Shunkan (1983) Kaze ga Chigau (1984) Warawanai Koibito (1985) Kokuhaku (1985) Sukoshi Dake Ai ga Tarinai (1986) Anata ga Daisuki (1990) Kanojo (1991) My dear (1991) Tengoku yori Takai Toko Ikō yo (1993) Wāi. (1995) References External links Official agency profile (in Japanese) Tarako at IMDb Tarako discography at MusicBrainz Tarako discography at Discogs Tarako at GamePlaza-Haruka Voice Acting Database (in Japanese) Tarako at Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database Official statement about the death of Takaro Archived March 8, 2024, at the Wayback Machine Tarako at Anime News Network's encyclopedia