Summary
Extremely sad news as Atsuko Tanaka, the iconic voice actor behindcharacters like Major Motoko Kusanagi, Chun-Li and Bayonetta, passed away on Tuesday, August 20. She was 61.
Her son and fellow actor Hikaru Tanaka posted a statement to X/Twitter in which he says his mother “passed away peacefully”, in the wake of battling an undisclosed illness for a year.
Hikaru Tanaka’s Statement About His Mother, Atsuko Tanaka
Expressions of Gratitude For Support and a Sincere Request
In his statement, voice actor Hikaru Tanaka expressed gratitude toall the fans who loved herand the people in the industry who helped her during her life. He expressed sadness at having to reveal the fact that Atsuko Tanaka was his mother, which had not been publicly disclosed, in this manner. He did not reveal the nature of his mother’s illness as per her wishes. In the year that she fought the illness, she was described by her son as someone who lived her life in a way that was typical of Atsuko Tanaka – “earnest, dignified and a little bit playful”.
“I am truly blessed to have had such a great mother. Please do not forget the works that Atsuko Tanaka was so sincerely involved in, the characters that she poured her love into; the voice actress that was Atsuko Tanaka.”
About Atsuko Tanaka
Early Life, Her Career, and Legacy
Atsuko Tanaka was born 14 November, 1962, in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture. She was a voice actress and narrator associated with Mausu Productions, and best known forher role as Major Kusanagi Motokoin theGhost in the Shellfranchise created by Masamune Shirow. In 1991, Atsuko Tanaka attended the Tokyo Announcement Academy, where she studied voice training. She also attended Ferris University. She was married and had a son, fellow voice actor Hikaru Tanaka, and considered voice actor Kikuko Inoue her best friend.
As a veteran voice actor active for over 30 years, Atsuko Tanaka’s list of roles is extensive, from anime to videogames, and she was commonly cast in the roles of semi-mature action heroines. May she rest in peace and her family find some comfort in the profound impact and legacy Atsuko Tanaka created in her life.
Ghost in the Shellfranchise
