Official profile photo via Aoni ProductionsThe official website for voice talent agency Aoni Production announced today that voice actor Keiko Yamamoto passed away on April 18 at the age of 83 due to sepsis. The agency apologized for the delay in reporting the news, stating it was the “wishes of the bereaved family.” A funeral has been held with close friends and family.Keiko Yamamoto was born on August 7, 1940, in Osaka Prefecture. Yamamoto made her debut in 1963 with the role of Wally Wolf Boy Ken. Her break-out mainstream role as a voice actor came in 1965 where she voiced Osper in Tatakae! Osper. From there, she joined Aoni Production as a founding member in 1969. In 1972, Yamamoto started her role as Hanako Hanazawa in the Sazae-san anime. She also voiced Shouta Yamada in the Chibi Maruko-chan anime. In late 2023, Yamamoto retired from her long-running roles in Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan, both of which spanned 30 and 50 years respectively. Over her long career, Yamamoto also voiced roles in the Dragon Ball series, GeGeGe no Kitarou, Dr. Slump, One Piece, Tiger Mask, Anpanman, Zatch Bell!, Osomatsu-kun, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time anime film and many more. She would also be the Japanese voice for Chicken Little, characters in Fraggle Rock and Rugrats.To remember Yamamoto, the official Chibi Maruko-chan social media account posted a memorial.
Sources: Aoni Production, Comic Natalie
