Yūko Mizutani Explained

Yūko Mizutani
Native Name:	水谷優子
Native Name Lang:	ja
Birth Date:	4 November 1964
Birth Place:	Ama District, Aichi, Japan
Death Place:	Tokyo, Japan
Years Active:	1985 - 2016
Agent:	Aoni Production
Height:	157 cm

was a Japanese actress, voice actress, narrator and singer from Ama District, Aichi. Throughout her career, she worked with Production Baobab, and was working with Aoni Production at the time of her death. Mizutani was best known for her anime voice roles of Sakiko Sakura in Chibi Maruko-chan, Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo! and Pinoko in Black Jack. She also portrayed Excellen Browning in Super Robot Wars, Sora Takenouchi in Digimon Adventure, Leina Stol in , and Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Mizutani was the official Japanese voice actress for Minnie Mouse,^[1] and voiced her in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.^[2]

Since her death, Aya Endō took over as the new Japanese voice of Minnie Mouse.

Machiko Toyoshima took over as Sakiko Sakura as replacement in Chibi Maruko-chan.

Career

After graduating from the Institute for Youth Theater in 1985, Mizutani was signed to the Seinenza Theater Company's talent agency until 1989. She debuted in 1985 as an airfield announcer for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam while appearing on television in TV dramas. After playing the role of Sarah Zabiarov in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, her portrayals of Leina Stol in and Apple in Zillion were highly praised and her popularity grew. In 1988, she starred as Hiromi Oka in Aim for the Ace! 2.

Since 1991, Mizutani had been the official voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse. In addition to animation and video games at the Tokyo Disney Resort, she also appeared as Minnie Mouse in attractions, shows, and parades.

She voiced the role of Sakiko Sakura in the anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from 1990 until her death.

In 1993 she voiced Pinoko, Black Jack's loyal assistant/adopted daughter, in Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack OVA. She reprised the role in an anime series from 2004 to 2011.

Mizutani was cast from 1995 to 1997 as Galaxy Police detective Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo!.

Personal life

In November 1994, she married Mizuho Nishikubo.

Death

On May 17, 2016, Mizutani died from breast cancer at the age of 51.^[3]

Filmography

Anime television

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985–1986) – Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa
• Dirty Pair (1985) – Security Guard, Creamy Girl
• (1986–1987) – Leina Stōl
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986–1987) – Milly Childer
• Zillion (1987–1987) – Apple
• City Hunter (1987–1988) – Yoshimi Iwai
• Esper Mami (1987–1989) – Midori
• Tenkū Senki Shurato (1989–1990) – Lakshu of Kisshō Ten, Hōraisan
• Idol Densetsu Eriko (1989–1990) – Kaori Yamaguchi, Catherine, Reporter
• Idol Angel Yokoso Yoko (1990) – Kyoko Hoshihana
• Oishinbo (1990) – Kimiko Oide
• Yawara! (1990–1992) – Anna Teleshikova
• (1990–1991) – Marie
• Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (1990–1991) – Omitsu
• Brave Exkaiser (1990) – Kumiko Morita
• Momotaro Densetsu (1990–1991) – Princess Kaguya (Second)
• Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–2016) – Sakiko Sakura, Keiko Uchida, Wakabayashi, Nagasawa's Mother, Yamane's Mother, Hiroshi Sakura (young)
• Jankenman (1991) – Aikko
• Ashita e Free Kick (1992) – Alyssa Montino
• Boyfriend (1992) – Aki Togawa
• Floral Magician Mary Bell (1992) – Paula
• Tekkaman Blade (1992) – Miyuki Aiba/Tekkaman Rapier, Noal's mother
• Tonde Burin (1994–1995) – Rikako Kokubu
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994–1995) – Black Joker
• Tico of the Seven Seas (1994–1995) – Cheryl Christina Melville
• Chō Kuse ni Narisō (1994–1995) – Sayaka Seijo
• Haō Taikei Ryū Knight (1994–1995) – Iori
• Dino Adventure Jurassic Tripper (1995) – Princess
• Tenchi Universe (1995) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
• Sorcerer Hunters (1995–1996) – Chocolate Misu
• Soar High! Isami (1995–1996) – Jasmine
• Shadow Skill (1995–2004) – Fouly
• Kiko-chan's Smile (1996) – Megumi-Sensei
• Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (1996) – Mihoshi Mizutani
• After War Gundam X (1996) – Carris Nautilus
• Martian Successor Nadesico (1996–1997) – Aqua Crimson
• Brave Command Dagwon (1996–1997) – Erika Serizawa
• Saber Marionette J (1996–1997) – Luchs
• Tenchi in Tokyo (1997) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
• Gakkyu-Oh Yamazaki (1997–1998) – Memeko-Sensei, Nakamoto
• Weiss Kreuz (1998) – Tot
• The Kindaichi Case Files (1998) – Satsuki Munakata
• Saber Marionette J to X (1998–1999) – Luchs
• Digimon Adventure (1999–2000) – Sora Takenouchi
• Excel Saga (1999–2000) – The Great Will of the Macrocosm
• Inuyasha (2000) – Sōten
• Detective Conan (2000) – Shinobu Shimon
• Digimon Adventure 02 (2000–2001) – Sora Takenouchi
• Go! Go! Itsutsugo Land (2001–2002) – Kinoko Morino
• The Family's Defensive Alliance (2001) – Junko Ejima
• (2001–2003) – Memu (Lady Like), Waddle Doo (Third), Mabel, Coo, Chilly, Walky, and Devil Frog
• Someday's Dreamers (2003) – Sachiko
• Cinderella Boy (2003) – Kei
• Zatch Bell! (2003–2006) – Sisters
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX (2004–2008) – Sara
• Black Jack (2004–2006) – Pinoko
• The Snow Queen (2005) – Claus
• (2006) – Namiko Tsuki
• (2006–2007) – Excellen Browning
• Shiki (2010) – Kyōko Ozaki, Atsuko Yasumori
• Notari Matsutarō (2014) – Reiko Minami
• Ai Tenchi Muyo! (2014) – Mihoshi^[4]
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal (2014–2016) – Ikuko Tsukino
• The Rolling Girls (2015) – Aya Suzumoto

OVA

• Bubblegum Crisis (1987–1991 OVA series) – Anri
• Space Family Carlvinson (1988) – Beruka
• Leina series (1988) – Leina Stōl
• Aim for the Ace! (1988–1989 OVA series) – Hiromi Oka
• Bio-Booster Armor Guyver (1989–1992 OVA series) – Mizuki Segawa
• Angel Cop (1989–1994) – Freya
• (1989) – Kotone
• 3×3 Eyes (1991) – Natsuko Asai
• Eternal Filena (1992) – Lila
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (1992) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
• Black Jack (1993–2011) – Pinoko
• KO Beast (1992) – V-Sion
• Idol Defense Force Hummingbird (1993–1995) – Hitomi Nakajo
• Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (1995) – Mihoshi Mizutani
• Eternal Family (1997) – Akiko
• Hyper Speed GranDoll (1997) – Miki Amagi
• (2005) – Excellen Browning
• Eve no jikan (2008–2009 ONA) – Naoko
• A Channel (2012) – Run's Mother
• Ranma ½ OVA's – Kurumi

Video games

• Flash Hiders (1993) – Harman Do Elan
• Puyo Puyo CD (1994) – Draco Centauros, Sukiyapodes
• (1995) – Harman Do Elan
• Dōkyūsei (1995) – Hiromi Tamachi
• Puyo Puyo CD 2 (1996) – Draco Centauros
• Langrisser III (1996) – Sophia
• Kid Klown no Crazy Chase 2: Love Love Honey Soudatsusen (1996) – Princess Honey
• Silhouette Mirage (1997) – Sophial SP
• Bulk Slash (1997) – Colon Steiner
• Rockman X4 (1997) – Iris
• YAKATA (1998) – Miruko Kawaguchi
• Magical Drop F (1999) – Justice & High Priestess
• Growlanser (1999) – Karene Langley
• Puyo Puyo~n (1999) – Witch
• Super Robot Wars Impact (2002) – Excellen Browning & Alfimi
• Kingdom Hearts series (2002-2016) – Minnie Mouse
• (2004) – Karene Langley
• Namco × Capcom (2005) – Toby Masuyo, Katana & 99
• Super Robot Wars Original Generations (2007) – Excellen & Lemon Browning; and Alfimi
• Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden (2007) – Excellen Browning & Alfimi
• Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier EXCEED (2008) – Alfimi, Katana & Byakuya
• Project X Zone (2012) – Iris, Katana, Akatana & Byakuya X
• Project X Zone 2 (2015) – Katana, Akatana & Byakuya X

Films

• My Neighbor Totoro (1988) – Ryoko-chan
• (1988) (Linlei)
• Eiji (1990) – Marina Takasugi
• (1995) – Yukino
• Tenchi Muyo in Love! (1996) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
• Dead Leaves (2004) – Galactica
• (2004) (Zubu)
• Dōbutsu no Mori (2006) – Perimi/Phyllis
• (2008) – Rara Chigusa
• Time of Eve: The Movie (2010) – Naoko Sakisaka

Dubbing

Live-action

• Sarah Michelle Gellar roles
  • • • Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Buffy Summers Possession – Jess
  • The Grudge – Karen Davis^[5]
  • The Grudge 2 – Karen Davis
  • Southland Tales – Krysta Now^[6]
• Meg Ryan roles
  • Sleepless in Seattle – Annie Reed
  • You've Got Mail – Kathleen "Shopgirl" Kelly
• 8 Million Ways to Die – Sunny (Alexandra Paul)
• Army of Darkness – Sheila (Embeth Davidtz)
• Bad Santa – Sue (Lauren Graham)^[7]
• Beverly Hills, 90210 – Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris)^[8]
• Beyond the Poseidon Adventure – Theresa Mazzetti (Angela Cartwright)
• Bound – Violet (Jennifer Tilly)
• The Arrival – Char (Teri Polo)
• Career Opportunities – Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly)
• Casualties of War – Tran Thi Oanh (Thuy Thu Le)
• Cliffhanger – Sarah (Michelle Joyner)
• Color of Night – Sondra Dorio (Lesley Ann Warren)
• The Distinguished Gentleman – Celia Kirby (Victoria Rowell)
• Doc Hollywood – Vialula "Lou" (Julie Warner)
• Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde – Sarah Carver (Lysette Anthony)
• Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights – Isabella Linton (Sophie Ward)^[9]
• Escape from L.A. – Taslima (Valeria Golino)
• Everyone Says I Love You – Skylar Dandridge (Drew Barrymore)
• – Rennie Wickham (Jensen Daggett)
• The Golden Child (1992 TV Asahi edition) – Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis)^[10]
• – Dr. Alexandra Johnson/Sarah Barrington (Deborah Kara Unger)
• Hollow Man – Sarah Kennedy (Kim Dickens)
• Home Alone – Heather McCallister (Kristin Minter)
• – Tracy McCallister (Senta Moses)
• Iron Eagle – Amy (Kathy Wagner)
• Jumanji – Judy Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst)
• King Kong – Dwan (Jessica Lange)
• Kiss of Death – Rosie Kilmartin (Kathryn Erbe)
• Knock Off – Karen Lee (Lela Rochon)^[11]
• Last Action Hero – Whitney Slater/Meredith Caprice (Bridgette Wilson)
• The Last Boy Scout – Cory (Halle Berry)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street – Tina Gray (Amanda Wyss)
• NYPD Blue – Robin Wirkus (Debrah Farentino)
• Pale Rider – Megan Wheeler (Sydney Penny)
• The Pink Panther – Princess Dala (Gale Garnett)
• – Violet (Jaime Pressly)
• Practical Magic – Kylie Owens (Evan Rachel Wood)
• Return of the Living Dead Part II – Lucy Wilson (Marsha Dietlein)
• Romy and Michele's High School Reunion – Christie Masters (Julia Campbell)^[12]
• – Heather Jasper-Howe (Alicia Silverstone)
• She-Wolf of London – Randi Wallace (Kate Hodge)^[13]
• Short Circuit 2 – Sandy Banatoni (Cynthia Gibb)
• Sibling Rivalry – Jeanine (Jami Gertz)
• Single White Female – Hedra "Hedy" Carlson/Ellen Besch (Jennifer Jason Leigh)^[14]
• Sleepers – Carol (Minnie Driver)
• Stargate SG-1 – Hathor (Suanne Braun)
• Three Men and a Baby – Sally (Barbara Budd)
• True Lies – Dana Tasker (Eliza Dushku)
• Vampire in Brooklyn – Det. Rita Veder (Angela Bassett)
• Waitress – Dawn (Adrienne Shelly)^[15]
• Will & Grace – Ellen (Leigh-Allyn Baker)

Animation

• Balto – Rosy
• House of Mouse – Minnie Mouse
• Hercules – Terpsichore
• – Peggy Brandt
• – Minnie Mouse
• Peanuts – Pig-Pen, Violet Gray
• Tiny Toon Adventures – Sweetie Pie

Drama CDs

• Analyst no Yuutsu series 1: Benchmark ni Koi wo Shite – Chizuru Mizusawa

External links

• Official agency profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/05/19/429/. ja:声優・水谷優子さんが乳がんで死去、代表作は『ちびまる子ちゃん』. ja. Mynavi. May 19, 2016. May 21, 2016.
2. Web site: Original Voice Actress For Digimon's Sora, Yuko Mizutani, Dies At 51. Lovett. Jamie. en. comicbook.com. May 19, 2016. May 20, 2016.
3. Web site: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160519-00000328-oric-ent. ja:声優・水谷優子さん、乳がんで死去 『ちびまる子ちゃん』お姉ちゃんなど. ja. Yahoo! News. May 19, 2016. May 19, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160519062015/http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160519-00000328-oric-ent. May 19, 2016.
4. Web site: 愛・天地無用！アニメ公式サイト. CAST・STAFF. 2014-09-12. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140912164907/http://www.ai-tenchi.jp/cast_staff/index.html. 2014-09-12.
5. Web site: ＴＨＥ ＪＵＯＮ／呪怨. December 30, 2019. Star Channel.
6. Web site: サウスランド・テイルズ［吹］. February 28, 2021. Star Channel.
7. Web site: バッドサンタ. January 1, 2023. The Cinema.
8. Web site: Cast/ビバリーヒルズ高校白書. June 5, 2021. Paramount.
9. Web site: 嵐が丘（１９９２）. March 12, 2019. Star Channel.
10. Web site: (吹)ゴールデン・チャイルド[テレビ朝日版]]. December 3, 2021. The Cinema.
11. Web site: ノックオフ. DMM. November 1, 2021.
12. Web site: ロミーとミッシェルの場合. June 7, 2021. Star Channel.
13. Web site: 狼女の香り-日本語吹替版コレクターズBOX-Vol.1. April 6, 2021. Happinet.
14. Web site: ルームメイト. March 13, 2019. Star Channel.
15. Web site: ウェイトレス~おいしい人生のつくりかた [DVD]]. November 10, 2021. Amazon. 7 November 2008.