Yūko Mizutani

Yūko Mizutani (水谷 優子, Mizutani Yūko, November 4, 1964 – May 17, 2016) 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 Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos, 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]

Yūko Mizutani
水谷優子
Born(1964-11-04)November 4, 1964
Ama District, Aichi, Japan
DiedMay 17, 2016(2016-05-17) (aged 51)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupations
Years active1985–2016
AgentAoni Production
Height157 cm (5 ft 2 in)
Spouse
Mizuho Nishikubo
​
(m. 1994)​

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 Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos 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

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
  • Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma (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
  • Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation (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
  • Battle Tycoon: Flash Hiders SFX (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
  • Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice (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

Live-action

Animation

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

References
  1. 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』 (in Japanese). Mynavi. May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  2. Lovett, Jamie (May 19, 2016). "Original Voice Actress For Digimon's Sora, Yuko Mizutani, Dies At 51". comicbook.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  3. 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. Yahoo! News (in Japanese). May 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  4. "CAST・STAFF" (in Japanese). 愛・天地無用！アニメ公式サイト. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
  5. "ＴＨＥ ＪＵＯＮ／呪怨". Star Channel. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  6. "サウスランド・テイルズ［吹］". Star Channel. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  7. "バッドサンタ". The Cinema. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  8. "Cast/ビバリーヒルズ高校白書". Paramount. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  9. "嵐が丘（１９９２）". Star Channel. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  10. "(吹)ゴールデン・チャイルド[テレビ朝日版]". The Cinema. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  11. "ノックオフ". DMM. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  12. "ロミーとミッシェルの場合". Star Channel. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  13. "狼女の香り-日本語吹替版コレクターズBOX-Vol.1". Happinet. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  14. "ルームメイト". Star Channel. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  15. "ウェイトレス~おいしい人生のつくりかた [DVD]". Amazon. 7 November 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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