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Macross 7, Rurouni Kenshin Voice Actress Tomo Sakurai Dies of Cancer at 53
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
On August 10, Sakurai had canceled her "TOMO Natsu 2025 Live" concert that had been planned for August 17. She had been urgently hospitalized on August 4 after a medical inspection, as she had been undergoing treatment for her cancer.
Sakurai's funeral will be limited to close relatives, and her agency is considering holding a farewell event for fans at a later date.
Sakurai made her debut in the entertainment industry in 1987 as a member of the idol group Lemon Angel. She eventually transitioned to voice acting. In September 2016, Sakurai had announced a retirement from the entertainment industry, but then returned from retirement in June 2019. She had said in September 2016 that it had become more difficult for her to use her voice.
Sakurai has voiced such roles in anime as Mylene Flare Jenius in the various Macross 7 anime projects, Misao Makimachi in Rurouni Kenshin, Shayla-Shayla in El Hazard - The Magnificent World, Meimi Haneoka in Saint Tail, and Hinowa in Gintama.
She has also voiced roles in such anime as Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture (Sulia Gaudeamus), Lil' Red Riding Hood Cha-Cha (Marin), Shakugan no Shana (Chigusa Sakai), and Gall Force: The Revolution (Patty). Her more recent roles include Koushi in Ushio & Tora, Mumei's mother in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and Shirona/Cynthia in Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles.
She has also had a career in music, performing theme songs for such anime as Lemon Angel, Super Doll Licca-chan, My-Otome, and The World God Only Knows. She sang some of the Macross songs in the persona of Mylene Flare Jenius.
Sources: Tomo Sakurai's X/Twitter account, Oricon News via Yaraon!
