Tomoko Kawakami

Tomoko Kawakami (川上 とも子 Kawakami Tomoko, April 25, 1970 – June 9, 2011) was a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, and was affiliated with Production Baobab at the time of her death. She was best known for voicing characters such as Utena Tenjō (Revolutionary Girl Utena), Hikaru Shindō (Hikaru no Go), Fuyuki Hinata (Sgt. Frog), Akane Motomiya (Harukanaru Toki no Naka de), Ai Mori (The Law of Ueki), Rosette Christopher (Chrono Crusade) and Miu Furinji (Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple).

In August 2008, Kawakami was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which required surgery. She took 20 months of sick leave, during which time she was replaced by other actresses in most of her ongoing roles, though Kawakami was able to continue some of her roles during her illness. The cancer eventually led to her death on June 9, 2011 at 4:45pm. She was 41 years old at the time of her death.

Trivia

 * Due to Tomoko Kawakami's cancer diagnosis and her death in 2011 some of her ongoing roles were recast.
 * Hōko Kuwashima replaced Kawakami as Fuyuki Hinata in Sgt. Frog, Starting with episode 232 onwards. Kuwashima also replaced her as Suì-Fēng in Bleach, starting with episode 206 onwards.
 * Rie Kugimiya replaced Kawakami as Miu Fūrinji for the 2012 OVA of Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple.
 * Asami Sanada replaced Kawakami as Sayuri Kurata and Misuzu Kamio for Kaginado.
 * Rina Hidaka replaced Kawakami as Pirika Usui in Shaman King (2021).