Miyoko Asō (麻生 美代子, Asō Miyoko, April 7, 1926 – August 25, 2018) was a Japanese actress and voice actress.
Biography/Life[]
Career[]
In 1947, she joined the New Children's Theater Company. She also studied under Makoto Kobori for a time. She became interested in theater for adults, and in July 1956, she joined the Ashi Theater Company. While continuing to act, she appeared in radio dramas to earn an income, and mainly worked as a stage actress and voice actress.
In April 1963, she left the Ashi Theater Company, and in August of the same year, she joined the New Theater Company. After that, she worked for Ezaki Productions, and finally joined the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative.
In June 2009, she took a short break due to sudden illness (later announced to be intestinal obstruction). As a result, Ikuko Tani took over the role of Fune in "Sazae-san" for one week (broadcast on June 14), and Masako Ikeda took over the narration of "Wafuku Souhonke" for about one month. In "Sazae-san", a caption was shown at the beginning of the main story announcing Aso's leave of absence and that Tani would take over as her replacement.
Later years/Death[]
In 2012, she received the "Achievement Award" at the 6th Seiyu Awards.
In 2015, she graduated from the role of Fune in "Sazae-san", which she had played for about 46 years, with the episode broadcast on September 27 of the same year. Aso's age was taken into consideration, and her successor was Yorie Terauchi.
She continued to narrate "Wafuku Souhonke" even after she left the role of Fune, but from the episode broadcast on August 24, 2017, she shared the role with Shimamoto Sumi, and graduated with the episode broadcast on March 22, 2018. The narration recording for this program on March 20 of the same year was her last job before her death.
On August 25, 2018 at 7:23 a.m., she passed away at the age of 92. Her death was announced on the 3rd of the following month. According to Koji Asada, the chairman of her agency, she slept longer the night before her death, and passed away peacefully with Asada and her relatives by her side, saying, "It was as if she was smiling at the end".
Following Aso's death, a memorial video was played at the end of the program on "Wafuku Souhonke" broadcast on September 6, 2018, with a photo of Aso while she was alive and a narration saying "Japan is great ~ It's time for Wafuku Souhonke", along with a memorial message saying "Thank you Mr. Aso, may she rest in peace". A memorial caption was also displayed on the September 9th broadcast of "Sazae-san", in which she played the role of Fune.
Dub Actors[]
| Actor | No. of Roles | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Barr | 4 | 
|
| Elan Ross Gibson | 3 |
|
| Juli Erickson | 2 | 
|
| Edie Mirman | 2 |
|
| Sonja Ball | 1 |
|
| Brian Dobson | 1 |
|
| Pam Dougherty | 1 |
|
| Kathleen Fee | 1 |
|
| Bette Ford | 1 |
|
| Barbara Goodson | 1 |
|
| Melora Harte | 1 |
|
| Donna Hannah | 1 |
|
| Jacquelyn Hyde | 1 |
|
| Bronwen Mantel | 1 |
|
| Philece Sampler | 1 |
|
| Claudia Thompson | 1 | 
|
| Jane Woods | 1 |
|
Filmography[]
| Year | Character | Title | Dub Voice | Dub Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-1973 | Retchel the Witch (eps. 6-7) | Pinocchio: The Series | Bronwen Mantel | Canada |
| Old Mermaid (eps. 24-25) | ¿? | |||
| 1974 | Miss Rottemeier | The Story of Heidi | Jacquelyn Hyde | United States |
| 1975-1976 | Miss Cassandra | Maya the Bee | Jane Woods | Canada |
| ¿? | South Africa | |||
| 1976 | Miss Jane Watson | Huckleberry Finn | Sonja Ball | Canada |
| 1979 | Rachel Lynde | Anne of Green Gables | ¿? | South Africa |
| 1984 | Mrs. Claus | A Christmas Adventure | Barbara Goodson | United States |
| 1987-1989 | The Witch (ep. 2) | Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics | Edie Mirman | United States |
| The Witch (ep. 17) | ||||
| The Witch (ep. 29) | Melora Harte | |||
| 1989-1992 | Cologne | Ranma ½ | Elan Ross Gibson | Canada |
| Claudia Thompson | Hong Kong | |||
| Village Healer B (ep. 129) | Elan Ross Gibson | Canada | ||
| 1991 | Cologne | Ranma ½ the Movie: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China | Kathleen Barr | Canada |
| 1992 | Ranma ½ the Movie 2: Nihao, My Concubine | Canada | ||
| 1992-1993 | Hara | The Little Twins | Kathleen Fee | Canada |
| 1993 | Cologne | Ranma ½: Desperately Seeking Shampoo | Kathleen Barr | Canada |
| 1994 | Ranma ½: Akane & Her Sisters | Canada | ||
| 1994-1995 | Ranma ½: One Grew Over the Kuno's Nest | Elan Ross Gibson | Canada | |
| 1997-1998 | Aquarium Director (ep. 15) | Vampire Princess Miyu | Philece Sampler | United States |
| 2000-2004 | Shoga (ep. 65) | InuYasha | Brian Dobson | Canada |
| 2003-2004 | Pinako Rockbell | Fullmetal Alchemist | Juli Erickson | United States |
| 2003 | Old Woman | The Animatrix | Bette Ford | United States |
| 2007 | Margaret (ep. 8) | Devil May Cry: The Animated Series | Donna Hannah | United States |
| 2007 | Salma (ep. 1) | El Cazador de la Bruja | Pam Dougherty | United States |
| 2009-2010 | Pinako Rockbell | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Juli Erickson | United States |
External Links[]
- Miyoko Asō on the Anime News Network's encyclopedia.
- Miyoko Asō on AniList.
- Miyoko Asō on Behind The Voice Actors.