Dawn's Buneary voice actress passes away

Tomoko Kawakami succumbs to cancer

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Reported on Bulbanews by Don't Hug Lucario!

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Former Japanese voice actor Tomoko Kawakami has passed away after losing her battle with ovarian cancer. She was 40.

Rest in peace, Tomoko Kawakami.

Kawakami worked on the Pokémon anime during the first two years of the Diamond & Pearl series, voicing a range of characters including both humans and Pokémon. One of her most famous roles on this series was that of Dawn's Buneary, but she also voiced the Diamond and Pearl Pokédex. She left the show on 19 August, 2008, having admitted herself to hospital with an unknown illness. During her 20-month sick leave, Satsuki Yukino took over her roles.

Kawakami has voiced many other characters in other anime series including the titular roles in Revolutionary Girl Utena and Hikaru no Go. She also played characters in Japanese dubs of American TV shows, and in video games.

A full list of her roles can be seen here.