Summary

Atsuko Tanaka, the iconic voice behind Major Motoko Kusanagi and Chun-Li, tragically passed away at 61.
Her son, Hikaru Tanaka, shared her peaceful passing after a year-long battle with an undisclosed illness.
Atsuko Tanaka's legacy as a veteran voice actor will always be remembered through her iconic roles in anime and video games.

Extremely sad news as Atsuko Tanaka, the iconic voice actor behind characters like Major Motoko Kusanagi, Chun-Li and Bayonetta, passed away on Tuesday, August 20. She was 61.

Her son and fellow actor Hikaru Tanaka posted a statement to X/Twitter in which he says his mother "passed away peacefully", in the wake of battling an undisclosed illness for a year.

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By Matthew Magnus Lundeen

Hikaru Tanaka's Statement About His Mother, Atsuko Tanaka

Expressions of Gratitude For Support and a Sincere Request

In his statement, voice actor Hikaru Tanaka expressed gratitude to all the fans who loved her and the people in the industry who helped her during her life. He expressed sadness at having to reveal the fact that Atsuko Tanaka was his mother, which had not been publicly disclosed, in this manner. He did not reveal the nature of his mother's illness as per her wishes. In the year that she fought the illness, she was described by her son as someone who lived her life in a way that was typical of Atsuko Tanaka – "earnest, dignified and a little bit playful".

"I am truly blessed to have had such a great mother. Please do not forget the works that Atsuko Tanaka was so sincerely involved in, the characters that she poured her love into; the voice actress that was Atsuko Tanaka."

About Atsuko Tanaka

Early Life, Her Career, and Legacy

Atsuko Tanaka was born 14 November, 1962, in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture. She was a voice actress and narrator associated with Mausu Productions, and best known for her role as Major Kusanagi Motoko in the Ghost in the Shell franchise created by Masamune Shirow. In 1991, Atsuko Tanaka attended the Tokyo Announcement Academy, where she studied voice training. She also attended Ferris University. She was married and had a son, fellow voice actor Hikaru Tanaka, and considered voice actor Kikuko Inoue her best friend.

As a veteran voice actor active for over 30 years, Atsuko Tanaka's list of roles is extensive, from anime to videogames, and she was commonly cast in the roles of semi-mature action heroines. May she rest in peace and her family find some comfort in the profound impact and legacy Atsuko Tanaka created in her life.

Atsuko Tanaka's Most Iconic Voice Acting Roles
Character Name	Title	Media Type
Motoko Kusanagi	Ghost in the Shell franchise	Anime \| Videogame
Bayonetta	*Bayonetta* series	Videogame
Lisa Lisa	*JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency*	Anime
Chun-Li	*Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike*	Videogame
Poison	Various Street Fighter games, including *Street Fighter x Tekken*	Videogame
Hanami	*Jujutsu Kaisen*	Anime \| Videogame
Lara Croft	*Tomb Raider* series	Videogame
Claudette	*Queen's Blade*	Anime \| Videogame
Trish	*Devil May Cry*	Anime \| Videogame
Flamme	*Frieren: Beyond Journey's End*	Anime