Prolific Japanese voice actress Atsuko Tanaka, known for her role as Motoko Kusanagi in the Ghost in the Shell anime, has passed away at 61.
Tanaka’s son, Hikaru Tanaka, announced her death on Twitter, revealing that the voice actor passed away on August 20.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of the fans who loved Atsuko Tanaka, and to the industry people who took care of her during her lifetime. It is very unfortunate that we have to announce the mother-daughter relationship in this way,” Hikaru wrote, according to a machine translation from Oricon News.
“At her request, we will not reveal the specific name of the disease, but including her year-long battle with illness, I think she lived a life that was typical of Tanaka, serious, dignified, and a little playful,” Hikaru continued. “I am truly happy to have such a proud mother.”
Even if this is the first time you’ve read Tanaka’s name, chances are you’ve heard her voice before, seeing how she made a career out of voicing the coolest women in anime and manga. Aside from her legendary role as Major Kusanagi, who she played since the original 1995 movie adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s manga, including across Standalone Complex and its follow-ups, Tanaka also voiced Konan in Naruto, Bayonetta in the Bayonetta series, Lisa Lisa in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Kaine in Nier Replicant, and most recently Flamme in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, just to name a few of her iconic roles.
The social media accounts of Frieren, Naruto‘s Studio Pierrot, Nier, and Ghost in the Shell wrote obituaries in her honor.
“Since the release of Ghost in the Shell in 1995, Atsuko Tanaka has worked on many films, including Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex,” the message from the Ghost in the Shell account reads in part. “In the numerous Ghost in the Shell series, she played the unique character The Major with a presence that is both quiet and powerful and full of charm. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and our deepest condolences.”
A new adaptation of the manga, developed by Science Saru and Production I.G., is currently in development for release in 2026–it’s unknown if Tanaka would have reprised her role as the Major, or if the series will now have to recast one of the most enduring performances in anime.
