Voice actress Yoko Kawanami of Armored Trooper Votoms and Dragon Ball fame died at the age of 67. Her agency announced on March 27, 2025 that the actress passed away on March 18, 2025 due to peritoneal metastasis. [Thanks, Excite.]
Kawanami was born on Yokohama, Kanagawa on April 22, 1957. In accordance to the wishes of her family, her wake and funeral was only available to close family members. Kawanami was a prolific voice actress that started her career in the late 1970s, and was best known for her role as Coconna Vartla in Armored Trooper Votoms.
Additionally, Yoko Kawakami had several voices roles in some Akira Toriyama media, such as her role as Midori Norimaki in some of the Dr. Slump and Arale-chan anime movies, Ranfan in the original Dragon Ball anime, as well as Bulma’s Mother in the Dragon Ball Z and DBZ Kai anime series.
Other recent major deaths in the Japanese anime and manga industry include Nobita’s voice actress in the Doraemon anime, Noriko Ohara, who passed away on July 12, 2024, as well as the original Doraemon voice actress Nobuyo Oyama on September 29, 2024.
Yoko Kawanami died on March 18, 2025 from peritoneal metastasis.
Published: Mar 27, 2025 05:30 pm