Atsuko Tanaka (1962–2024) was a Japanese voice actress and narrator. Born in Maebashi, she worked first as an office worker before training at the Tokyo Announcement Academy and joining the talent agency Mausu Promotion, where she remained until her death. She is best known for voicing Motoko Kusanagi in the Ghost in the Shell film and franchise, and she also voiced many characters in anime, video games and foreign film dubs.
Early life and career
Tanaka was born in Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture, and became interested in acting as a young woman. She studied at Ferris University, where she worked as a background extra for the Shochiku studio. After several years as an office worker in Tokyo, she chose acting over dancing and enrolled in the Tokyo Announcement Academy, graduating in 1991. She then joined Ezaki Production, later renamed Mausu Promotion.
Notable roles
Her first lead role was in the Japanese dub of the 1992 film Unlawful Entry. In 1995 she began voicing Motoko Kusanagi, a role she continued across the Ghost in the Shell franchise for decades and which she regarded as one of her most memorable. Her other notable roles included Konan in Naruto, Caster in Fate/stay night, Lisa Lisa in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Bayonetta and Rhinedottir in Genshin Impact. She also dubbed several Hollywood actresses in Japanese.
Personal life and death
Tanaka had a son, the voice actor Hikaru Tanaka, and was a fan of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team. She died on August 20, 2024, at the age of 61, about one year after being diagnosed with an undisclosed illness. Colleagues and works she had been involved with, including Ghost in the Shell co-star Koichi Yamadera and developer PlatinumGames, sent condolences.