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Kokoro Kikuchi is the new voice actress of Maruko, the titular protagonist from Chibi Maruko-chan. She is replacing the character’s original voice actress, TARAKO, who died earlier this year. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
The Kikuchi version of Maruko will appear from the April 21, 2024 episode of the show. From April 21 to June 9, 2024, there will be re-runs of the more famous episodes, but with Kikuchi re-voicing TARAKO’s lines. Kikuchi states that it may take fans a while to become accustomed to hearing her voice from Maruko’s mouth. But she hopes that people will be patient with her. She also reminisces on meeting TARAKO a while ago when she was in the recording booth for Chibi Maruko-chan. Though she’s always been a fan of the series, she said that the atmosphere during recordings was so pleasant and TARAKO was so nice that the experience made her like the show even more.
TARAKO, a veteran voice actress who played the protagonist since the show’s beginning in 1990, died in early March 2024 when she was 63. It was a sudden death and it was unclear what the cause was. Her replacement for Maruko, Kokoro Kikuchi, started her career in the early 2000s. Some of her roles include Akito/Agito from Air Gear, Potpourri in Heartcatch Pretty Cure, and Gregory in Over the Garden Wall.
Kokoro Kikuchi will replace TARAKO as Maruko in Chibi Maruko-chan from April 21, 2024. You can watch the show via Crunchyroll.
