Tomo Sakurai, a voice actress, passed away on August 13 at the age of 53. The announcement was made by her agency and through her official X account. She had been hospitalized in emergency care on August 4 after her multi-organ cancer worsened, and despite treatment, she passed away.
Although she had once retired from the entertainment industry, she later returned to voice acting. In recent years, she gained renewed attention for her role as Cynthia, a popular character in the anime Pokémon.
On X, the following statement was shared:
“Tomo Sakurai had long been undergoing treatment, but her multi-organ cancer symptoms worsened, leading to her emergency hospitalization on August 4. Sadly, her condition did not improve, and she passed away on August 13. We deeply thank everyone for the many supportive messages and well-wishes sent to her during her lifetime.”
The agency added:
“She always worked together with us toward a full recovery, tackling treatment with positivity and determination. It is heartbreaking that things turned out this way, and we are filled with deep regret and sorrow. We sincerely apologize to all the fans who supported her.”
The announcement also noted that her funeral will be held privately with close relatives only, asking the media and public to refrain from inquiries. A fan memorial service may be arranged at a later date.
Her agency, Fezard Co., also mentioned that due to the cancellation of the TOMO Summer 2025 Live! concert scheduled for August 17, emails have been sent to ticket buyers with refund instructions, though some have not yet responded. They urged fans to check the messages.
Sakurai first entered the entertainment world in 1987 as a member of the three-girl idol unit Lemon Angel. She later transitioned into voice acting, taking on many prominent roles, including Mylene Flare Jenius in Macross 7, Meimi Haneoka/Saint Tail in Kaitou Saint Tail, and Misao Makimachi in Rurouni Kenshin. She was also active in dubbing foreign films.
In September 2016, she shocked fans by announcing her sudden retirement, stating:
“I feel that my important actor’s voice has become very difficult to project. As a voice actress, I could no longer endure such changes.”
However, she returned to voice work in 2019, and her portrayal of Cynthia in Pokémon became a major highlight of her renewed career.
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Tomo Sakurai, a voice actress, passed away on August 13 at the age of 53. The announcement was made by her agency and through her official X account. She had been hospitalized in emergency care on August 4 after her multi-organ cancer worsened, and despite treatment, she passed away.
Although she had once retired from the entertainment industry, she later returned to voice acting. In recent years, she gained renewed attention for her role as Cynthia, a popular character in the anime Pokémon.
On X, the following statement was shared:
“Tomo Sakurai had long been undergoing treatment, but her multi-organ cancer symptoms worsened, leading to her emergency hospitalization on August 4. Sadly, her condition did not improve, and she passed away on August 13. We deeply thank everyone for the many supportive messages and well-wishes sent to her during her lifetime.”
The agency added:
“She always worked together with us toward a full recovery, tackling treatment with positivity and determination. It is heartbreaking that things turned out this way, and we are filled with deep regret and sorrow. We sincerely apologize to all the fans who supported her.”
The announcement also noted that her funeral will be held privately with close relatives only, asking the media and public to refrain from inquiries. A fan memorial service may be arranged at a later date.
Her agency, Fezard Co., also mentioned that due to the cancellation of the TOMO Summer 2025 Live! concert scheduled for August 17, emails have been sent to ticket buyers with refund instructions, though some have not yet responded. They urged fans to check the messages.
Sakurai first entered the entertainment world in 1987 as a member of the three-girl idol unit Lemon Angel. She later transitioned into voice acting, taking on many prominent roles, including Mylene Flare Jenius in Macross 7, Meimi Haneoka/Saint Tail in Kaitou Saint Tail, and Misao Makimachi in Rurouni Kenshin. She was also active in dubbing foreign films.
In September 2016, she shocked fans by announcing her sudden retirement, stating:
“I feel that my important actor’s voice has become very difficult to project. As a voice actress, I could no longer endure such changes.”
However, she returned to voice work in 2019, and her portrayal of Cynthia in Pokémon became a major highlight of her renewed career.