Kikuko Inoue is a veteran voice actress and singer from Japan.  Born in Kanagawa, she obtained a middle school teaching license before a rebroadcast of Attack No. 1 inspired her to pursue voice acting, and she landed her debut role in 1988.  Although she introduces herself as “17 years old” (Oi, oi!) she has been voice acting for over 35 years!  Known within the industry and by her fans worldwide by her nickname “Onee-chan” (older sister), her extensive career spans hundreds of roles in anime, video games, tokusatsu, dubbing, radio, and music CDs.

Her first major recurring role in anime, was that of Kasumi Tendo from Ranma ½.  From then she went on to voice the iconic Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess!, Mizuho Kazami from Onegai Teacher, Rune Venus from El-Hazard, Chitose Hibiya from Chobits, Lust from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Eléonore from The Familiar of Zero, Grace O’Connor from Macross Frontier, Minerva Orlando from Fairy Tail, and many, many more.

She voices Nagisa’s mother, Sanae Furukawa from the popular game and anime series Clannad.

While she is most known for her roles as older sisters, mothers, and teachers, recently she has been cast as several villainous characters, including The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village.  Gamers may also know her as Philia Felice from the Tales of Destiny series, Lobelia Carlini from Sakura Wars 3, I-No from the Guilty Gear series,  Venat / Hydaelyn in the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, Amelie in Death Stranding, and more.

Aside from voice acting, she has released 11 albums, an anime song cover album, and several radio programs and has recorded over 200 character songs for anime and games.  She won Best Supporting Actress at the 4th Seiyuu Awards in 2010, and subsequently received the honorary Kazue Takahashi Award at the 10th Seiyuu Awards in 2016 for “the female performer who broadens the profession of voice acting in every form of media.”

She co-founded and owns her own voice acting agency, Office Anemone.  She loves cosplayers and occasionally cosplays herself!  Her daughter, Honoka, is also a voice actress and singer.

Follow Kikuko Inoue on Twitter(X) at @atmanbow_staff!