is a Japanese voice actress.
Her most notable voice roles include the eponymous protagonist of the Klonoa franchise, the titular character of the Sgt. Frog franchise, Shippō in InuYasha, Mother in the Atashin'chi series, and Regina in DokiDoki! PreCure. She was married to Kōji Tsujitani.
Biography Watanabe was born on October 7, 1965 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Her awareness of becoming a voice actress was sparked by applying for the voice acting contest of the Space Warrior Baldios theatrical version. Although she was not chosen, making it into the final 30 for the studio audition out of the large number of applicants gave her the confidence to think, "Maybe I'm suited for voice acting work".
After attending the Japan Narration Actor Institute, she joined Arts Vision.
At a point she thought she might not be suited to be a voice actress, deciding, "I'll pay and study here for about a year, and the moment I realize the agency has no intention of promoting me or that I lack the real ability, I'll quit." However, back then Arts Vision had no young actors who could voice young boy roles, so she kept getting called for auditions, leading to her first regular role as Jun Yamano in Ronin Warriors, and her first starring role as Kouta Hoshikawa in Brave Exkaiser.
On July 20, 2012, Watanabe announced on her personal blog that she had married voice actor Kōji Tsujitani.
She officially transferred from Arts Vision to Sigma Seven on February 1, 2018. Later that same year on October 17, her husband Tsujitani suddenly died of a stroke at the age of 57.
In 2023, she officially took over the role of Hanako Hanazawa in the Sazae-san television anime series from Keiko Yamamoto.
Filmography
Animation + List of voice performances in animation Year Title Role Notes Source Uchūsen Sagittarius Lib Debut role Gundam ZZ Beat Sonic Soldier Borgman Jun Momoki (Tooru) Ronin Warriors Jun Yamano Momotaro Densetsu Kintarou Brave Exkaiser Kouta Hoshikawa –1991 The Hakkenden Kurayago OVA The Heroic Legend of Arslan Alfreed OVA –1992 Magical Princess Minky Momo Hold on to Your Dreams Fairy 2 Genji Tsūshin Agedama Wapuro Condition Green Barney Page OVA Oh! My Konbu:ja:OH!MYコンブ Musubi Tekkaman Blade Jody Ashita e Free Kick:ja:あしたへフリーキック Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair Helen Babel II LaShelle OVA –1993 Ys II: Castle in the Heavens Tarf Hadal Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Katejina Loos Nintama Rantarō Minamoto Kingo Muka Muka Paradise Uiba Shikatani Tekkaman Blade II Anita OVA Sins of the Sisters Kozue Takemiya Eps. 3-4 Crayon Shin Chan Kenji Ep. from January 6, 1995 Sailor Moon SuperS JunJun Soar High! Isami Onna Karasu Tengu Bonobono Bonobono Sailor Moon SuperS Kigurumiko Ep. 133 Megami Paradise Rouge Saint Tail Kenta Ep. 19 Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!! J Case Closed Yuuta Ogawa Ep. 7 Ijiwaru Baasan:ja:いじわるばあさん Tsutomu Revolutionary Girl Utena Shadow Girl C-ko Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!! Max Goki Ichimonji (Gou) Anime Shūkan DX! Mi-Pha-Pu Pu-chan Brain Powerd Quincy Issā/Iiko Isami Corrector Yui Eco Turn A Gundam Fran Doll Zoids: Chaotic Century Moonbay Gundress Kei Yung Hamtaro Moguru-kun Inuyasha Shippō Gyōten Ningen Batseelor Tsuchiwarashi Hikaru no Go Hideki Isobe MegaMan NT Warrior series Tōru Hikawa Digimon Frontier Tomoki Himi –2009 Atashin'chi Mother Beyblade G-Revolution Julia Zatch Bell! Sauza Rumiko Takahashi Anthology Ritsuko Hirooka Ep. 10 Planetes Claire Rondo –2011 Sgt. Frog Sergeant Keroro Doki Doki School Hours Linda Matsumoto Samurai 7 Honoka Ojamajo Doremi Naisho Fami Harukaze OVA Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo Héloïse de Villefort Gun Sword Catharine Oku-sama wa Mahō Shōjo: Bewitched Agnes Miki Sakano One Piece Fukurou Silk Road Kids:ja:シルクロード少年 ユート Bani Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z Rod Ep. 23 –2009 Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Yu Natsuki Also GoGo You're Under Arrest: Full Throttle Randi Toranosuke Hamondo Shangri-La Klaris Lutz –present Working!! series Kyōko Shirafuji Digimon Fusion Gumdramon, Chackmon Season 3 Un-Go Fumihiko Sasa Tamako Market Fumiko Mitsumura –2014 Dokidoki! Precure Regina Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha Sanjou Keiko Keroro Sergeant Keroro Shin Atashin'chi Mother Duel Masters Kabamaro Midnight Occult Civil Servants Dream Demon Eps 9-10 Shachibato! President, It's Time for Battle! Ruck Eps 1, 3, 8 Higurashi When They Cry – GO Teacher Eps 19-20 Cue! Setsuko Takasaka –present Sazae-san Hanako Hanazawa Third voice Butt Detective Kaitou Q Eps 129-130
Theatrical animation + List of voice performances in theatrical animation Year Title Role Notes Source Ronin Warriors: Legend of the Inferno Armor Jun Yamano Crayon Shin-chan: Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil Rope Lady B 1996 Hello Kitty: Everyone Protect the Forest! Ant-san Nintama Rantarō the Movie Minamoto Kingo The Day the Angel Flew Yū Let's & Go!! WGP: The Chase of the Uncontrollable Mini 4WD! J 1999 Gundress: The Movie Yung Kay Adolescence of Utena Shadow Girl C-Ko Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time Shippō 2002 Turn A Gundam: Earth Light Fran Doll Turn A Gundam: Moonlight Butterfly Fran Doll Digimon Frontier: Island of Lost Digimon Tomoki Himi Short film Inuyasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass Shippō 2003 Atashin'chi the Movie Mother Inuyasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler Shippō Inuyasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island Shippō Rockman EXE the Movie: Programs of Light and Darkness Tōru Hikawa Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori: Nazo no Otakara Daisakusen Sergeant Keroro Keroro Gunso the Super Movie Sergeant Keroro Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 2: The Deep Sea Princess Sergeant Keroro 2008 Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 3: Keroro vs. Keroro Great Sky Duel Sergeant Keroro, Dark Keroro Mushakero Unveiled! Sengoku Star Big Battle!! Sergeant Keroro Short film 2009 Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 4: Gekishin Dragon Warriors Sergeant Keroro Kero 0: Depart! Assembly of Everyone!! Sergeant Keroro Short film 2010 Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 5: Creation! Ultimate Keroro, Wonder Space-Time Island Sergeant Keroro Atashin'chi: The 3D Movie: Passionate Superpowers♪ Mother Goes Wild! Mother Inazuma Eleven: Saikyō Gundan Ōga Shūrai Mistrene "Mistore" Callous One Piece Film: Z Gali Tamako Love Story Fumiko Mitsumura Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – May the Melody Reach You! Akemi Tanaka Crayon Shin-chan: Honeymoon Hurricane ~The Lost Hiroshi~ Kaō Kosugi One Piece Film: Red Mini Bruno Butt Detective the Movie: Star and Moon Additional voice New Theatrical Movie Keroro Gunsō: Upon Revival, Immediately Facing the Threat of Earth's Destruction! Sergeant Keroro
Video games + List of voice performances in video games Year Title Role Notes Source Battle Tycoon: Flash Hiders SFX Calnarsa Lue Bonn Star Breaker Isshu, Leina PC Engine Advanced V.G. Reimi Jahana PC Engine Megami Tengoku: Megami Paradise Rouge PC Engine Lunar: Eternal Blue Mauri MegaCD Battle Tycoon Calnarsa LeBon Super Famicom Mahjong Sword Lepias PC Engine Advanced V.G. Reimi Jahana PlayStation Megami Paradise II Rouge PC FX Alice in Cyberland Nikaido Yoko PlayStation Dragon Knight 4 Rhynus, Sayla PlayStation Marica: Shinjitsu no Sekai Toudou Kaname Sega Saturn Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Klonoa PlayStation Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!: Eternal Wings Gouki PlayStation Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete Mauri Sega Saturn, remake of Lunar: Eternal Blue Advanced V.G. 2 Reimi Jahana PlayStation Klonoa: Moonlight Museum Klonoa WonderSwan Ace Combat 3 Fiona Chris Fitzgerald PlayStation Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil Klonoa PlayStation 2 Klonoa: Empire of Dreams Klonoa Game Boy Advance Inuyasha Shippō PlayStation Alpine Racer 3 Klonoa PlayStation 2 Klonoa Beach Volleyball Klonoa PlayStation Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament Klonoa Game Boy Advance Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal Klonoa Game Boy Advance Namco × Capcom Klonoa, Amazona PlayStation 2 Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales Mowgli Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon Mowgli Tales of Vesperia Karol Capel PS3, XB360 - Klonoa Klonoa Wii remake of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Chocobo to Mahō no Ehon: Majō to Shōjo to Gonin no Yūsha Mowgli Tales of the Rays Karol Capel, Sergeant Keroro The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Yunobo Digimon New Century Penmon, Chackmon, Blizzarmon, Daipenmon Android Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series Klonoa Remakes of Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
Audio dramas + List of voice performances in audio dramas Title Role Notes Source Chivas 1-2-3 Hop Doki Doki School Hours Linda Matsumoto Hanasaki Komachi Girls Sakurako Natsukawa Little Princess: Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime 2 Gao, Tea Little Princess: Marl Ōkoku no Ningyō Hime 2: Another Diary Megami Paradise Rouge Pathway for Santa Claus -Santa ga kureta okurimono- s-CRY-ed Ryuko Saekki Silent Mobius: Silent Lovers Minazuki Saya Wrestle Angels Bomber Kijima
Dubbing roles + List of dub performances in overseas productions Title Role Notes Source Die Hard with a Vengeance Raymond 1999 TV Asahi edition Pororo the Little Penguin Pororo Racing Stripes Stripes children The Simpsons Woody Woodpecker Woody
Tokusatsu + List of voice performances in tokusatsu Year Title Role Notes Source 2014 Ressha Sentai ToQger Mikey Also in ToQger vs. Kyoryuger 2026Super Space Sheriff Gavan InfinityPatran's Mother
References
External links
Kumiko Watanabe at Seiyuu.Info