Seiyuu Hikaru Tanaka announced on his Twitter (formally X) account that this mother, seiyuu Atsuko Tanaka has passed away on Tuesday (August 20, 2024), after battling for one year with an unspecificied illness. Atsuko passed away at the age of 61.
いつもお世話になっている皆様へ pic.twitter.com/rfzWhMbsIl
— 田中 光（Hikaru Tanaka） (@HikaruTanaka_va) August 20, 2024
In the statement posted by Hikaru, he did not reveal the specific illness of his mother, in accordance to her wishes, but stated that she lived a serious, dignified, and a little playful life, during the almost one year that Atsuko was fighting her illness.
Atsuko and Hikaru’s mother-son relationship was never revealed in public, and Hikaru stated that it is with great regret that he has to reveal their relationship in this way.
Hikaru also thanked Atsuko’s fans who loved her, and everyone in the industry who took care of her. He asked the people that they do not forget the works and characters that Atsuko had poured so much love into, and that they do not forget the voice actress that is Atsuko Tanaka.
Atsuko was best known for her role as Motoko Kusanagi in the Ghost in the Shell franchise, Harumi Kiyama in A Certain Scientific Railgun, Carmilla in Fate/Grand Order, & Caster in the Fate/Stay Night series, among so many others.
Her recent roles included Hanami in Jujutsu Kaisen, Flamme in Sousou no Frieren, Rose in The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic, Ōmurasaki no Omae in Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master, among others.
Atsuko also voiced many video game characters such as Jerri in Persona 5 Tactica, Gaby in Shin Megami Tensei IV, Chun-Li in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, & Poison in Street Fighter series.
