Voice Actress Tomo Sakurai Passes Away

Voice actress and singer Tomo Sakurai, best known for roles in Macross 7 and Rurouni Kenshin, passed away on August 13 at age 53 from multiple organ cancer. Her official X/Twitter account confirmed the news, noting she had been hospitalized on August 4 and canceled her “TOMO Natsu 2025 Live” concert soon after. A private funeral will be held, with a possible fan farewell later. Sakurai debuted in 1987 as part of the idol group Lemon Angel before moving into voice acting. She briefly retired in 2016 due to vocal difficulties but returned in 2019. Her career spanned anime, games, and music, with notable performances in El Hazard, Saint Tail, Gintama, Pokémon: Arceus Chronicles, and various Macross songs as Mylene Flare Jenius.

Anime News Network, Crystalyn Hodgkins – Macross 7, Rurouni Kenshin Voice Actress Tomo Sakurai Dies of Cancer at 53 – 16th August 2025