Rika Fukami

Japanese voice actress, narrator and singer (born 1963) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rika Fukami (深見 梨加, Fukami Rika; born August 8, 1963) is a Japanese voice actress and narrator. Born in Kyoto Prefecture and raised in Chichibu, Saitama, she was originally a competitor at the NHK Cup National High School Broadcasting Contest [ja] while studying at Saitama Prefectural Chichibu High School [ja], before joining Dojinsha Productions [ja] and debuting as a voice actress in Tokimeki Tonight. Since then, she has voiced Minako Aino/Sailor Venus in the Sailor Moon series,[2] as well as Fran in Final Fantasy XII, Carmen la Bailaora in Ashita no Nadja, Schaffe in Ninja Senshi Tobikage and Daiko Hayami in New Cutie Honey.

Born (1963-08-08) August 8, 1963 (age 62)
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Occupations
  • Voice actress
  • narrator
Yearsactive1982–present
AgentFreelance
Quick facts Born, Occupations ...
Rika Fukami
深見 梨加
Born (1963-08-08) August 8, 1963 (age 62)
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Occupations
  • Voice actress
  • narrator
Years active1982–present
AgentFreelance
Notable creditSailor Moon as Sailor Venus
Height155 cm (5 ft 1 in)[1]
Spouse
Eisuke Tsuda
​
(m. 2000)​
Websitericafukami88.wixsite.com/official
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Biography

Early life and career

Rika Fukami was born on August 8, 1963,[3] in Kyoto Prefecture,[4] and she was raised in Chichibu, Saitama,[5] where she was a member of the chorus club in elementary school.[6] She was originally self-conscious and quiet during her childhood, but in high school she was inspired by how spirited the older students were, so she joined the broadcasting club and subsequently won the top prize at a prefectural tournament of the NHK Cup National High School Broadcasting Contest [ja] and participated in the national tournament for two consecutive years.[6][7][8]

After graduating from Saitama Prefectural Chichibu High School [ja],[9] she decided to become a freelance announcer, and spent one year at the Tokyo Announcement Academy [ja] Department of Broadcasting and Voice Acting[10] to gather information on such things as auditions.[6][7] Among her part-time work included in-store announcements at department stores and hosted concerts and amusement park hero shows [ja].[7][11]

After graduating from the school, she passed the audition for Dojinsha Productions [ja][12] and joined the company, making her debut as a voice actress in the anime series Tokimeki Tonight.[7] She subsequently voiced Akina in Futari Daka, Fuyuta Fuyuki in Persia, the Magic Fairy, Yasuka Kashikiri in High School! Kimengumi, Mark in Lupin III Part III, Schaffe in Ninja Senshi Tobikage, a young Kazuya Uesugi in Touch, Ume Takematsu in Robotan, Ruby in Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams, and Ohtawara in Yawara!.[13][14] She also voiced Prince Tonkari in Creamy Mami: Eien no Once More, as well as a reporter in Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel: Long Goodbye.[13]

1992-present: Sailor Moon, Macross, and Final Fantasy

From 1992 to 1997, she voiced Minako Aino/Sailor Venus in the anime adaptation of the magical girl manga Sailor Moon.[14] She reprised her role in the anime's three movies, as well as in several video games part of the franchise.[13] In addition to Sailor Venus, she also voiced minor character Reika Nishimura, as well as the monster Rikoukeidar.[14]

In 1994, she starred as Myung Fang Lone in Macross Plus and Daiko Hayami in New Cutie Honey.[13][14] She also voiced Renhō in Jungle King Tar-chan, Helen Jackson in Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Kaguya in Yaiba, Reideen Sayla in Reideen the Superior, Angela in Kurogane Communication, Hamil in Black Heaven, Kira and Iyo in Legend of Himiko, Viola in Zoids: Chaotic Century, and Spoor in Crest of the Stars and its the sequel series Banner of the Stars.[13][14] She later branched to video game franchises, voicing Lisa in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Fran in Final Fantasy XII, and Alex Wesker in Resident Evil: Revelations 2, and she reprised her role as Myung Fang Lone in Macross Ace Frontier.[13][15][16]

In the early-2000s, she voiced Majo Prima in Ojamajo Doremi, Ophanimon and Yuriko Kanbara in Digimon Frontier, Suzu Imamura in Full Moon o Sagashite, Natsuhi in Naruto, Carmen la Bailaora in Ashita no Nadja, and Regine in Futari wa Pretty Cure.[13][14] Subsequently, she was cast as Gira in Black Jack: The Two Doctors of Darkness, Yggdrasil in Digimon Data Squad, Chan in Jyu-Oh-Sei, Nana Sawada in Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Hajime Yoshino in Appleseed Ex Machina, Kiriko Suma in Psychic Squad, Eriko Oginome in Penguindrum, and Shiki Murasaki in Btooom!.[13][14] In 2019, she was invited to be a guest at Naka-Kon 2020 in Overland Park, Kansas,[17] but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas.[18]

In 2020, she won the Kazue Takahashi Award at the 14th Seiyu Awards.[19] She then voiced Grace O'Malley in Fena: Pirate Princess,[14] and she voiced Rui Kisugi in the Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye crossover.[20]

Dub localization, music, and others

In addition to anime, she provides the Japanese dub localization for numerous international film and television actors including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Sharon Stone and Jodie Foster.[16] She has also worked as a narrator for factual programming on TBS, NTV, Fuji TV, NHK among others, as well as on commercials for companies and brands such as Fujifilm, KFC, Nippon Kodo, NTT Communications, Shueisha, the Subaru Exiga, and Tokyo Electric Power Company.[16]

Outside of voice acting, she also works as a singer. In 1996, her Sailor Moon song "Prologue" was released as a single, having been part of the 1994 character single "Setsunakute ī".[21][22] She had five albums released - Hoshizora no Fugue (1993), Mornin'After (1994), La Venus (1994), Yo ni mo Suteki na Monogatari: Mystery Train ni Notte (1995), and Mabushī Kisetsu ni Koi o Shite (1996) - as well as a third single, "24 Crush" (1995).[23][24] She has also provided vocals for several releases for the rock musical group Sound Horizon.[25][26]

Personal life

Fukami was affiliated with Beniya 25-ji [ja][27] and Vi-vo, before going freelance on July 1, 2019.[28]

Fukami's voice type is alto.[29] She once had level three kendama certification.[30] She once hosted the wedding of a close associate while on an overseas tour.[31]

She shares the same birth date as her late Sailor Moon co-star Emi Shinohara, and they even had a joint birthday concert together, performing as the duo Funky Twins on their 33rd birthday in 1996.[32][33]

By 2014, she became obsessed with the Funabashi mascot Funassyi, with her husband and fellow actor Eisuke Tsuda [ja] discussing this to the afternoon talk show Lion no Gokigen'yō  [ja] as an issue on their October 14, 2014, episode.[34]

Filmography

Television animation

More information Year, Work ...
Year Work Role Source
1982Tokimeki TonightMichael[14]
1984Futari DakaAkina[13]
1984Persia, the Magic FairyFuyuta Fuyuki[13]
1985Dirty PairSecretary, Momoko[14]
1985High School! KimengumiYasuka Kashikiri[13]
1985Lupin III Part IIIMark[13]
1985Ninja Senshi TobikageSchaffe[14]
1985TouchKazuya Uesugi (young), Nitta's mother[14]
1986Anmitsu HimeMrs. ET[13]
1986RobotanUme Takematsu[13]
1987City HunterMakoto Tomomura, Miho Kōenji, Jiro[13]
1987Mami the PsychicKōji Tabata[13]
1989Sally the Witch 2Hiroko[14]
1990Genma Wars: Eve of MythologyOshun[13]
1991Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your DreamsRuby[14]
1991Yawara!Ohtawara[14]
1992Genki Bakuhatsu GanbarugerYayoi Kirigakure, Kei Takeda, Akie Yūki[13]
1992-1997Sailor MoonMinako Aino/Sailor Venus, Reika Nishimura/Rikoukeidar[14]
1993AnpanmanStone Man[14]
1993Jungle King Tar-chanRenhō[13]
1993Mobile Suit Victory GundamHelen Jackson[14]
1993YaibaKaguya[14]
1993Tsuyoshi Shikkari ShinasaiMidori[14]
1995Wedding PeachAquelda[13]
1996Case ClosedMika Taniguchi[14]
1996KochiKame: Tokyo Beat CopsAyano Jingūji[13]
1996Reideen the SuperiorReideen Sayla[13]
1997The Kindaichi Case FilesMidori Mimasaka, Fuyuko Tsukishima, Shiho Nishimura[13]
1998Kurogane CommunicationAngela[14]
1998Master KeatonMistress[14]
1999Bikkuriman 2000Kaliyuga[13]
1999Black HeavenHamil[14]
1999Crest of the StarsSpoor[14]
1999Legend of HimikoKira, Iyo[14]
1999Weekly StorylandNarration[13]
1999Zoids: Chaotic CenturyViola, Arabaone's purple mask[13]
2000Banner of the StarsSpoor[14]
2000Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel MonstersHoracti[13]
2001Banner of the Stars IISpoor[13]
2001Cosmic Baton Girl Princess CometQueen of Planet Castanet[13]
2001Go! Go! Itsutsugo LandMama[13]
2001Ojamajo DoremiMajo Prima[13]
2002Digimon FrontierOphanimon, Yuriko Kanbara[13]
2002Full Moon o SagashiteSuzu Imamura[13]
2002NarutoNatsuhi[13]
2003Ashita no NadjaCarmen la Bailaora[13]
2004Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and MarpleElza Hart[13]
2004Futari wa Pretty CureRegine[13]
2004Galaxy Angel XCashier woman[13]
2005Blood+Erizabeta[13]
2006Digimon Data SquadYggdrasil[13]
2006GintamaSpace Woman[16]
2006Government Crime Investigation Agent Zaizen JotaroJunko Yoshioka[13]
2006Jyu-Oh-SeiChan[13]
2006Katekyo Hitman Reborn!Nana Sawada[13]
2008Golgo 13Brigitta[13]
2008Michiko to HatchinAkasha[13]
2008Psychic SquadKiriko Suma[13]
2011PenguindrumEriko Oginome[14]
2012Btooom!Shiki Murasaki[13]
2012Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko MineTrue Ailan[13]
2013Arata: The LegendYorunami's mother[13]
2021Fena: Pirate PrincessGrace O'Malley[14]
2026Goodbye, LaraGrace[35]
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ONA

More information Year, Work ...
Year Work Role Source
2023Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's EyeRui Kisugi[20]
2024Monogatari Off & Monster SeasonDeathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master)[36]
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OVA

More information Year, Work ...
Year Work Role Source
1984Creamy Mami: Eien no Once MorePrince Tonkari[13]
1985Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel: Long Goodbyereporter[13]
1985Magical Princess Minky Momo: La Ronde in My DreamStewardess[14]
1986Prefectural Earth Defense ForceAkiko Ifukube[14]
1986Wounded ManMisty[14]
1988Leina: Wolf Sword LegendNami[14]
1990Taiman BluesMayumi Hashimoto[14]
1991Record of Lodoss WarRiara[14]
1993Ambassador MagmaTomoko Murakami, Altemira[13]
1994Macross PlusMyung Fang Lone[13]
1994New Cutie HoneyDaiko Hayami[14]
1994Ogre SlayerSetsuko[14]
1995Kōryū no MimiSinclair Gordon[14]
1997Licca-chan to Yamaneko Hoshi no TabiKaoru's sister[13]
2003Kaleido Star: New Wings: Extra StageDonna Walker[13]
2008MegumiSakie Yokota[14]
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Animated films

Video games

Dubbing

Film

Television

Animation

Discography

Singles

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales Ref.
JPN JPN
Comb.
"Setsunakute ī" (せつなくていい) 1994
  • Released: March 1, 1994
  • Label: Nippon Columbia
 — — — [21]
"24 Crush"
(stylized as 24☆Crush)		 1995
  • Released: June 21, 1995
  • Label: Apollon
 — — — [24]
"Prologue" (プロローグ) 1996
  • Released: December 21, 1996
  • Label: Nippon Columbia
 — — — [22]
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Albums

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales Ref.
JPN JPN
Comb.
Hoshizora no Fugue (星空のフーガ) 1993
  • Released: October 21, 1993
  • Label: Nippon Columbia
 — — — [157]
Mornin’After 1994
  • Released: February 21, 1994
  • Label: Apollon
 — — — [158]
La Venus 1994
  • Released: September 21, 1994
  • Label: Apollon
 — — — [159]
Yo ni mo Suteki na Monogatari: Mystery Train ni Notte (世にも素敵な物語～ミステリートレインに乗って～) 1995
  • Released: November 21, 1995
  • Label: Apollon
 — — — [160]
Mabushī Kisetsu ni Koi o Shite (まぶしい季節に恋をして) 1996
  • Released: March 21, 1996
  • Label: Tri-M
 — — — [161]
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Awards

More information Year, Award ceremony ...
Year Award ceremony Award Result
2020 14th Seiyu Awards Kazue Takahashi Memorial Award Won[19]
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References

External links

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