Anime Voice Talent Highlight #1: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Yoshiko Sakakibara has been in some of the greatest female roles in anime. During the 1980s, she was a staple of anime, as ubiquitous as Megumi Hayashibara during the 1990s or Rie Kugimiya in the past decade. Playing largely powerful, strong-willed women, leaders and stateswomen, Sakakibara's carefully measured tone and leveled pitch, even in histerics, make her an indispensible talent in the industry for over two decades.
Sakakibara's earliest memorable role is the female villain of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta, Haman Karn. Delivering power and believability to the role in every scene, never faltering, it's no wonder that she garnered a reputation for strong performances in similar roles.
Sometimes the strength of the characters she voiced wasn't an obvious one. Sakakibara went on to perform in Legend of the Galactic Heroes with fellow Bubblegum Crisis alumni, like Toshio Furukawa. Her character was Frederica Greenhill, the daughter of a prominent military figure, and aid to Yang Wenli. In this role, her strength was in her kindness and understanding. A tad more softspoken here, but an inner strength shined through in both plot and performance. Sakakibara's latest roles include Integra Hellsing in Hellsing and Prime Minister Yoko Kayabuki in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig. She still delivers. Notable Roles: - Haman Karn in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985) and Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta (1986) - Sylia Stingray in Bubblegum Crisis (1987) and Bubblegum Crash (1991) - Frederica Greenhill in Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988) - Shinobu Nagumo in Mobile Police Patlabor (1988) (and all other Patlabor productions) - Azusa Matsudaira in Blue Seed (1994) and Blue Seed Beyond (1996) - Integra Hellsing in Hellsing (2001) and Hellsing Ultimate (2006-ongoing) - Prime Minister Yoko Kayakubi in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig (2004) and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society (2006) - Penguin Truth (2009)