Yōko Kawanami was a Japanese voice actress born on April 22, 1957, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. She died on March 18, 2025, at the age of 67 after a battle with peritoneal cancer. She was affiliated with the talent agency Aoni Production at the time of her death.

Kawanami began her voice acting career in the late 1970s after graduating from the broadcasting program at Toho Gakuen School of Radio and completing training at the Theatre Echo training school. Her early career included a steady stream of roles throughout the 1980s, establishing her as a recognizable talent in the industry.

Among her most significant roles was Coconna Vartla (or Coconna) in the Armored Trooper Votoms franchise. She voiced this character in the original 1983 television series, as well as in later installments including the OVA The Last Red Shoulder, the 2010 OVA Phantom Arc, the 2011 OVA Alone Again, and the film Big Battle.

In the mecha genre, she also voiced Mika Hyuga in the 1981 series Six God Combination Godmars and its 1982 film version. She played Rita Berett in the 1981 series Fang of the Sun Dougram. Another notable role was Arcee in the Japanese version of Transformers: The Headmasters, which aired in 1987.

Kawanami had a long association with the works of manga artist Akira Toriyama. In the Dr. Slump franchise, she voiced Midori Norimaki (also credited as Midori Yamabuki) in several films from the 1990s, taking over the role from Mariko Mukai. She also voiced Midori in the television specials Dr. Slump & Arale-chan Hoyoyo!! Tasuketa Same ni Tsurerarete..., Ncha! Wakuwaku Hot Natsu Yasumi, Ncha! Penguin Mura wa Hare no chi Hare, and Ncha! Penguin Mura yori Ai o Komete.

In the Dragon Ball series, she voiced multiple characters. She was the voice of Ranfan in the original Dragon Ball. Later, she took on the role of Bulma’s mother (Bikini) in Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z Kai, and the film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, again succeeding Mariko Mukai. She also provided the voice for Kurumi Yukino in Cybot Robotchi and Monko in Ganbare Gonbe.

In the 1990s, her roles included Ruriko Koda in Neighborhood Story (1995), Mitsuko Yamaoka in Mister Ajikko (1987), and the mother in the OVA Go! Go! Ackman (1994). In the 2000s, she voiced Miss Sarah Bellum in the Japanese-produced series Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z. Later career credits include Aphrodite in Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron and appearances in series such as One Piece, Case Closed, and GeGeGe no Kitaro.