Eriko Hara is a veteran Japanese voice actress born on November 1, 1959, in Tokyo, Japan. Her birth name is Setsuko Matsushita, and she is also known by the stage names Eriko Hara and Eri Kono. She began her career in the early 1980s after training at the Tokyo Broadcasting Academy and studying under the tutelage of renowned actress Ichirō市原悦子, who actually gave her the stage name "Hara Eriko". Hara is currently affiliated with the talent agency Beffect.

Hara's debut role came in 1982 when she voiced Ran Hoyume in the series Gyakuten Ippatsu-man. This was the start of a prolific career that saw her become a familiar voice in anime throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She quickly took on her first leading role in the same year as Ranze Eto in Tokimeki Tonight. The 1980s were a busy decade for her, with significant parts in major series. She voiced Sharon Publin in Ginga Hyōryū Vifam (1983) and its subsequent OVAs, Rei in Aoki Ryūsei SPT Layzner (1985), and Patty in the Gall Force OVA series (1986). Another defining role from this period was Hikaru Hiyama in the popular romantic comedy Kimagure Orange Road (1987). She also contributed her voice to the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise as Elle Vianno in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986) and in various Mobile Suit SD Gundam projects. Her film work during this time included a role in the animated feature Venus Wars (1989) as Susan Sommers.

The 1990s brought Hara continued success and some of her most widely recognized roles. She voiced the character Komaru Sarutani in Pro Golfer Saru and its sequels, and Ril in the OVA series Luna Varga. In 1993, she was cast as Ayako, the tough yet caring manager of the Shohoku basketball team, in the immensely popular sports anime Slam Dunk. This role remains one of her most iconic and beloved performances. She was also a part of the vast Sailor Moon universe, voicing multiple characters across the various series, including Sailor Iron Mouse in the Sailor Stars season. Another long-running and notable commitment began in 1988 with her voice work for the beloved children's franchise Soreike! Anpanman. Over the decades, she has voiced numerous characters in this series, most consistently Pyonkichi, a role she has played in countless television episodes and films, including titles like Soreike! Anpanman: Fuwafuwa Fuwari to Kumo no Kuni, Soreike! Anpanman: Gomira no Hoshi, and Soreike! Anpanman: Yōsei Rinrin no Himitsu.

Beyond these landmark roles, Hara's extensive filmography includes a wide array of parts in OVAs and films from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Fana in Gdleen, Miki Morita in Wanna-Be's, Rina Yuuki in Hoshikuzu Paradise, Marte in Dancougar: Blazing Epilogue, Isabelle in The Twins at St. Clare's, Tina Badham in Cleopatra D.C., and Oki in Attacker You!. She also lent her voice to the English-dubbed version of the Italian animated series "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".

In addition to her anime work, Hara has had a substantial career in video games, particularly noted for reprising her role as Elle Vianno from Gundam ZZ in numerous entries of the Super Robot Wars series, from Alpha in 2000 to Super Robot Wars T in 2019. She also voiced the character Pellegri in the Xenosaga video game trilogy.

Eriko Hara's career has spanned over four decades, demonstrating her versatility and enduring presence in the voice acting industry. Known for portraying cheerful and energetic female characters, her work has left a significant mark on anime from the 1980s and 1990s. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her long-standing roles. Beyond performing, she has also contributed to the industry as a lecturer at various voice acting training schools, including the Green Road school and the Yoyogi Animation School. She continues to be active, with roles in recent series like Super Cub in 2021, where she voiced a homeroom teacher, a role she actively sought out because of her personal passion for the Honda Super Cub motorcycle.