Tarako was a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer, and scriptwriter, born on December 17, 1960, in Ota, Gunma, Japan. She passed away on March 4, 2024. She was affiliated with the talent management firm Troubadour Musique Office. Tarako began her career in 1981, making her voice acting debut as a preschooler in the television anime series Urusei Yatsura. Throughout her decades-long career, she became known for her distinctive voice, often portraying child or young characters.

Tarako is most widely recognized for her iconic role as the titular protagonist, Momoko Sakura, also known as Chibi Maruko-chan, in the long-running and beloved anime series Chibi Maruko-chan. She was selected for the part in 1990 after the manga's original author, Momoko Sakura, felt Tarako's voice closely resembled her own image of the character. Tarako voiced the role for over three decades, from the series' debut until her passing in 2024.

Beyond this signature role, Tarako built an extensive and varied filmography. Her many television anime roles included Taruruuto in Magical Taruruuto-kun, Taichi Oota in Kickers, and Chil in Combat Mecha Xabungle. In the late 1990s and 2000s, she took on roles such as the sensitive musician Senritsu in the 1999 version of Hunter x Hunter and the cat demon Kirara in Inuyasha. She also voiced the character Hebimetako in the NG Knight Ramune & 40 series and its sequels. In her later career, she was the voice of the maniacal mascot character Monokuma in the Danganronpa video game and anime franchise, starting with Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. Her film work included roles in several Studio Ghibli productions, such as a boy in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and a friend in My Neighbor Totoro (1988).

Tarako's work was not limited to voice acting. She was also a singer, releasing multiple albums and singles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, she worked as a scriptwriter, notably contributing to the Chibi Maruko-chan anime, and provided narration for numerous television programs and commercials. In 2019, she was honored with the Kids and Family Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards for her contributions to family-oriented animation. Her career, marked by her definitive portrayal of Chibi Maruko-chan and a wide range of other memorable characters, left a significant mark on the anime industry.