Kirin Kiki was a renowned Japanese actress whose career spanned over five decades, and she also contributed her voice to several animated films. Born on January 15, 1943, in Tokyo, she began her entertainment career in television in the 1960s before becoming a celebrated figure in film. While primarily known for her extensive live-action work, which earned her numerous awards and critical acclaim, her voice acting roles brought her to the attention of anime audiences.

In the realm of anime, Kiki is recognized for a handful of distinctive performances. She voiced the character Haru, the suspicious and determined maid, in the Studio Ghibli film The Secret World of Arrietty, released in 2010. Another of her notable voice roles was as Yamanba in the 1979 film Taro the Dragon Boy. Earlier in her career, using her birth name Chiho Yūki, she played Madame Noir in the 1974 anime adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk. Her other voice work in animation includes the character Onba in the 2006 fantasy film Brave Story.

Information regarding recurring collaborations specifically within the anime industry is not prevalent in available sources. Her filmography shows a diverse range of work across different directors and studios. While she had a prolific and famous partnership with live-action director Hirokazu Kore-eda, starring in many of his films including the Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters, a similar pattern of repeated collaboration is not documented for her anime voice acting roles.

Throughout her career, Kirin Kiki received numerous accolades for her acting. She was a multiple winner of the Japan Academy Film Prize, taking home awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. In 2008, she was honored by the Japanese government with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, and she received a special "Arigatō" Award from the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2015. Kirin Kiki passed away on September 15, 2018, at the age of 75.