Kazuko Yanaga was a Japanese actress and voice actress born on April 14, 1947, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She passed away on November 1, 2014, at the age of 67. She was affiliated with several talent agencies during her career, including Theatre Echo and MAUSU PROMOTION, before eventually working with 81 Produce. She was married to fellow voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka.

Yanaga began her entertainment career in 1965 as a live-action actress, appearing in films such as "Ninja Hunt" and television dramas like "New Selected Tales of the Shinsengumi". She transitioned into voice acting during the 1970s, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the industry through the 1980s and beyond. Her career spanned nearly five decades, with her final roles coming in the early 2010s in anime such as "GOSICK" and "Scarecrowman".

Yanaga is perhaps best known for her definitive role as Fyana in the "Armored Trooper Votoms" metaseries. She voiced the character Fyana across multiple productions, including the original 1983 television series, the 1985 OVA "The Last Red Shoulder," the 1986 OVA "Big Battle," the 1994 OVA "The Heretic Saint," and the 1991 OVA "Brilliantly Shining Heresy". This recurring role became a hallmark of her career and a favorite among fans of the mecha genre.

Her career encompassed a vast range of anime roles throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. She played Ranko Midorikawa in "Aim for the Ace!" and its sequel "Shin Ace o Nerae!". Other notable roles from this period include Igarinu in "Jump Out! Machine Hiryu," Shioji in "The Adventure of Gamba and Otters," Cera in "Acrobunch - The Quest for Treasure," Rondo in "Bremen 4: Angels in Hell," Peggy in the OVA "Kizuoibito," and Tatiana in the OVA "TO". She also had prominent roles in series like "Armored Trooper Votoms," "Monster," "Inuyasha," and "His and Her Circumstances".

In addition to her work in Japanese animation, Yanaga was highly active in voice-over work for foreign films and television series. She was the regular Japanese dubbing voice for several major Hollywood actresses, including Sigourney Weaver, Susan Sarandon, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Her extensive dubbing credits spanned decades and included films such as the "Die Hard" series, "Jurassic Park," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and the television series "Friends" and "Miami Vice". She also lent her voice to tokusatsu productions like "Mobile Cop Jiban" and "Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman".

Kazuko Yanaga left behind a substantial body of work that demonstrates her versatility and longevity in the voice acting profession. Her ability to portray a wide spectrum of characters, from the stoic Fyana in a giant robot saga to complex characters in foreign film dubs, cemented her legacy as a highly respected and accomplished artist in the Japanese entertainment industry.