Akiko Wada is a Japanese singer and television personality who has also performed voice acting roles. Born Kim Bok-ja on April 10, 1950, in Osaka, she is of Korean ethnicity and took the name Akiko Wada upon obtaining Japanese citizenship. She is signed to the Horipro entertainment agency. Her career began in music when she dropped out of school at age 17 to perform in clubs, leading to her debut single Hoshizora no Kodoku in 1968 and her first hit, Doshaburi no Ame no Naka de, the following year.

While primarily known for her extensive career in music and as a television regular, Wada has taken on a limited number of notable voice acting roles. Her most recognized voice role in anime is as the character King Koopa, also known as Bowser, in the 1986 film Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyushutsu Daisakusen. This film was the first animated adaptation of the Super Mario Bros. video game and marked the first time the character Bowser was given a voice. In this production, her portrayal depicted Bowser as a villain attempting to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom and marry Princess Peach.

Beyond this anime role, Wada's other voice acting credits include providing the Japanese voice for Marge Simpson in the theatrical film The Simpsons Movie. Her work in dubbing also extends to live-action, as she voiced the character of Mama Morton in the Japanese-dubbed version of the musical film Chicago.

Information on recurring collaborations with specific directors or voice actors in the field of anime is not readily available. Wada's primary and enduring career has been in the music industry, where she has released numerous singles and albums, earning her recognition as a pioneer of R&B and soul music in Japan. She has received significant accolades for her singing, including the Best Song award at the 1972 Japan Record Awards for Ano Kane wo Narasu no wa Anata. Her status as a major entertainment figure is further evidenced by her more than 30 appearances on the prestigious New Year's Eve music program Kōhaku Uta Gassen since her debut on the show in 1970. In 2008, she performed at the Apollo Theater in New York as part of her 40th debut anniversary tour.