Etsuko Ichihara was a highly respected Japanese actress and voice actress whose career spanned over six decades, from 1957 until her passing in 2019. Born in Chiba, Japan, on January 24, 1936, she studied literature at Waseda University before entering the entertainment industry. She began her career in theater, joining the prestigious Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1957, where she remained a key member until 1971 and quickly became recognized for her acting talent.

While Ichihara was a celebrated figure in live-action film and television, her voice became equally iconic in Japanese animation. One of her most defining roles was as the primary narrator for the long-running and beloved anime series Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi (Japanese Folk Tales), which aired from 1975 to 1994. Her warm and expressive storytelling voice became a fixture in Japanese homes for generations, voicing countless characters and narrating traditional tales. Her extensive voice work includes the role of Hilda in the 1968 animated film Horus: Prince of the Sun, Granny in Miyori in the Sacred Forest, and the narration for Ashita no Kibō -Kanashimi yo Arigatō: Takae Tsuneo Monogatari-.

In her later years, she reached a new generation of audiences worldwide with her performance as Hitoha Miyamizu, the wise and spiritual grandmother of the heroine, in Makoto Shinkai's record-breaking animated film Your Name. in 2016. This role brought her distinctive presence to one of the most successful anime films of all time.

Throughout her career, Ichihara demonstrated immense versatility, moving seamlessly between stage, live-action drama, and voice acting. Her work was recognized with numerous accolades, most notably the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1989 live-action film Black Rain. She continued to work almost until the end of her life, with her final film appearance being in Shabondama in 2017. Etsuko Ichihara passed away on January 12, 2019, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most beloved and accomplished performers.