Makiko Esumi
Description
Makiko Esumi is a Japanese actress and former model who has also contributed to the field of voice acting for anime and animated films. Born on December 18, 1966, in the Shimane Prefecture of Japan, Esumi initially pursued a career as a professional volleyball player before a shoulder injury led her to transition into modeling and subsequently acting. She made her acting debut in 1995 with the film Maborosi, a performance that earned her the Rookie of the Year award at the Japan Academy Prize ceremonies, establishing her as a significant talent in the Japanese entertainment industry.
While Esumi is best known for her live-action roles, particularly her iconic performance as Chinatsu Tsuboi in the popular television drama series Shomuni, she has also undertaken select voice acting projects for animated features. One of her noted voice roles is Nui in the atmospheric anime series Mushishi. This series, known for its tranquil and philosophical storytelling about supernatural creatures called Mushi, featured Esumi in a guest role.
Her other significant voice acting work includes providing the Japanese dub for the character Mittens in the Walt Disney animated film Bolt. She also voiced Neera in the Japanese version of the computer-animated film Dinosaur. These roles demonstrate her work in bringing both independent and major studio animated characters to Japanese audiences.
Esumi's career is marked by several notable achievements in acting, even though her voice acting filmography is limited. She won the Rookie of the Year award at the 19th Japan Academy Prize for her debut film Maborosi and later received a nomination for Best Actress at the 26th Japan Academy Prize for her role in the film Inochi. She also won the Best Actress award at the 47th Asia Pacific Film Festival for the same performance. Her work in Shomuni also earned her the award for Best Actress at the 17th Television Drama Academy Awards in Japan. After a long and successful career in front of the camera, Makiko Esumi announced her retirement from the entertainment industry in January 2017.
While Esumi is best known for her live-action roles, particularly her iconic performance as Chinatsu Tsuboi in the popular television drama series Shomuni, she has also undertaken select voice acting projects for animated features. One of her noted voice roles is Nui in the atmospheric anime series Mushishi. This series, known for its tranquil and philosophical storytelling about supernatural creatures called Mushi, featured Esumi in a guest role.
Her other significant voice acting work includes providing the Japanese dub for the character Mittens in the Walt Disney animated film Bolt. She also voiced Neera in the Japanese version of the computer-animated film Dinosaur. These roles demonstrate her work in bringing both independent and major studio animated characters to Japanese audiences.
Esumi's career is marked by several notable achievements in acting, even though her voice acting filmography is limited. She won the Rookie of the Year award at the 19th Japan Academy Prize for her debut film Maborosi and later received a nomination for Best Actress at the 26th Japan Academy Prize for her role in the film Inochi. She also won the Best Actress award at the 47th Asia Pacific Film Festival for the same performance. Her work in Shomuni also earned her the award for Best Actress at the 17th Television Drama Academy Awards in Japan. After a long and successful career in front of the camera, Makiko Esumi announced her retirement from the entertainment industry in January 2017.