Kumiko Okae ‘The Cat Returns’ Voice Actress TV Host Dies At 63 In Tokyo

TOKYO, JP. (THECOUNT) — Japanese actress and TV host Kumiko Okae, died Thursday of complications of coronavirus, her agent said. She was 63.

Okae passed away at a Tokyo hospital at 5:20 a.m. Thursday after developing a fever due to COVID-19 on April 3.

Okae was hospitalized after her condition suddenly deteriorated three days later. She then tested positive for the virus.

A familiar figure who appeared in TV dramas and variety shows, Okae underwent an operation for breast cancer last year.

She underwent radiation treatment from the end of January to mid-February, according to the office.

Via ComicBook:

The Studio Ghibli actress was tasked with voicing Jenny in Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. The minor role saw Okae play the confidant to Queen Ilene, and she helped point Ash in the right direction after Lucario appeared around the Cameran Palace.

Outside of anime, Okae was a well-known actress in the live action sphere. She got her start in the TBS series Omitsu in 1975 before moving on to projects like Ten Made Todoke and the program Hanamaru Market.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. The opulent Meiji Shinto Shrine is known for its towering gate and surrounding woods. The Imperial Palace sits amid large public gardens. The city’s many museums offer exhibits ranging from classical art (in the Tokyo National Museum) to a reconstructed kabuki theater – wikipedia.