Japanese Literary Awards

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Toshiko Sawada

さわだ としこ

Sawada Toshiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1936-09-14 （Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
voice actress, narrator
Active Years
1964-
Affiliations
Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society

Education

Fukuoka Prefectural Moji Kita High School
Country: Japan
Graduated high school
Tokyo Announce Academy
Period: 1964
Country: Japan
Began career at Tokyo Announce Academy in 1964

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Alps no Shoujo Heidi (Narration)

1974 TV anime

A 1974 TV anime. Sawada performed the narration, serving as the program's storyteller for children.

familycoming-of-agenature
Adaptations
  • [TV anime] Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974)

Sleeping Beauty (dubbing / Maleficent)

1959 Animated film (dubbing)

A dubbed version of the Disney animated feature; Sawada has performed the Japanese voice for Maleficent in some editions.

fairy talegood vs evil
Adaptations
  • [Film (animation)] Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Station automated announcements (Ueno Station, various)

1980 public address / automated announcement

Provided the voice for automated station announcements used by JR and other railways from the 1980s onward. The Ueno Station announcements became affectionately known as the 'Ueno-obasan' voice.

public announcementsinfrastructure voice

Bibliography

  • Alps no Shoujo Heidi (Narration)
  • Joan of Arc (Yolande d'Aragon, dubbing)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam (Amuro's mother)
  • Kingdom Hearts (Maleficent, game dubbing)
  • Numerous TV anime, theatrical works, dubbings and narration roles

Style & Themes

Literary Style
calm, lower-pitched narrationdeep, authoritative voice
Recurring Motifs
maternal / elderly female rolessolemn narration

Legacy

A veteran voice actress and narrator active for decades in anime, dubbing and narration. Her automated station announcement voice became affectionately known as the 'Ueno-obasan' and left a mark on public audio culture.

In Popular Culture

  • “Ueno-obasan” (affectionate name for the Ueno Station automated announcements)

Trivia

  • Her voice for Ueno Station automated announcements earned the affectionate nickname 'Ueno-obasan'.
  • She holds EIKEN Grade Pre-1 (practical English proficiency).
  • Vocal range described as alto to mezzo-soprano.