The agency Production baobab announced on Friday that voice actress Tomoko Kawakami passed away on Thursday, June 9 at 4:45 p.m. after a long bout with illness. She was 41.

Kawakami was the lead voice actress in La fillette révolutionaire Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena), Hikaru no Go, Sugar: A Little Snow Fairy, Air, and many other anime titles. She had made her debut in 1994 with the anime Metal Fighter Miku, and her roles included Fuyuki Hinata in Keroro Gunsō (Sgt. Frog) and Miu Furinji in KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple.

Kawakami had been hospitalized since August of 2008 for an unspecified illness and had undergone surgery at the time. As a result of her illness, she had to relinquish roles such as Kaoru in the video adaptation of Yamane's Ikoku Irokoi Romantan boys-love comedy manga.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/news/2011-06-10/utena-voice-actress-tomoko-kawakami-passes-away

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/people.php?id=526

R.I.P. Maybe never watched the anime she voiced such a sad lose so young.

Not really a fan of her work aside from Air, but damn that's sad. I wouldn't want to go at 41, especially not from illness.

R.I.P.

:'(

All the more incentive for me to try watching Utena at some point, once i finally get caught up on Naruto and Bleach

that's really sad to hear..at least she left behind her legacy. RIP Tomoko-San

dont know her work but rip anyway, always sad when someone dies. whatever she did, she will be missed by those who loved her

*bows head in silence*

R.I.P.

(Don't really know her work, to be honest.)

Thanks to all the people that commented yes she will be missed but her legacy will not be forgotten.