Asami Yaguchi, the Voice of Kuchipatchi in Tamagotchi, Dies at 47. Colleagues and Fans Say Goodbye

Asami Yaguchi, the voice of Kuchipatchi in the Tamagotchi anime and of young Gintoki in Gintama, has died at 47. Her agency, Kenyū Office, says she died suddenly on September 26. Since the news broke on Monday, fellow voice actors, the Tamagotchi team and fans around the world have been saying goodbye.

To a generation of Tamagotchi fans she was Kuchipatchi. To the people who worked with her, she was the cheerful one who looked out for everyone in the room.

“Too soon, Yaguchi”

Kenyū Office posted the notice on its website on September 28. It says Yaguchi died suddenly on September 26 and that, at the family’s wish, the funeral is being held privately with close relatives only.

Below the formal notice comes a personal message signed by the agency’s president, the veteran voice actor Kenyu Horiuchi, and all of its staff. “Asami Yaguchi, who supported Kenyū Office from its earliest days, has passed away. We have no words,” it reads.

The agency remembers her as “cheerful, always looking out for others, and a huge favourite of Kazuya Tatekabe,” the late voice actor. Then the message drops all formality: “Too soon, Yaguchi. Thank you for so much. We can never thank you enough. Everyone, please never forget the wonderful actor Asami Yaguchi. Thank you, Yaguchi.”

The notice on the agency’s own site doesn’t give a cause of death. Oricon News and TBS News Dig both report that the agency told them it was heart failure. Some fan pages online have shared a wrong age; TBS News Dig and Anime News Network give her birth date as July 31, 1979.

The voice a generation grew up with

Yaguchi was born in Saitama Prefecture and made her professional debut in 2002. According to Anime News Network, she first voiced Kuchipatchi in the 2007 series Let’s Go! Tamagotchi and in Tamagotchi: The Movie, then carried the role into the Tamagotchi! TV series in 2009, Yume Kira Dream in 2012 and Miracle Friends in 2013.

Gintama fans know her as the young Gintoki Sakata, the childhood version of the show’s hero. Mecha fans know her as Katina Tarask in Super Robot Wars OG, a role she played in the Divine Wars anime and in the games. Her credits also include Eleonore von Wittenburg in Dies irae, Sawyer in Black Lagoon and Tarlant in Fantastic Children.

In games she voiced Pith in Arknights and young Eliwood in Fire Emblem Heroes. Daily Sports notes she also worked on the Japanese dubs of the American dramas Cold Case and House, and TBS News Dig lists Haruo in Doraemon. On September 3 she wished Doraemon a happy birthday on Instagram and called the show “a precious family.”

Her Tamagotchi years alone cover four TV series and a film. For many fans, hers is the voice they remember from childhood.

“We were recording together just the other day”

Ryotaro Okiayu, who acted opposite her in Super Robot Wars OG: Divine Wars in 2006, called out her character’s name first: “Katina, no way!? Asami Yaguchi, rest in peace, from the bottom of my heart. You were still so young.”

Tomokazu Seki wrote: “I was stunned. It was so sudden that I still can’t take it in. We were recording together just the other day. You loved heroes, and we talked about Super Sentai and Kamen Rider. We’ll always be classmates. Thank you for everything, Yaguchi-san.”

Akiko Yajima, the original voice of Shinnosuke in Crayon Shin-chan, wrote on X, as Sports Nippon reported, that Tatekabe had been her own teacher. She called Yaguchi “bright and dependable” and added: “You’ll get to see Tatekabe-san in heaven… But… I’ll miss you…”

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Yuki Matsuoka, the voice of Orihime in Bleach, could barely get the words out: “What… no… wait… why?! Always full of energy, warm, just a genuinely good person, and she really loved acting… I heard the news about Yaguchi-chan and I can’t believe it. We even went to a concert together once. I miss you…”

Yui Sakakihara, who worked with her on the Super Robot Wars OG games, wrote on X, Nikkan Sports reported: “No, there’s no way. I don’t believe it. I’m sure if I send a LINE message, you’ll write back.” Later she added: “Someday, over there, let’s fight and run riot in a recording together again.”

The Tamagotchi team says thank you

On September 29 the official Tamagotchi account on X posted a picture of Kuchipatchi with a message for her, according to an Oricon report carried by Akita Sakigake Shimpo. “We are deeply grateful to her for bringing Kuchipatchi’s gentle, warm charm to life,” it said, adding its condolences and prayers that she rest in peace.

The official Japanese Arknights account also posted its condolences and thanked her for the voice she gave Pith, according to fan page AK Story Log on Facebook. Under that post, Maku Daishogun asked the game to “Retain her VA as tribute.” Swifty D’Stella wrote “Rest in peace Pith as Arknights VA” under another tribute from Seiyuu Corner.

Fans leave notes under her last post

Yaguchi’s last Instagram post, from September 14, shows her carrying a portable shrine at the annual women’s mikoshi in her neighbourhood. “Carrying the mikoshi tightens you up, body and soul! I hope it’s a good year for everyone,” she wrote. That post is now where people come to say goodbye.

A post shared by Asami Yaguchi (@yaguchiasami)

“Whether we were working together or I was seeing her on social media, all I can picture is her full of energy,” wrote @kewpie.love. “Maybe Asami-san herself is the most surprised of anyone.” The comment ends simply: “Please, rest in peace.”

A childhood friend, @juri_t90, wrote that she learned from the news that Yaguchi had made her dream come true and had gone far away, both at once. “I always said I’d become a manga artist and you’d voice my characters,” she wrote. Another commenter, @karaokeshi, wrote: “It was only a short time, but I’ll never forget that we worked together.”

On Facebook, English-speaking fans found her through other shows. “Wow, black lagoon was my first anime. So sad that she’s gone,” wrote Noelle Sturdivant.

Who she was

Her profile, published by TBS News Dig, fills in the person behind the parts. She trained at Yoyogi Animation College and the 81 Produce academy. Her special skills were action and stage fighting. Her hobbies were trains, making accessories and singing. She was on stage too, in plays including Yorozu Uranaidokoro Onmyouya e Youkoso.

What happens next

The family has asked for a private funeral, and Kenyū Office’s notice asks for understanding. No public farewell has been announced. Voice Over Herald will update this story if one is.

Her work is still out there to watch and play, from the Tamagotchi series to Gintama and Arknights. As the agency put it: “Thank you, Yaguchi.”

Sources: Kenyū Office notice (September 28, 2026); Oricon News (September 28 and 29, 2026, the second via Akita Sakigake Shimpo); TBS News Dig; Sports Nippon; Nikkan Sports; Daily Sports; Anime News Network; Asami Yaguchi on Instagram and public comments by @kewpie.love, @juri_t90 and @karaokeshi; public Facebook comments by Noelle Sturdivant, Maku Daishogun and Swifty D’Stella on posts by Anime Feels, AK Story Log and Seiyuu Corner. Quotations from Japanese sources are translated by Voice Over Herald.

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