Noriko Tobe (戸部 法子, Tobe Noriko; October 2, 1935 – July 12, 2024), née Ohara, better known by her stage name Noriko Ohara (小原 乃梨子, Ohara Noriko), was a Japanese actress and narrator.
She is best known for the roles of Nobita Nobi (Doraemon), all of the female lead villains in the Time Bokan series (including Doronjo in both the original Yatterman and its remake), Conan (Future Boy Conan), Peter (Heidi, Girl of the Alps), Penelope Pitstop (Wacky Races), Oyuki (Urusei Yatsura), and Claudia LaSalle (Super Dimension Fortress Macross).
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Career
She was previously affiliated with Aoni Production, then Production Baobab, but was later freelance.
In 2007, she won the Achievement Award at the 1st Seiyu Awards and in 2013, won the Synergy Award for maximizing the appeal of voice-acting in a work as a whole at the 7th Seiyu Awards.
Personal life
Her son is Sunrise animator Atsuo Tobe (戸部敦夫, Tobe Atsuo).
Death
Ohara died following an unsuccessful illness treatment on July 12, 2024, at the age of 88.
Earlier that same year in March, she attended an event for acquaintances, and the next month, she had met up with Eiko Yamada, Sachiko Chijimatsu, and Mari Shimizu. In June, she met up again with Yamada. But according to close friend and Doraemon co-star Michiko Nomura, Ohara had been secretly battling an illness for the past few years and started living at a care facility.
The news of her death was officially announced by her agency 81 Produce on July 23.
Tributes
Several tributes and messages of condolence from fans, voice actors, colleagues, and entertainment industry figures were shared in the days following the announcement of her death.
At the end of the broadcast of Doraemon on July 27, 2024, a video with a eulogy message for Ohara was played featuring scenes with her voice as Nobita.
In October 2024, the "Noriko Ohara Farewell Ceremony", was held. Her son Atsuo Tobe was the representative organizer. Those in attendance included Nomura, Wasabi Mizuta, Yumi Kakazu, Michio Hazama, and Yū Mizushima. At the start of the service, footage from the anime she appeared in as a voice actress, including Doraemon, alongside the theme songs from each, were played, with flowers laid all around.
In March 2025, she and Doraemon co-star Nobuyo Ōyama posthumously received the "Special Award from the Chairman" in the 48th Japan Academy Film Prize for "outstanding contributions and outstanding results in the film industry over many years".