Masako Ebisu
Native name恵比寿 まさ子
Birth nameMasako Hoshino[1]
Birth dateAugust 3, 1945 (age 81)
Birth placeTokyo, Japan
Occupation
Years active1960s–present
AgentHerringbone (talent agency)[2]

Masako Hoshino[1] (星野 真沙子, Hoshino Masako, known professionally as Masako Ebisu (恵比寿 まさ子, Ebisu Masako) (born August 3, 1945[3][4][5] in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She is also a freelancer affiliated with the talent agency Herringbone as a narrator.[2]

She is best known for her roles as Shizuka Minamoto (Doraemon), Ryōko Kakinouchi (Attack No. 1), Yōko Shiraki (Ashita no Joe), Taiko Namino (Sazae-san), Natsumi's Mother (The Kabocha Wine), and Herumeko (Tonari no Tamageta-kun).

Biography

Born on August 3, 1945 in Tokyo, Japan, Ebisu was a former member of the Kokeshi-za Children's Theater Company[6] and graduated from the Nihon University College of Art.[7]

She had been previously affiliated with All Japan Music and Entertainment Production[6], N.N.A.C[6], Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society,[6] Enkyo-Pro,[8] Mausu Promotion,[6] Aoni Production,[7] and Office Osawa Co.,Ltd.[1][4]

Ebisu has appeared in hit shows such as Sazae-san and Ashita no Joe.[9] In recent years, she's served as a narrator for Suntory's Jibun Bōe-dan commercials.[10]

Her personal specialties include playing the shamisen and kouta.[7]

As of 2021, following the deaths of Shun Yashiro in 2003[11], Kaneta Kimotsuki in 2016[12], Kōsei Tomita in 2020[13], and Yoshiko Ōta in 2021[14], she and Masako Nozawa (who voiced Doraemon from episodes 14–26) are currently the last surviving of the Nippon Doraemon series' main voice cast.

Filmography

Television anime

Theatrical anime

Commercials

References

  1. ^ Edited by Yoshio Kakeo, "Women’s Section", "Encyclopedia of Voice Actors, 2nd Edition", Kinema Junpo Sha, March 30, 1996, p. 358. ISBN 4-87376-160-3.
  2. ^ "Partnership 各社ナレーション協力メンバー" (in Japanese), Herringbone, Herringbone official website.
  3. ^ Some online profiles claim she was born on January 21, 1945.
  4. ^ “恵比寿 まさ子” (in Japanese), Osawa Office, Archived from the original on June 3, 2011.
  5. ^ “恵比寿まさ子” (in Japanese), The Television.
  6. ^ “The World of Voice Actors: From Animation to Foreign Films,” Asahi Sonorama (Fantastic Collection Special Edition), October 30, 1979, p. 73.
  7. ^ “Directory of Japanese Celebrities (1985 Edition),” VIP Times, 1984, p. 285.
  8. ^ “List of Performers (1970 Edition),” Copyright Materials Association, 1969, p. 66.
  9. ^ “恵比寿まさ子さん” (in Japanese). SIZUKU Shizuki Official Blog “Always Smiling!” Diamond Blog (December 4, 2019).
  10. ^ サントリー胡麻麦茶 『日本人間ドック健診協会、来たる！』篇 15秒 高橋克実 梶原善 伊藤沙莉 (in Japanese), YouTube.
  11. ^ OFM Kamen Rider 4 (2004), p. 33, Bii Ogawa, “The Stars of the Masked Drama: 10 Voice Actors Who Supported the Riders—Part 6: Shun Yashiro”
  12. ^ "Doraemon Anime Voice Actor Kaneta Kimotsuki Passes Away at 80". Anime News Network. October 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Voice Actor Kousei Tomita Passes Away at 84". Anime News Network. September 27, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "Voice Actress Yoshiko Ohta Passes Away". Anime News Network. 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  15. ^ “あしたのジョー” (in Japanese), TMS Entertainment, TMS Entertainment official website, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  16. ^ “ジャングル黒べえ” (in Japanese), TMS Entertainment, TMS Entertainment, official website, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  17. ^ ジャングル黒べえ (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  18. ^ "手塚治虫と日本テレビ動画「真佐美ジュンのドラえもん時代」" (in Japanese), Wayback Machine, archived from the original on March 4, 2019.
  19. ^ ドラえもん [旧] (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  20. ^ “恵比寿 まさ子” (in Japanese), Office Osawa, Archived from the original on June 3, 2011, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  21. ^ サザエさん (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  22. ^ となりのたまげ太くん (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  23. ^ 吾輩は犬である ドン松五郎の生活 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  24. ^ “CAST” (in Japanese), BONES Co., Ltd, Karakuri Amazing Legend Hiwou War Chronicles, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  25. ^ 機巧奇傳（からくりきでん）ヒヲウ戦記 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  26. ^ アタックNo. 1 涙の不死鳥 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  27. ^ 幻魔大戦 (in Japanese), allcinema.net, Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  28. ^ “サントリー 胡麻麦茶 『専門家に相談だ！』篇 15秒” (in Japanese), YouTube, Suntory, Suntory official YouTube channel, Retrieved May 13, 2026.