Legendary Voice Actress Yukiko Nikaido, Fujiko Mine Original, Dies at 87

Yukiko Nikaido, the voice actress who originated the role of Fujiko Mine in the first Lupin the 3rd television anime series, died on July 3 at age 87. Her son, Sōsuke Yagyū, announced her death on Facebook. She had been living in a nursing home for the past 11 years.

Born in Tokyo in 1938, Nikaido trained at the Haiyuza Theatre Company, grounding her craft in live performance before transitioning to voice work. Beyond her iconic turn as the cunning Fujiko, she served as the first president of Yatsugatake Club, a role that underscored her standing in Japan's voice acting community during its formative decades.

Her work on the original Lupin the 3rd series remains a touchstone for the franchise—Fujiko Mine, the master thief and love interest, became one of anime's most enduring characters, and Nikaido's vocal performance helped define her. That series, which premiered in 1971, launched what would become a sprawling multimedia empire spanning decades of anime, films, and specials. Nikaido's contribution to that foundation secured her place in anime history.

Source: Anime News Network