The legendary voice actor for Akane in the Japanese versions of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, Wakana Yamazaki, has sadly passed away at the age of 61.
Ryu Hayabusa might be the star of the Ninja Gaiden series, but there's one character who has always been just a little bit more beloved by fans - Ayane. Ayane actually made her debut in the Dead or Alive series, appearing as an unlockable character in the very first game, but her subsequent appearances in Ninja Gaiden made her inseparable from the series.
In the Japanese version of both Ninja Gaiden and all of the Dead or Alive games, Ayane was lovingly brought to life by voice actor Wakana Yamazaki, who stuck with the character ever since her inception. Today, it was announced that Yamazaki sadly passed away last month at the young age of 61.
As reported by Crunchyroll, the news of Yamazaki's death was confirmed by voice talent agency Aoni Production on its official website. The statement says that Yamazaki had been receiving medical treatment for an illness for some time, but passed away last month on April 18, "despite all our efforts to save her".
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