Noriko Hidaka

, better known by the stage name of , is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and narrator. She played Minami Asakura in Touch, Akane Tendo in Ranma ½, Satsuki Kusakabe in My Neighbor Totoro, Near in Death Note, Jean Roque Raltique in Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Kikyō in Inuyasha, Patricia O'Sullivan in Mischievous Twins: The Tales of St. Clare's and Masumi Sera in Detective Conan. She is also the dub actress for Jayma Mays in the American TV series Glee, as well as in The Smurfs film series. Biography Hidaka was born in the Kudan area of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, where she attended Fujimi Elementary School. Her parents owned a Western-style clothing store named "Tailor Itō". She began her career as an idol star, but switched to voice acting, and was employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. Hidaka used to use the kanji variant 日髙 (note that the second kanji is different). She switched to the current usage (日高) around 1995 when she found that it was written that way already on many things and after friends recommended the kanji with the lower stroke count. Her fans have given her the affectionate name "Nonko" (ノン子). In 1982, during her time as an idol star, Hidaka appeared in the commercial for Nivea skin milk. She has also done voice-over commercials for programs and games, in which she plays a role for 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha: To the End of the Galaxy. Filmography Anime television Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross (1984, Musicaa (debut)) Kaminari no Densetsu Shuu (1984–1985, Shuuichi Yamamura) Touch (1985–1987, Minami Asakura) City Hunter (1987–1988, Megumi) Tsuide ni Tonchinkan (1987–1988, Amago Shirai) Anime Sanjushi (1987–1989, Constance) City Hunter 2 (1988–1989, Mitsuko Shimizu) Patlabor (1989–1994, Prince Uru) Parasol Henbē (1989–1991, Megeru) The Adventures of Peter Pan (1989, Peter Pan) T.P.