, née Ohara, better known by her stage name , 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).
Career She was previously affiliated with Aoni Production and Production Baobab, but later went 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.
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.eiko751 (18 April 2024) とっても久しぶりに大先輩達と、御一緒出来ました💓 昨年、ご主人をなくされ少し沈んでいた小原さんも、昔話に笑顔があふれ楽しそうで嬉しかったです☀️ 左から #千々松幸子 さん #小原乃梨子 さん、私、#清水マリ さん、尊敬する先輩方❗チャッカリ小原さんに、サインを戴いてしまいました☀️ (in Japanese), X (formerly Twitter), April 18, 2024, Retrieved April 21, 2026. In June, she met up again with Yamada.“小原乃梨子さんと6月に対面 山田栄子が追悼「無邪気でいる事、飾らない自分でいる事を教えて下さった」” (in Japanese), Yorozu ~ (July 23, 2024). Retrieved July 23, 2024.eiko751 (25 June 2024) 今日また、小原さんにお逢いしました。小原さんの頬は真っ白でスベスベ。「本当に色白で綺麗ですね✨」と思わず頬にふれると、ニッコリ微笑み返してくれました💓 (in Japanese), X (formerly Twitter), June 25, 2024, Retrieved April 21, 2026. 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.“しずかちゃん役・野村道子 のび太役・小原乃梨子さん訃報受け追悼「あまりに長く一緒にいすぎて、言葉が見つかりません」” (in Japanese), Josei Jishin (July 23, 2024). Retrieved July 23, 2024.
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.“小原乃梨子 お別れの会” (in Japanese), 81 Produce Co., Ltd. (October 2, 2024). Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024. Those in attendance included Nomura,“野村道子、旧『ドラえもん』声優の中で「私だけ残っちゃったなあ」 小原乃梨子さん、大山のぶ代さんとの旅行の思い出懐かしむ” (in Japanese), ORICON NEWS. oricon ME (October 30, 2024). Retrieved October 30, 2024. Wasabi Mizuta, Yumi Kakazu,“水田わさび＆かかずゆみ「新人時代に『ドラえもん』で全部を教わった」 のび太の声優・小原乃梨子さんを偲ぶ” (in Japanese), ORICON NEWS. oricon ME (October 30, 2024). Retrieved October 30, 2024. Michio Hazama, and Yū Mizushima.“羽佐間道夫、声優仲間の小原乃梨子さん偲ぶ「ほとんど仲間が亡くなりました」 水島裕は感謝” (in Japanese), ORICON NEWS. oricon ME (October 30, 2024). Retrieved October 30, 2024. 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.“小原乃梨子さんお別れの会に新旧ドラえもんファミリーが参列 しずかちゃん声優・野村道子は涙こらえ「私だけ残っちゃった」” (in Japanese), Sanspo. Sankei Digital (October 30, 2024). Retrieved October 30, 2024.
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".
Personal life Her son is Sunrise animator .
Filmography Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1963 Astro Boy Additional voice 1964 Wolf Boy Ken Additional voice 1965 Dolphin Prince Dolphin Prince Lead role W3 Additional voice 1966 Harris no Kaze Megane 1966 Hang On! Marine Kid Marine Kid Lead role 1967 Sally the Witch Ken Kanagawa Gokū no Daibōken Mimi Donkikko Ayame 1968 GeGeGe no Kitarō Additional voice 1969 Attack No. 1 Cathy Undersea Boy Marine Marine Boy, Carmen (Fake Marine) Lead role Ninpu Kamui Gaiden Santa The Genie Family Rumiko Tachibana Moomin Additional voice 1970 Sazae-san Kōichi Ishida 1971 Andersen Stories Ferone the Ice Maiden Kunimatsu-sama no Otōridai Megane GeGeGe no Kitarō Additional voice Genius Bakabon Additional voice Marvelous Melmo Maruko, female officer 1972 The Gutsy Frog Mom Hazedon Tabou Mazinger Z Additional voice 1973 Zero Tester Hiroshi Doraemon Tamako Nobi Babel II Additional voice Bōken Korobokkuru Love Love Wansa-kun Wansa Lead role 1974 Alps no Shōjo Heidi Peter 1975 Arabian Nights: Sinbad's Adventures Sinbad Time Bokan Majo, Sinbad Maya the Honey Bee Ifui, Merry La Seine no Hoshi Catherine 1976 Dino Mech Gaiking Erica 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother Concetta Machine Hayabusa Mary Wells Little Lulu and Her Little Friends Wilbur, Martha 1977 Nobody's Boy: Remi Mattia Ippatsu Kanta-kun Shōgo, Bob Kent Voltes V Hiyoshi Goh, Ri Katherine 「第2章 超電磁マシーン ボルテスVの世界 ボアザン星人ファイル」『長浜忠夫ロマンロボットアニメの世界 コン・バトラーV ボルテスV ダイモス ダルタニアス大全』(in Japanese). Futabasha. July 15, 2003. page 82. ISBN 4-575-29575-2. Temple the Balloonist Sammy Ep. 14 Yatterman Doronjo UFO Robot Grendizer Rubina 1978 Space Pirate Captain Harlock Miime, President Space Battleship Yamato II Savellah (Invidia), Jiro Shima Starzinger Beramis Future Boy Conan Conan Lead role Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 Jeera Lupin the 3rd Part II Emanuelle Poirot, Bolonco Emanuelle Poirot in Ep. 52, Bolonco in Ep. 72 1979 The Adventures of Marco Polo Boy, Raja's son Galaxy Express 999 Ryūzu, Maetal of Mud The Ultraman Takashi Zenderman Muujo Doraemon Nobita Nobi, Young Nobisuke Nobi, Nobisuke Nobi Jr. Main role Daikyōryū Jidai Additional voice Television film 1980 Space Emperor God Sigma Shota Kasuga, Supreme Commander Teral Rescueman Atasha Astro Boy Rug 1981 Urusei Yatsura Oyuki Belle and Sebastian Sebastian Lead role Yattodetaman Mirenjo-hime, Do-Re-Mi Otama A, Doronjo 1982 Gyakuten! Ippatsuman Mun-Mun Songoku Flies Over Silk Road!! Female Rakshasa Esteban: Child of the Sun Roca Dash Kappei Marilyn The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Claudia LaSalle, Narrator Don Dracula Advisor Tokimeki Tonight Sheila Eto 1983 Itadakiman Yan-Yan, Dark Angel Genesis Climber Mospeada Refless 1984 Cat's Eye 2 Yuuki Tamao 1985 Choriki Robo Galatt Kounetsu 1987 Doteraman Misao Suzuki 1989 The Laughing Salesman Kanako/Landlady Ep. 99 1990 The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee Nococo 1991 Let's Go! Anpanman Ice Queen, Black Rose Queen Second voice of Ice Queen, First voice of Black Rose Queen 1993 Salad Juu Yuushi Tomatoman Queen Butterfly 1998 Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden Dark Baaya 1999 The Legend of the End of the Era: Wonderful Tatsunoko Land -The Flying Saucer Alien UBO- Doronjo, Muujo 2000 Time Bokan 2000: Kaitou Kiramekiman Ruuju, Doronjo, Majo 2003 KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops Sakura 2006 The Snow Queen Wind User 2008 Yatterman Doronjo 2011 Nichijou – My Ordinary Life Apartment building, Narration Ep. 4 2015 Yatterman Night Doronjo Ep. 12
Theatrical animation + List of voice performances in theatrical animation Year Title Role Notes Source The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun Chiro the Squirrel Do It! Yasuji's Pornorama Additional voice Alps no Shōjo Heidi Peter 1978 Thumbelina Prince Space Pirate Captain Harlock: The Mystery of the Arcadia Additional voice 1979 Alps no Shōjo Heidi Peter Starzinger Beramis Galaxy Express 999 Crown, Miime Future Boy Conan Conan 1980 Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur Nobita Nobi Zenderman Additional voice Nobody's Boy: Remi Mattia 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother Concetta Makoto-chan Mama Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Galaxy Saba 1981 Doraemon: The Records of Nobita, Spaceblazer Nobita Nobi Rescueman: Atasha's Wedding Ceremony Majo, Doronjo, Muujo, Atasha Short film Doraemon: What Am I for Momotarō? Nobita Nobi Short film Adieu Galaxy Express 999 Miime Doraemon: Nobita and the Haunts of Evil Nobita Nobi 1983 Urusei Yatsura: Only You Oyuki Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil Nobita Nobi Crusher Joe Ricky 1984 Future Boy Conan: The Big Giant Robot's Resurrection Conan Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld Nobita Nobi Macross: Do You Remember Love? Claudia LaSalle 1985 Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love Oyuki Doraemon: Nobita's Little Star Wars Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita and the Steel Troops Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita and the Knights on Dinosaurs Nobita Nobi 1988 Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West Nobita Nobi Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter Oyuki 1989 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan Nobita Nobi Dorami-chan: Mini-Dora SOS!!! Nobisuke Nobi Jr. Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Animal Planet Nobita Nobi 1991 Doraemon: Nobita's Dorabian Nights Nobita Nobi Dorami-chan: Wow, The Kid Gang of Bandits! Nobihei Short film Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling Oyuki Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita and the Tin Labyrinth Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen Nobita Nobi / Nobitanian Doraemon: Nobita's Diary of the Creation of the World Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita and the Galaxy Super-express Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita and the Spiral City Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas Nobita Nobi Doraemon Comes Back Nobita Nobi Short film Doraemon: Nobita Drifts in the Universe Nobita Nobi Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding Nobita Nobi, Future Nobita Nobi Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King Nobita Nobi A Grandmother's Recollections Nobita Nobi Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves Nobita Nobi Good Luck! Gian!! Nobita Nobi Short film Doraemon: Nobita in the Robot Kingdom Nobita Nobi The Day When I Was Born Nobita Nobi Short film Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters Nobita Nobi Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey Nobita Nobi Let's Go! Anpanman: Rinrin the Fairy's Secret Ice Queen Gekijō-ban Yattāman Shin Yattāmeka dai Shūgō! Omocha no kuni de Daisakusenda Koron! Doronjo
Original video animation (OVA) + List of voice performances in original video animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1978 Doraemon: The Fishing Pond in My Study Room Nobita Nobi Debut role as Nobita Nobi 1986 Superdimensional Romanesque Samy: Missing 99 Witch from the Fairy Tale World 1987 The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 Claudia LaSalle Urusei Yatsura: Inaba the Dreammaker Oyuki Kaze to Ki no Uta: Sanctus Serge Battour The Polar Bear Mother 1988 Urusei Yatsura: Raging Sherbet Oyuki 1989 Crusher Joe: The Ice Prison Ricky Crusher Joe: The Ultimate Weapon: Ash Ricky The Enemy's the Pirates! Kali Durga Eps 1 and 4 1990 Sengoku Bushō Retsuden Bakufu Dōji Hissatsuman Bijo 3 episodes 1993 Heidi, Girl of the Alps: Alm Mountain Chapter Peter Heidi, Girl of the Alps: Heidi and Clara Chapter Peter Time Bokan: Royal Revival I: Chikichiki Ugougo Bogeboge Machine Wild Race Majo, Doronjo, and others 1994 Time Bokan Royal Revival II: Alumni Reunion in the Tatsunokon Kingdom Doronjo Doraemon: Nobita and the Future Notes Nobita Nobi Public education video, later released as an OVA 2008 Urusei Yatsura: The Obstacle Course Swim Meet Oyuki
Television dramas + List of appearances in television dramas Year Title Role Notes Source Doraemon, Becoming a Mother ~The Story of Nobuyo Ōyama~ Narration, herself Portrayed in drama segments by Tsubaki Nekoze ドラえもん、母になる〜大山のぶ代物語〜 大山のぶ代さんが "ドラえもん" に込めた熱いメッセージとは (in Japanese), nhk.jp, NHK, Retrieved on June 22, 2025.プレミアムドラマ ドラえもん、母になる～大山のぶ代物語～ (in Japanese), NHK Archives, NHK, Retrieved on June 22, 2025.
Video games + List of voice performances in video games Year Series Role Notes Source 1994 Gunbird Rouge Arcade 1998 Gunbird 2 Shark Arcade 2008 Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Doronjo Arcade, Wii
Dubbing Live-action