, known professionally as , was a Japanese actress. She also served as the first president of the Yatsugatake Club, with her second son Sōsuke Yagyū succeeding her."Japanese Talent Directory (1980 Edition)" (in Japanese), VIP Times, 1979, p. 336.
Nikaido was married to Japanese actor Hiroshi Yagyū from 1964 until his death in 2022 and her first son was Japanese horticulturist Shingo Yagyū, who died in 2015.採用情報・スタッフ紹介 (in Japanese). Yatsugatake Club. Accessed October 13, 2025.
She is best known for voicing Fujiko Mine in the first Lupin III anime series Lupin the 3rd Part I.
Background Born in Yodobashi Ward, Tokyo on October 27, 1938, Nikaido graduated from the Tokyo Jogakkan Junior and Senior High School.
A member of the ninth class at the Haiyuza Theater Company Training School, she ended up ranking first in the entrance exam, making her considered to be the successor of Kaneko Iwasaki, who was the troupe's leading actress at the time.Yatsugatake Club [@yatsugatakeclub] (July 14, 2024). 【八ヶ岳倶楽部アーカイブ7】 (in Japanese). Around the same time she first met Hiroshi Yagyū, who would become her husband.
Nikaido became a freelancer after working with the Haiyuza Theatre Company,"The World of Voice Actors: From Animation to Foreign Films" (in Japanese), Asahi Sonorama (Fantastic Collection Special Edition), October 30, 1979, p. 96. Toei Company, N.A.C."Directory of Japanese Celebrities (1973 Edition)" (in Japanese), VIP Times, 1973, p. 216. and Mausu Promotion.「攻殻機動隊」草薙素子役etc..."戦う女"を演じる声優・田中敦子が6年務めた会社を辞め声優を目指した意外なきっかけとは?【人生における3つの分岐点】 (in Japanese). Niconico News. p. 1 (November 14, 2022). Accessed April 23, 2023.
She primarily worked as an actress in television dramas and theater. After graduating from the Haiyuza Theater Company, she started appearing in soap operas. She was active as a voice actress since dubbing for the American television crime drama Route 66.Kunio Abe, "Popular TV Foreign Films: Everything About Voice Actors" (in Japanese), Kindai Eiga-sha, 1979, p. 235, ASIN: B000J8GGHO.
In 1964, she and Hiroshi Yagyū got married, and following the birth of her first son Shingo Yagyū, Nikaido started focusing on her career as a voice actress."Lupin the Third DVD Collection" Vol. 6, Kodansha, 2015, pages 16–17. National Bibliographic Number: 22563496.
In 1972, following the birth of her second son Sōsuke Yagyū, Nikaido decided to retire from the entertainment industry.柳生博、愛妻の認知症をテレビ初告白"初代・峰不二子"二階堂有希子さんの病状語る (in Japanese). "Sponichi Annex". September 27, 2018. Accessed March 19, 2020. Despite this, she continued her career as a voice actress, appearing in anime like 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, and made appearances under her birth name on variety shows as the wife of her husband.
In 1989, Nikaido became the first president of the Yatsugatake Club, a horticulture facility located in Ōizumi-machi, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. She was heavily involved in the facility's management, as she oversaw the café and gallery on the premises.
As of 2013, Nikaido was living with dementia柳生博、妻の二階堂が認知症であることを明かした「魔術でも使ったみたい...」 (in Japanese). "Sports Hochi". September 28, 2018. Accessed March 19, 2020. and resided in a nursing facility. She also developed dissociative amnesia around the same time, due to the shock from her first son Shingo's pharyngeal cancer diagnosis in 2014 and subsequent death the following year at age 47.Sōsuke Yagyu. ずっと僕は「柳生博の息子」から逃げていたけど、父こそ「普通」であることを大事にしていた.父はこれからも変わらぬ笑顔で、八ヶ岳の自然と僕たちを見守り続けてくれる<後編> (in Japanese). "Fujin Kōron.jp". Chūō Kōron Shinsha. July 30, 2022. p. 2. Accessed October 13, 2025.
Nikaido died on July 3, 2026, at the age of 87. Her second son Sōsuke announced the news on July 17 via the Facebook page of Yatsugatake Club.声優・二階堂有希子さん死去 「ルパン三世」初代・峰不二子役 夫は柳生博さん (in Japanese). "Sponichi Annex". July 17, 2026. Accessed July 17, 2026.
Personality As an actress, Nikaido portrayed innocent character roles, due to the public image she had been known for."Studio Lupin the Third and His Gang + 1: "Lupin the Third: Part 3"" (in Japanese). Studio Lupin the Third. 1981. 25 pages.
In her dubbing career, she served as the Japanese dubbing actress for Mireille Darc, Angie Dickinson and Grace Kelly.Sakumi Matsuda, "List of Regular Roles in Western Film Dubs (Actress 1)" in "Voice Actor White Paper" (research assistance by Kako Ezaki) (in Japanese). Okura Publishing. March 1, 2000. page 21. .
Nikaido's personal hobbies included ballet and playing the piano.
When the Yatsugatake Club opened its café, she created their signature fruit tea, handled all aspects of menu development and handled all management.八ヶ岳倶楽部アーカイブ33 (in Japanese). Facebook. January 11, 2025.
Episodes Work ethic As a voice actress, Nikaido said that it started off as a hobby because she found it to be "surprisingly fun and educational".
In regards to her voice acting career in an interview, she said, "I have never really felt that dubbing is a struggle. I enjoy it immensely, always with a sense of tension. I actually feel a bit guilty getting paid for doing something this fun."
Whenever dubbing for an actress, Nikaido made it a firm point to not use the same voice or tone every time, as she wanted to convey that actress's "unique charm" to the audience in a way that stayed respectful to the film, remarking, "I immerse myself in the character's physiological state. Even if I can't quite capture the actual flow of blood, when I get that close to their physical reality, my own voice and rhythm naturally begin to change."
She became a very popular voice actress in the industry, as one time, she had received a fan letter. After reading it, she said, "Wow, you know them better than they know themselves. Voice acting is supposed to be a behind-the-scenes job. Because they can't be seen, the fans' passion seems to become even more intense."
Fujiko Mine Nikaido's most famous and signature acting role is voicing Fujiko Mine in Lupin the 3rd Part I.
She was approached with the offer to voice the role of Fujiko, with the producer explaining, "This role requires a voice that can be both cute and dignified. Since Nikaido-san has such a wide vocal range, we would absolutely love to have her on board."
Nikaido speculated that Chikao Ōtsuka and Kiyoshi Kobayashi, whom she had previously worked with in dubbing prior, had recommended her to the staff to voice Fujiko to the staff, saying, "Perhaps my senior colleagues from dubbing (like Chikao Ōtsuka and Kiyoshi Kobayashi) recommended me."
In a later interview, she remarked that despite being not too skilled at performing for anime work, "I was able to naturally settle into Lupin without forcing it.""THE LUPIN: From the Original Lupin III to Lupin VIII"—supplement to the June 1982 issue of "My Anime" (in Japanese). Akita Shoten.
She also said she overall had "a blast on set" then, saying, "Huddling together around a single microphone, the four veteran actors gave it their all. The intimate atmosphere in the room felt like a close-knit theater troupe, brimming with a powerful sense of unity." and then added, "I was surrounded by caring seniors and I only have fond memories of them looking out for me (laughs)."
Looking back on her time in the role of Fujiko, she said: "My character had such a wide acting range that I constantly had to switch up my expressions, voice and delivery. It was incredibly fun to just let loose and go all out—something I could never experience as a regular television drama actress."
In an interview in 2015, Nikaido revealed that she considered Lupin the 3rd Part I to be a "special project", saying:
"I've spent many years working as an actress, sometimes even playing the lead in TV dramas, but I barely remember those works myself. I also rarely have fans approach me to talk about them. However, this particular project, which only broadcast for half a year (excluding reruns), remains in my own memory, and the fans still love it and keep it close to their heart," adding, "Even now (after my retirement), some people still come all the way to Mt. Yatsugatake and say to me, 'You're the Fujiko Mine from the 1st series, aren't you?' I truly consider myself so lucky to have played the original Fujiko Mine."
The interview ended up being her final entertainment industry activity before her death.
Following the deaths of Yasuo Yamada (Lupin III) in March 1995,"Lupin III Dies: Yasuo Yamada". "The Daily Sports" (in Japanese). The Chunichi Shimbun Tokyo Head Office. March 20, 1995. p. 27. Gorō Naya (Inspector Zenigata) in March 2013,Lupin III's Zenigata/Yamato Captain's Voice Actor Goro Naya Passes Away. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. March 10, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2026. Chikao Ōtsuka (Goemon Ishikawa XIII) in January 2015,Voice Actor Chikao Ohtsuka Passes Away. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. January 16, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2026. Makio Inoue (Goemon Ishikawa XIII) in November 2019,Lupin III's Goemon, Captain Harlock's Harlock Voice Actor Makio Inoue Passes Away. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. December 2, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2026. Kiyoshi Kobayashi (Daisuke Jigen) in July 2022Lupin III's Long-Time Daisuke Jigen Voice Actor Kiyoshi Kobayashi Passes Away at 89. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. August 8, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2026. and Eiko Masuyama (Fujiko Mine) in May 2024,Lupin III's 1st Fujiko Voice Actress Eiko Masuyama Dies at 89. Anime News Network. Anime News Network Official Website. June 3, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2026. Nikaido was the last surviving original cast member of the Lupin the 3rd anime series' voice cast alongside current Lupin III voice actor Kanichi Kurita. With her death in July 2026, all of the original Lupin the 3rd anime voice actors have now passed away.
Filmography Television dramas + List of performances in television dramas Year Title Role Notes Source 1964 Nissan Star Theater: Where To? Shinko 1966 The Wandering Ronin: Tsukikage Hyogo Yae episode 13 1969 The Bodyguard Series: I'm The Bodyguard Oen episode 12 The Lonely Ronin: Hanayama Daikichi Otoshi episode 33 Warm Spring Setsuko Nagashima 1970 Onihei: The Crime Reports in Edo Oden episode 64 Yae the Hairdresser Yaeko Tanaka 1971 Zenigata Heiji Okiku episode 257
Theatrical films + List of performances in theatrical films Year Title Role Notes Source 1959 High Teen Akiko Tsumura 1959 Affair in the Mist Fumi 1960 Challenge Beneath the Waves Reiko Shima 1960 Third World War: 41 Hours of Fear Mie Ichimura 1960 Ponkotsu Chako 1960 Faceless Violence Mitsue Ishii 1960 Billionare Young Woman 1961 Botchan Yaro Zoroi Suzuko Okura 1961 We Are the Sky Rebels Spring River 1961 A Fishwife's Tale Yoko Ishikawa
Special effects + List of performances in special effects Year Title Role Notes Source 1970 Chibira-kun Oku, Beautiful woman
Commercials + List of appearances in television commercials Year Title Role Notes Source 1969 National Panasonic Washing Machine "Ultra-High-Speed Whirlpool"
Stage + List of stage performances Year Title Role Notes Source 1963 A Kiss of Heaven and Earth Mariko The Society for the Study of Performing Arts (ed.), "Geino" (in Japanese), April issue, Geino Publishing, April 1963, p. 77.
Television animation + List of voice performances in television animation Year Title Role Notes Source 1969 Kamui Sugaru 忍風カムイ外伝 (in Japanese). Eiken. Eiken Official Website. Retrieved June 11, 2016. 1971 Lupin the 3rd Part I Fujiko Mine, Ginko Fujinami Main role; Ginko Fujinami in episode 7 ルパン三世 PART1 (in Japanese). TMS Entertainment. Accessed September 22, 2022. 1976 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother Anna, Renata 母をたずねて三千里 (in Japanese). Nippon Animation. Retrieved May 27, 2023. 1978 One-Million Year Trip: Bander Book Mrs. Kudo Television film 100万年地球の旅 バンダーブック (in Japanese). Mushi Production. Accessed May 3, 2016. 1979 Song of Baseball Enthusiasts Additional voice Final anime voice acting role
Dubbing Feature films