Kikuko Inoue is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Yokosuka, Kanagawa, born on 25 September 1964. Credited under the real name 井之上喜久子, she is represented by Office Anemone and associated with Pony Canyon. She debuted in 1988 with Hai Akko Desu and has spent decades working in anime, character songs, and voice acting.
Inoue is closely linked to Ranma 1/2 through her role as Tendou Kasumi, which helped establish her long-running presence in anime culture. She has used the nickname "Onee-chan" ("big sister") on her official site and on several albums, a title tied to that role. She has also said that she believes she was a fish in a past life, and she uses fish as her trademark. She is especially known for jokingly calling herself "17 years old" (井上喜久子１７歳です), a running gag that fans answer with "Oi! Oi!" To extend the joke, Inoue founded the "17-year-old cult" (Juu-nana-sai Kyou, １７歳教), whose current members include Yukari Tamura, Sakura Nogawa, Rina Satou, and Yui Horie. Her profile also lists Kanagawa as her hometown and O as her blood type, and she is the mother of seiyuu Honoka Inoue. Recent cast announcements have also kept her active, including Lost World, Hitsuji Tanteidan, and Gabby's Dollhouse the Movie.
