Rumi Shishido

Around the same time Shishido left her management, she also debuted as a voice actress, with her breakthrough role being Mikako Koda from Neighborhood Story.

Other notable roles she has played include Onpu Segawa from Ojamajo Doremi, Rosemary Applefield from Ashita no Nadja, Viper from Reborn!, M.O.M.O.

[2] Citing Etsuko Ichihara as her inspiration, in 1989, Shishido decided to audition for a contest hosted by Lotte through the encouragement of her mother.

[2] Shishido's album was positively received, and Neil Strauss of The New York Times compared her "ripe, melodic voice" to Debbie Gibson and Liz Phair.

In 1995, she broke through with her first leading role as Mikako Koda from Neighborhood Story and was encouraged to audition after producer Hiromi Seki had heard her speaking voice through her album, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do-Shi-Shi-Do-Ru-Mi.