
The voice acting legend whose voice never ages celebrates Maid Day.
The string of Japanese holidays collectively called Golden Week came to an end on May 6, but the country still had a special day to celebrate on May 10. Thanks to a quirk of the Japanese language, the number 10 can also be read as “do,” and so “May 10” can transform into “May do,” pronounced just like meido, the Japanese word for “maid.”
Though it’s not an official holiday, those with such tastes annually celebrate May 10/Maid Day with online salutes to maid-inspired fashion and culture, often with salutes to famous maids of the anime and video game worlds. Video game franchise Danganronpa even doubles down on the maid allusions by listing the birthday of character Kirumi Tojo, known in-universe as “the ultimate maid,” May 10.
▼ Kirumi Tojo
OHOHOHO
— イジエル || PHVtuber (@izzielbaksai) May 9, 2020
Kirumi Tojo's birthday!!!
I hope she has a day off...
Happy birthday, Kirumi! pic.twitter.com/7UQ2owmYma
This year, Kirumi’s voice actress decided to join in the fun by cosplaying as the character, dressed in a maid outfit, naturally, on May 10, and she looked great doing it.
5月10 日は #メイドの日 そして
— 井上喜久子&スタッフ (@atmanbow_staff) May 10, 2020
ニューダンガンロンパV3
超高校級メイド、東条斬美ちゃんのお誕生日ですヾ(* ´▽`*)ノ✨🎂💕
久しぶりのコスプレ楽しかった〜😆 pic.twitter.com/8cp9DUqV8Z
But while voice actresses giving a shout-out to their characters isn’t so unusual, those already in the know, or who recognize the actress’ name in her Twitter account, are probably doing a double-take right now. That’s because Kikuko Inoue, Kirumi’s voice actress, is 55 years old!
Granted, Inoue is famous for her ability to continue playing serenely voiced young ladies of refined etiquette well past the age when most anime voice actresses bow out of the industry. Even still, it’s startling to see how youthful she looks while pulling off a cosplay of a character who’s a teenager, enough so to make one think that Inoue’s oft-repeated tongue-in-cheek claim that she’s eternally 17 years old might not be a joke after all.
Source: Twitter/@atmanbow_staff via Otakomu
Top image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Japan’s “eternally 17-years-old” anime voice actress offers fans hot spring resort trip with her
Maid Day 2019 brings out Japan’s best maid cosplayers【Photos】
Number of voice actresses in Japan hits record high, but is that a good thing?
Pregnant anime voice actress photo standees: A new frontier in otaku merch
Japan has a new professional basketball league exclusively for anime voice actresses
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Studio Ghibli announces first new short anime film in 8 years, exclusive to Ghibli Park
Mr. Sato shares his own secret Ministop hack to help save the ailing convenience store
Japanese government creates new word for cruelly hot summer days
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Sakura season arrives at McDonald’s Japan with new range of exclusive menu items
Japanese-style afternoon tea in this Japanese manor house outside downtown Tokyo is something special
Autonomous beverage and snack car now testing in Chiba City
New Totoro carabiner pouches are ready to clip/tag along with you on all your adventures[Photos]
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Final version of Sanrio: Beginning of Kawaii exhibition opens in Tokyo[Photos]
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
After 33 years, Hello Kitty’s voice actress, the legendary Hayashibara Megumi, is being replaced
Japanese adult video game voice actress does announcements at JR Niigata Station 【Videos】
Anime voice actress fan arrested for email telling her to “die die die die”【Updated】
Japanese publisher sparks backlash over plan to have anime voice actresses pose for bikini photos
Evangelion anime voice actress says gay man grabbed her chest in Tokyo bar district
Dragon Ball Super finally ends after three years, voice actress of Goku says she’s not done
26 anime voice actors and actresses form group to speak out against unauthorized generative AI
Evangelion voice actress reveals she’s been waiting 11 years for free condoms she was promised
Anime voice actress Megumi Hayashibara’s Lina Inverse will hold virtual VTuber concert
Possibly the sweetest anime voice actress ever meets fan on the train, makes their day, maybe life
Sweating, snuggling models and voice actresses steam up series of spicy ramen ads 【Videos】
We interview voice actress Shoko Nakagawa, learn what gave her the greatest shock of her career
New Ranma 1/2 anime preview reveals Netflix streaming, returning all-star voice cast【Video】