The correct tag for this artist: 日高のり子 Noriko Hidaka (日高のり子, Hidaka Noriko?), real name Noriko Nagai (永井 範子, Nagai Noriko?), maiden name Noriko Itō (伊東 範子, Itō Noriko?, born May 31, 1962) is a seiyū, or voice actor.[1] Hidaka is most known for the roles of Mikage Matsunaga (Miracle Girls), Minami Asakura (Touch), Akane Tendo (Ranma ½), Satsuki Kusakabe (My Neighbor Totoro), Near (Death Note), Sēta Sojiro (Rurouni Kenshin), Jean (Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water), Kikyo (InuYasha), and Noriko Takaya (Gunbuster). Hidaka was born in the Kudan area of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan,[1] where she attended Fujimi Elementary School. Her parents owned a Western-style clothing store named "Tailor Itō". Hidaka began her career as an idol star, but switched to voice acting, and is formerly employed by the talent management firm 81 Produce. Hidaka originally used the kanji variant 日髙 (note that the second kanji is different). She switched to the current usage (日高) around 1995 when she found that it was written that way already on many things and after friends recommended the kanji with the lower stroke count. Her fans have given her the affectionate name Nonko (ノン子). In 1982, during her time as an idol star, Noriko appeared in a Japanese TV commercial for Nivea skin milk. She has also done voice over commercials for programs and games in which she plays a role, such as Super Robot Wars Alpha 3.[2]