Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi, the intelligent and observant member of the Super Peace Busters in Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, is voiced by Saori Hayami in the original Japanese version and Erica Mendez in the English dub. Hayami’s calm and nuanced performance perfectly captures Tsuruko’s reserved personality and emotional depth, while Mendez brought the character’s wit and quiet strength to English-speaking audiences.

Japanese Voice Actor: Saori Hayami

Date of Birth

May 29, 1991

About Saori

Saori Hayami is one of Japan’s most acclaimed voice actresses and singers. Known for her clear, elegant voice and exceptional emotional range, she has become a staple of modern anime, voicing both gentle heroines and strong-willed protagonists. Since her debut in the mid-2000s, Hayami has earned numerous awards and widespread recognition throughout the anime industry.

In Anohana, Hayami voices Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi, the quiet and analytical member of the friend group. Tsuruko often acts as the voice of reason while hiding her own emotional struggles, particularly her feelings for Atsumu “Yukiatsu” Matsuyuki. Hayami’s understated performance helps make Tsuruko one of the series’ most realistic and relatable characters.

Hometown

Tokyo, Japan

Career Highlights

Some of Saori Hayami’s most notable roles include:

  • Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi — Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
  • Yor Forger — Spy × Family
  • Shinobu Kocho — Demon Slayer
  • Yukino Yukinoshita — My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
  • Ayase Aragaki — Oreimo
  • Miyuki Shiba — The Irregular at Magic High School
  • Fubuki — One-Punch Man
  • Rachel Gardner — Angels of Death
  • Ruby Rose (Japanese dub) — RWBY
  • Himawari Uzumaki — Boruto

Full Current Filmography

The following list highlights major documented anime roles and is not intended to be a complete record of every credit.

Television Anime

2011

  • Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day — Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi

2013

  • My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU — Yukino Yukinoshita

2014

  • The Irregular at Magic High School — Miyuki Shiba

2017

  • Land of the Lustrous — Goshenite
  • Kakegurui — Yumeko Jabami

2019

  • Demon Slayer — Shinobu Kocho

2022

  • Spy × Family — Yor Forger

2024

  • Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc — Shinobu Kocho

Anime Films

2013

  • Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day – The Movie — Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi

Critical Reception

Among the cast of Anohana, Tsuruko is often praised for being one of the series’ most grounded characters. Hayami’s restrained performance allows viewers to gradually discover the emotions hidden beneath Tsuruko’s calm exterior. Fans frequently point to her interactions with Yukiatsu as some of the most emotionally mature moments in the series.

Our Sources

English Voice Actor: Erica Mendez

Date of Birth

February 13, 1988 (Wikipedia)

About Erica

Erica Mendez is an American voice actress known for her extensive work in anime, video games, and animation. Since beginning her voice acting career in the early 2010s, she has become one of the most recognizable voices in English dubbing, earning acclaim for portraying a wide variety of protagonists and emotionally complex characters.

In Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Mendez voices Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi, the quiet and perceptive member of the Super Peace Busters. Her performance captures Tsuruko’s intelligence, dry humor, and hidden emotional vulnerability, helping English-speaking audiences connect with one of the series’ most understated characters.

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois, United States (Wikipedia)

Career Highlights

Some of Erica Mendez’s most notable roles include:

  • Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi — Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
  • Ryuko Matoi — Kill la Kill
  • Gon Freecss — Hunter × Hunter (2011 English Dub)
  • Megumin — KonoSuba
  • Raphtalia — The Rising of the Shield Hero (young Raphtalia)
  • Sailor Uranus — Sailor Moon
  • Akko Kagari — Little Witch Academia
  • Yuki Takeya — School-Live!
  • Retsuko — Aggretsuko
  • Katana Man — Chainsaw Man

Full Current Filmography

The following list reflects major documented credits and is not intended to be a complete record of every role.

Anime Series

2014

  • Kill la Kill — Ryuko Matoi
  • Hunter × Hunter — Gon Freecss

2015

  • Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day — Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi
  • School-Live! — Yuki Takeya

2017

  • Little Witch Academia — Atsuko “Akko” Kagari
  • KonoSuba — Megumin

2018

  • Aggretsuko — Retsuko

2019

  • The Rising of the Shield Hero — Young Raphtalia

2022

  • Chainsaw Man — Katana Man

2024

  • Delicious in Dungeon — Falin Touden

Video Games

Persona Series

  • Persona 5 — Additional Voices
  • Persona 5 Royal — Additional Voices

Fire Emblem Series

  • Fire Emblem Heroes — Deirdre, Lachesis, Lena, and others

Other Notable Games

  • Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero — Videl
  • Genshin Impact — Kamisato Ayaka (promotional appearances)
  • League of Legends — Taliyah (selected media)
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel — Towa Herschel

This filmography reflects notable publicly documented credits and may not be exhaustive.

Critical Reception

Erica Mendez’s portrayal of Tsuruko has been praised by fans of the English dub for preserving the character’s reserved demeanor while subtly conveying the emotions she rarely expresses openly. Because Tsuruko often communicates through understated reactions rather than dramatic outbursts, Mendez’s nuanced performance helped maintain the character’s emotional authenticity throughout the series. Many viewers regard her work as one of the strongest supporting performances in the Anohana dub.

Our Sources

Social Media

Published by Limarc Ambalina

Limarc Ambalina is the founder of Japan Bound, a website covering all things Japan — from travel and culture to anime, manga, and pop culture. He is also the Director of Content at ISNation and the former VP of Editorial at HackerNoon. Based in Japan, he has been writing about Japanese life and entertainment since 2019, growing the site to over 2.4 million views.

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