Machiko Saitō (齊藤 真知子,Saitō Machiko; born March 25, 1992), better known by her stage nameMachiko orMachico, is a Japanese singer andvoice actress fromKure, Hiroshima. After participating in an audition organized byHoripro, she made her music debut in 2012, singing a theme song for a PC game. She was cast as the character Tsubasa Ibuki in the mobile gameThe Idolmaster Million Live! in 2013. Apart from voice acting, she has performed theme songs forKonoSuba andAge 12. Machico released two albums between 2014 and 2015, and opened her official fanclub in late 2016.
She left her seiyuu agency HoriPro International in 30 November 2022 and announced her new activity under Style Cube the next day.[1][2]
Machico is a native ofKure, Hiroshima.[3] Machico's career began after she participated in the 36thHoripro Talent Scout Campaign in 2011, where she was a finalist.[4] Although she was not declared the campaign's winner, she would make her media debut in 2012 when she was chosen to perform the song "Magical Happy Show!", which was used as the theme song to the 2012 visual novelSupipara: Alice the Magic Conductor; the single for "Magical Happy Show!" was released on May 23, 2012.[5]
Machico debuted as a voice actress in 2013 when she was cast as the character Tsubasa Ibuki in the mobile gameThe Idolmaster Million Live! in 2013.[4] The following year, she released her first album titledColors, which was released on June 11, 2014; the album peaked at number 64 on the Oricon weekly charts.[6] Her second albumColors II -RML- was released on April 8, 2015; the album peaked at number 86 on the Oricon weekly charts.[7] That same year, she voiced the character Sophia Mertesacker in the anime television seriesWorld Break: Aria of Curse for a Holy Swordsman.[8] She made a cameo as herself in the 2015 anime television seriesSeiyu's Life!.[9]
Machico performed the song "Fantastic Dreamer", which was used as the opening theme to the 2016 anime television seriesKonoSuba; the single for "Fantastic Dreamer" was released on January 27, 2016, and it peaked at number 42 on the Oricon weekly charts.[10] Her next single, "Yūki no Tsubasa" (勇気のつばさ,Wings of Courage) was released on November 9, 2016;[11] the title track is used as the second ending theme to the anime television seriesAge 12.[12] She portrayed the character Serina Nishiyama in the 2016 anime television seriesThree Leaves, Three Colors.[13] She opened her official fanclubZO≒NA in December 2016.[4] Her fourth single "Tomorrow" was released on February 1, 2017; the title track is used as the opening theme to the second season ofKonoSuba.[14][15] She was cast as the character Icea Mize Valgalis in the 2017 anime television seriesWorldEnd.[16] Her fifth single "Kore Kara" (コレカラ,From Now On) was released on January 31, 2018; the title track is used as the opening theme to the anime seriesThe Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!.[17] She also played the role of Tokai Teio in the multimedia franchiseUmamusume: Pretty Derby.[18]
Mobile gameMagia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story; originally as the ending theme of "Sayuki Steps Up! desuu~" event in 2019, released as a bonus in theMagia Record Special CD 2: Vocal Song Mini Collection
