Kaho Shimada' (島田歌穂, Shimada Kaho, born September 19, 1963) is a Japanese singer and musical theater actress. Born and raised in Tokyo, she attended Tokyo Municipal Jonan High School. She is an assistant professor of drama at the Osaka University of Arts.
Her father was a musician who gave voice training to Isao Sasaki.[1]
Shimada debuted as an actress at the age of eleven in Ganbare!! Robocon (1974–1977) as Robin-chan.
She is best known for her role as Éponine in the Tokyo production of Les Misérables, which she portrayed in English on the album Les Misérables - The Complete Symphonic Recording. Shimada did not speak any English at all, and learned her entire role in English phonetically for the recording.[2]