the scriptwriters are not actors if they are not writing every word. This was because Kazue Takahashi, who was the second voice actor of Katsuo, was able to do his words perfectly without being affected by Kato's ad libitum acting. During the fifteenth anniversary of Sazae-san around 1984, Katō had an opportunity to meet the writer of the original Sazae-san manga, Machiko Hasegawa. Katō told Hasegawa, "Sensei, watashi, this year, it's just bad", and Hasegawa told her, "I'm sure there's something good to come". This was the only time Katō ever met Hasegawa before the latter's death on 27 May 1992. In 2009, Katō and her Sazae-san co-star Ichirō Nagai made brief cameo appearances in the fourth live-action adaptation of Sazae-san, Katō appearing as a female employee. Katō told Oricon Style that she had not appeared in drama for the past 45 years and felt nervous during her appearance. She was invited to the held on 25 October 2012, where she exchanged words with then-Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Kato introduced herself as "Sazae", believing that she would be recognized with just the nameplate, and the Emperor and Empress responded with a smile. After the Crown Prince Naruhito and his younger brother the Prince Akishino said that they were watching Sazae-san, Kato said "Dad, mom, I'm thrilled, I don't want to go home anymore. Officials from the Imperial Household Agency reported that Aiko, Princess Toshi was able to recognize Katō's voice as Sazae's. In 2013 Guinness World Records recognized Sazae-san as the longest running animated series, surpassing The Simpsons which went on air in 1989. On 6 October 2019, Katō and fellow Sazae-san voice actor Takako Sasuga were recognized by Guinness World Records in the category of "longest career as a voice actor for the same character in an animated television series", having at that point voiced their characters for 50 years and 1 day. Other work In 1989, Katō began performing on her own stage, receiving a request from a producer of a television station who watched the stage. Katō was also the narrator of Makeover! Dramatic Before & After, a documentary series which aired on TV Asahi. The series' selection in the 2003 "New Word / Buzzword Awards" earned her an appearance at an award ceremony there. Katō was awarded the 45th Anniversary Special Prize by the in 2015. Filmography Anime Shōnen Ninja Kaze no Fujimaru (1964) -