Miwa voiced characters in “Princess Mononoke” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” during a prolific career that also included voice work in 2009’s “Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life.”
Akihiro Miwa, the renowned Japanese singer and actor known for the hit song “Yoitomake no Uta” and his acclaimed stage performance in “Black Lizard,” has died at the age of 91.
His management agency announced the news on Sunday, saying that Miwa died on June 20 of natural causes. His wake and funeral were held privately with close family members, in accordance with his wishes. No public memorial service is planned.
Born Akihiro Maruyama on May 15, 1935, in Nagasaki, Miwa later moved to Tokyo and began his professional singing career at Ginpari, a famous French music cafe in the capital’s Ginza district, at age 16. In 1957, he gained attention with his Japanese adaptation of the French song “Me Que Me Que,” which he translated himself and performed with his distinctive style.
Miwa reached the height of his musical fame with “Yoitomake no Uta” (“The Song of the Yoitomake“), released in 1965. The nearly six-minute song, which he wrote and composed based on the story of a real parent and child, expressed respect for working people and gratitude toward mothers. He performed it several times on “Kohaku Uta Gassen,” NHK’s annual New Year’s Eve music contest.
Beyond music, Miwa had an acclaimed acting career. He starred in numerous stage productions, including “La Marie-Vison,” directed by Shuji Terayama, and “Black Lizard,” based on the work of Ranpo Edogawa and adapted for the stage by Yukio Mishima. His performances earned critical acclaim, including recognition by the Yomiuri Theater Awards.
Miwa also reached younger generations through his voice role as the Witch of the Waste in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film “Howl’s Moving Castle” and as the narrator of NHK’s drama series “Hanako and Anne.” He remained active in television, writing and cultural commentary throughout his life.
From 2005 to 2009, Miwa appeared on TV Asahi’s talk show “Aura no Izumi” (meaning “fountain of aura”) alongside Taichi Kokubun and Hiroyuki Ehara. Known for his divine-looking yellow hairstyle, elegant dresses and gentle smile, Miwa became a familiar presence on the program, which was widely credited with helping spark Japan’s spiritualism boom.
Miwa was also a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki at the age of 10. Throughout his life, he continued to strongly advocate for peace and the realization of a society where people could live together free from all forms of discrimination and prejudice.
In his final days, Miwa had reduced his activities due to his age and focused on recovering his strength. His last words to a family member were simple but heartfelt: “Thank you.” At his funeral in Tokyo, yellow roses — his favorite flowers — decorated the altar, while letters from fans were placed in his coffin in a final tribute to an artist who inspired generations.
