Akihiro Miwa, Voice Actor for Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, Dies at 91
Miwa was a rare figure whose voice work in two of Studio Ghibli's most iconic films gave him a lasting presence in anime, while his decades-long career as a singer and performer made him a cultural institution in Japan.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime News Network.
Akihiro Miwa, the singer, actor, and voice actor known for roles as the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle and Moro in Princess Mononoke, died on June 20 of old age. He was 91. His agency announced his passing on Sunday, stating he had been convalescing at home after his health declined three months ago.
Akihiro Miwa, the singer, actor, and voice actor who brought the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle and the wolf goddess Moro in Princess Mononoke to life, died on June 20 of old age. He was 91. His agency announced the news on Sunday, saying Miwa had been cutting back on work over the last year due to his advanced age. Three months ago his health began to deteriorate, and he had been convalescing at home. The announcement said that at the end he expressed gratitude by saying 'thank you' and quietly closed his eyes. His funeral for close relatives only was adorned with the yellow roses he loved.
Miwa also voiced Arceus in Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, and appeared in Harmagedon and Maeterlinck's Blue Bird. Born in Nagasaki in 1935, he was in the city during the 1945 atomic bombing. He moved to Tokyo after middle school and became a professional singer at 16, known for classical, chanson, tango, Latin, and jazz. His song 'Meke Meke' was a hit in 1957, and he is most famous as a singer-songwriter for 'Yoitomake no Uta,' which has been covered many times. He often performed in drag and was known for his trademark yellow hair. Miwa also wrote books, appeared on stage and in film-including Takeshi Kitano's Takeshis'-and was named an Honorary Citizen of Tokyo in 2018 for transcending gender in post-war Japan and for his contributions across the arts.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network News Singer, Actor Akihiro Miwa Dies at 91