Anisong Singer Ichirou Mizuki Dies at 74
Mizuki's management agency announced in July that he was diagnosed with lung cancer with lymph nodes and brain metastasis, following his partial vocal cord paralysis last April. He underwent surgery in June and was receiving physical and speech therapy. Mizuki was planning his 50th anniversary as an anisong singer. He held his final live performance on November 27.
Born Toshio Hayakawa in Setagaya, Tokyo in January 1948, Mizuki debuted under Nippon Columbia and released his first single Kimi ni Sasageru Boku no Uta in January 1968. However, due to poor sales and a disagreement with his manager, he temporarily retired from singing. In 1971, when he was about to quit singing and become a composer, Hidetoshi Kimura, the director of Nippon Columbia, suggested he sing the opening theme of the anime Genshi Shounen Ryuu (Ryu the Primitive Boy), which shifted his focus to anime songs.
In the 1970s, Mizuki began performing theme and insert songs for anime and tokusatsu works, establishing himself as a pioneer. Four years into his career, he released over 150 tracks for children's programs, averaging a record sales of around 100,000 copies and reaching a cumulative total of six million. The theme songs for Mazinger Z and Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Herlock (Space Pirate Captain Harlock), released in 1973 and 1978, sold over 700,000 and 150,000 copies, respectively. Following these major hits, Mizuki was dubbed the "Emperor of Anisongs," alongside Mitsuko Horie, the "Queen of Anisongs."
Mizuki formed the band JAM Project in July 2000 with fellow anisong artists Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endoh, Eizou Sakamoto, and Rica Matsumoto. He became a part-time member in August 2002 due to his busy schedule.
Some of his later works for anime include theme songs for Shinkon Gattai Godannar!! (Marriage of God & Soul Godannar!!), Katte ni Kaizou, Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 (Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199), and Tonari no Seki-kun (Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time). Mizuki's final performance was a newly recorded version of the original Mazinger Z theme for the Mazinger Z: Infinity movie, which premiered in January 2018.
Source: Oricon News
17 Comments Recent Comments
Dec 12, 2022 6:53 PM by Trypo
Dec 12, 2022 1:17 PM by mazuchi
Dec 12, 2022 11:18 AM by tsubasalover
Dec 12, 2022 9:44 AM by deg
Dec 12, 2022 9:10 AM by VVill
Dec 12, 2022 9:05 AM by Gegenschein
Dec 12, 2022 8:40 AM by scout_joe
Dec 12, 2022 7:05 AM by Tokoya
RIP You'll always be remembered.
Dec 12, 2022 6:52 AM by Ahegyao
Dec 12, 2022 5:43 AM by Peeti
Dec 12, 2022 5:27 AM by TARDISES
Dec 12, 2022 5:26 AM by Kattvalp
Dec 12, 2022 5:22 AM by Absurdo_N
Dec 12, 2022 4:23 AM by Memore
RIP Aniking!
Dec 12, 2022 3:42 AM by CataOrShane
For all of you shounen dweebs, this man literally defined anisong as a genre in Japan.
Every mecha anime from the 1970s HAD to have him as OP singer.
Mazinger, the OG Captain Harlock, Combattler V, GoLion, Dangaioh, Getter Robo, Godannar, this man just knew how to create LEGENDARY OPs.
MAJIN GOOOOOO!!!
Dec 12, 2022 3:39 AM by TheMechaManiac
Related Database Entries
People: | Mizuki, Ichirou |
Search News
Related News
-
Winners of the 2016 Tokyo Anime Awards Announced Mar 21, 2016 1:56 PM by Snow87 Comments
-
Singer Masayoshi Ooishi Announces Marriage Jul 31, 2020 7:32 PM by Aiimee3 Comments
-
Composer Seiji Yokoyama Dies at 82 Jul 11, 2017 8:45 PM by arsonal16 Comments
-
Anisong Performer Kouji Wada Dies at 42 Apr 8, 2016 10:51 AM by tsubasalover71 Comments
-
Music Composer Ryuuichi Sakamoto Dies at 71 Apr 2, 2023 9:30 AM by DatRandomDude26 Comments
MoreNew Anime
-
'Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi' Gets Second Season in Fall 2025
Apr 30, 9:15 PM by DatRandomDude16 Comments
-
New '5-toubun no Hanayome' Anime in Production
Apr 28, 9:43 AM by Vindstot40 Comments
-
'Arknights: Rise From Ember' TV Anime Announced
Apr 27, 9:54 AM by DatRandomDude7 Comments
-
Original Anime Movie 'A New Dawn' Announced for 2025
Apr 23, 6:23 PM by DatRandomDude5 Comments
MoreSummer 2024
-
'Boku no Tsuma wa Kanjou ga Nai' Announces Additional Cast, Staff
Yesterday, 8:59 PM by DatRandomDude0 Comment
-
'Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest' Announces Additional Cast
Apr 30, 8:04 PM by DatRandomDude3 Comments
-
'Kinnikuman: Kanpeki Chоujin Shiso-hen' Announces Supporting Cast
Apr 28, 10:31 AM by Nioxys10 Comments
MoreFall 2024
-
'Murai no Koi' Reveals Additional Cast, First Promo
Apr 30, 8:55 PM by Hyperion_PS3 Comments
-
'Shangri-La Frontier' Gets Second Season in Fall 2024
Mar 31, 10:34 AM by Hyperion_PS15 Comments
Still remember Aniki's cameo in Gaki no Tsukai with his iconic "ZET!!!"
Dec 12, 2022 8:10 PM by Gear707