Ichiro Mizuki, a Japanese singer known for being the "king of anime songs," died of lung cancer last Tuesday at a Tokyo hospital, his talent agency said. He was 74.
Mizuki, whose real name was Toshio Hayakawa, was famed for singing the theme song for the 1972 robot series "Mazinger Z" and Leiji Matsumoto's space opera "Space Pirate Captain Harlock," among many other hits.
The Tokyo native made his debut in 1968 as a pop music singer, kicking off his career in anime songs in 1971 after lending his vocals for the theme song of "Genshi Shonen Ryu" (Ryu, The Cave Boy).
With over 1,200 songs under his belt, including theme songs for the iconic Japanese television series "Kamen Rider" (Masked Rider), Mizuki also gained popularity overseas, holding anime song-themed events in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Mizuki, who announced in July that he was undergoing treatment for lung cancer, remained committed to "a lifetime of active service" even after his diagnosis, appearing on stage in a wheelchair for his last live performance on Nov. 27, according to his agency.
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