The website for singer Ichiro Mizuki has announced that he passed away on December 6, 2022 due to lung cancer. He was 74 years old at the time of his passing.

Mizuki revealed in July 2022 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer with lymph node and brain metastasis, following his partial paralysis of the vocal cords in April 2021. Furthermore, a new lung cancer was found earlier this year. He had surgery in June 2022, and was receiving therapy for his voice and motor functions.

Mizuki had revealed in April 2021 during the “Super Robot Spirits 2021 ~stage terra~” concert that he was currently suffering from partial paralysis of the vocal cords. He added then he was undergoing “checkup after checkup,” and that this was the first time this had happened in his career of over five decades. He held his final live performance on November 27, 2022.

Mizuki has been nicknamed the “Emperor of Anime Songs.” He debuted as a singer in 1968 and was a pioneer as a singer of anime songs. He has performed theme songs for a wide variety of anime and tokusatsu projects, including Kamen Rider Stronger, Kamen Rider BLACK RX, Kamen Rider X, New Kamen Rider, Combattler V, Voltes V, Beast King GoLion, Space Pirate Captain Harlock, and Godannar.

He is also well known for his many theme songs for the Mazinger Z franchise, including the original Mazinger Z television series, Mazinger Z tai Ankoku Daishōgun, Mazinger Z Vs. Devilman, Mazinger Z Vs. Dr. Hell, Great Mazinger, Great Mazinger tai Getter Robo G – Kuuchuu Dai-Gekitotsu, and the Mazinger Z: Infinity 2017 anime film.

Source: ANN

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