Overview
- Miwa Akihiro (born Maruyama Akihiro) died of old age on June 20, 2026, and his management publicly announced the death on June 28.
- His agency said a private funeral was held for close relatives in line with his wishes and that he had been resting at home after about three months of declining health.
- The management released his final word, “ありがとう” (thank you), and published a handwritten message that called for love and the end of discrimination.
- Miwa built a cross-generational career from 1950s hits like “Meke Meke” and his 1965 song “Yoitomake no Uta” to landmark stage roles in works by Terayama and Mishima and voice roles in Studio Ghibli films.
- Coverage and tributes emphasize his role as a Nagasaki atomic-bomb survivor whose testimony and public advocacy for nuclear disarmament and inclusion shaped postwar memory and public debate in Japan.