Japanese Singer Akihiro Miwa Dies at Age 91

Akihiro Miwa, the Japanese singer and actor known for the 1965 hit “Yoitomake no Uta,” died June 20 at age 91, Japan Times reported. His management agency announced the death Sunday and said he died of natural causes. The agency stated that Miwa’s wake and funeral were held privately with close family members in line with his wishes.

No public memorial service is planned. Born Akihiro Maruyama on May 15, 1935, in Nagasaki, Miwa moved to Tokyo and began his professional singing career at age 16 at Ginpari, a French music cafe in the Ginza district. In 1957 he gained attention with his Japanese adaptation of the French song “Me Que Me Que,” which he translated himself.

Miwa wrote, composed and released “Yoitomake no Uta” (“The Song of the Yoitomake”) in 1965.