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Japanese icon Akihiro Miwa has died at age 91, according to regional outlets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
The singer and voice actor was known to American audiences for voice roles in Princess Mononoke<\/em> and Howl’s Moving Castle<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n In Japan, Miwa was also well known for the ballad “Yoitomake No Uta.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Iconic Japanese singer-songwriter and frequent Hayao Miyazaki<\/a> voice actor Akihiro Miwa has died at age 91.<\/p>\n Miwa’s death was announced on the entertainer’s official website<\/a>, which used both he\/him and she\/her pronouns to describe the life and career of the singer, actor, and drag artist known for work voicing Miyazaki characters like Moro the wolf in Princess Mononoke<\/em><\/a> and the Witch of the Waste in Howl’s Moving Castle<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n “It is with great sadness that we announce that Akihiro Miwa, a singer and actor affiliated with our company, passed away peacefully at 9:30 a.m. on June 20 at the age of 91 due to old age,” read a statement on Miwa’s site. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who showed him such exceptional kindness and warm support during his lifetime, and we express our heartfelt gratitude to him and all of our employees. In accordance with his wishes, the funeral service was held privately with only close family members in attendance. There are no plans for a memorial service or gathering. We respectfully decline any condolences or floral tributes.”<\/p>\n The statement explained Miwa’s decline in public appearances in the months leading up to the performer’s death.<\/p>\n “For the past year, due to her advanced age, she had scaled back her work and focused on regaining her strength. About three months ago, she fell ill and had been recuperating at home,” the statement continued. “In her final moments, she simply said ‘hank you’ and quietly closed her eyes. At the funeral held in Tokyo, yellow roses, her favorite flower, adorned the altar, and letters from her supportive fans were placed in her coffin.”<\/p>\n