Miwa Akihiro, the iconic Japanese performer whose career spanned more than seven decades and included voicing the Wolf Goddess Moro in Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke, has died at the age of 91. Their agency confirmed that Miwa passed away from natural causes on June 20, 2026.
A Life Shaped by Survival and Art
Born Akihiro Maruyama in Nagasaki in 1935, Miwa began performing professionally at just 16 years old. They rose to national fame in 1957 with the hit song Me Que Me Que, and later became one of Japan's best-known singers with classics like Yoitomake no Uta. Beyond music, Miwa was a pioneering figure in gay activism and a celebrated stage and screen actor, starring in productions such as The Black Lizard and appearing regularly on Japanese television.
At age 10, Miwa survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. Although they escaped the blast, they later described witnessing the devastation as looking like "almost the end of the world". This experience inspired a lifelong commitment to peace and heavily influenced their songwriting, with many works reflecting on war, loss and human resilience.
Studio Ghibli Legacy and Global Recognition
Miwa became known to international audiences through collaborations with Studio Ghibli. Their distinctive voice brought the powerful Wolf Goddess Moro to life in Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning fantasy Princess Mononoke (1997), and they also voiced the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle (2004).
In October 2018, Miwa was named a meiyo shimin (honored citizen) of Tokyo for showing "a way of living that transcends gender". Despite suffering a stroke in 2019, they continued writing and making television appearances, offering life advice drawn from their own experiences of discrimination, poverty and survival.
Tributes Flood In
News of Miwa's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues. One fan wrote: "Rest in peace to a true legend. Your voice and your art will never be forgotten." Another added: "Thank you for everything you gave the world through your music, films and wisdom."
Miwa is regarded as one of Japan's most influential entertainers, leaving behind a legacy that stretched from chart-topping music to some of Studio Ghibli's most celebrated films.
