Ichirou Mizuki
Ichirou Mizuki | |
---|---|
![]() Mizuki performing in 2007 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Toshio Hayakawa ( |
Also known as | Aniki, Aniking, Ichiro Mizuki "Emperor of Anime Songs" |
Born | Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan | January 7, 1948
Died | December 6, 2022 | (aged 74)
Genres | Anison, J-pop, rock, R&B |
Occupation(s) | Singer, lyricist, composer, voice actor, actor |
Years active | 1968–2022 |
Labels | Nippon Columbia, First Smile Entertainment, Victor Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment |
Website | Ichirou Mizuki Official Website |
Toshio Hayakawa (
Biography
[edit]Career
[edit]Mizuki was born in Setagaya, Tokyo in January 1948. He signed to the Nippon Columbia label and released his first single called "Kimi ni sasageru Boku no Uta", composed by Kanae Wada, in 1968.[1] In 1971, Mizuki recorded the song "Genshi Shōnen Ryū ga Yuku" (
Mizuki performed theme songs throughout the 1980s and 1990s, for shows such as Beast King GoLion, Getter Robo Go, and Jikuu Senshi Spielban, his work not as extensive until 2000. On July 17, 2000, with fellow anison vocalists Hironobu Kageyama (Dragon Ball Z), Masaaki Endoh (The King of Braves GaoGaiGar), Eizo Sakamoto (vocalist of ANTHEM and Animetal), and Rica Matsumoto (Pokémon), he formed the "supergroup" JAM Project. He later reduced his membership in the group to "part-time", allowing for the entry of Hiroshi Kitadani (One Piece), Masami Okui (Revolutionary Girl Utena), and Yoshiki Fukuyama (Macross 7 as Basara Nekki's in Fire Bomber).
He would return to recording in 2007 with his performances on the soundtrack of Juken Sentai Gekiranger, singing its ending theme "Tao", an image song "Chikai", and on another image song "Burning up! ~Jōnetsu o Uketsui de~" performed as a duet with Takayoshi Tanimoto who sang the series' opening theme. He also sang on JAM Project's single "STORMBRINGER", the opening theme for Kotetsushin Jeeg, a sequel to Steel Jeeg. In 2008, he released his 40th anniversary Ichirou Mizuki: Newest Best album, the Michi ~road~ (
On April 25, 2021, it was announced Mizuki was suffering from partial vocal cord paralysis and would focus on recovering from it.[6] In July 2022, Mizuki's management revealed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes and brain. He said he had surgery in June and was undergoing physical therapy and speech therapy. He said he was planning to hold a belated celebration of his 50 years in the music industry, and did not plan to retire.[7][8]
Mizuki died from lung cancer on December 6, 2022, at the age of 74.[9]
Television
[edit]In addition to his career as a vocalist, Mizuki has been cast in several roles as both a voice actor and a live-action actor. As a voice actor, he played the roles of Yoldo in the first episode of the OVA Dangaioh, Rat Hector in Coral no Tanken, and the villain Keisar Ephes in the video game Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. His live-action roles include Dr. Ben in Jikuu Senshi Spielban and (most notably) Voicelugger Gold in Voicelugger, a Tokusatsu show based on the last concept written by Shotaro Ishinomori before his death. He also made a guest appearance on the Japanese comedy television show, Gaki No Tsukai. He voiced the title character Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo in the first PlayStation 2 game of the series, as well as singing the theme song. In 2010, he had a role in an episode of arc of Kamen Rider W along with fellow musicians Aya Kamiki and TAKUYA. In 2012, he starred in one of the episodes in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters as well as singing "Li-Oh! Kenzan Champion!" which is a theme song for the new robot introduced in the episode. His voice is also used as the voice for the robot's control system.
Tokusatsu
[edit]- Voicelugger (Voicelugger Gold)
- Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger Movie (Poseidon org (Voice))
- Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters (Custom Visor (Voice), Lio Attache/Lio Blaster (Voice), Saburo Hazuki)
Books
[edit]- Hitoshi Hasebe: "Anison - Kashu Ichirou Mizuki Sanjuu Shuunen Kinen Nekketsu Shashinshuu" (
兄 尊 (アニソン)―歌手 水木 一郎 三 十 周年 記念 熱血 写真 集 ) (1999, Oakla Publishing) ISBN 4-87278-461-8 - Ichirou Mizuki & Project Ichirou: "Aniki Damashii ~Anime Song no Teiou / Mizuki Ichirou no Sho~" (アニキ
魂 ~アニメソングの帝王 ・水木 一郎 の書 ~) (2000, Aspect) ISBN 4-7572-0719-0
References
[edit]- ^ "Ichiro Mizuki - Kimi Ni Sasageru Boku No Uta Records Mail Order RECORD CITY Japan".
- ^ Miller, Evan (May 31, 2007). "Animax to Hold Anime Song "Grand Prix" in July". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
- ^ Loo, Egan (May 31, 2007). "27-Year-Old Canadian Wins Animax's Singing Contest". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 5, 2016). "Kitaro's Shigeru Mizuki, Singer Ichiro Mizuki Win TAAF's Lifetime Achievement Award". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^
水木 一郎 、50年 の活動 実 り健康 大賞 「健康 第 一 なんだゼーット!」. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2022. - ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 25, 2021). "Singer Ichiro Mizuki Reveals Partial Vocal Cord Paralysis, Will Focus on Recovery". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (July 26, 2022). "Singer Ichiro Mizuki Reveals Lung Cancer Diagnosis". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "
大切 なお知 らせ |水木 一郎 オフィシャルサイト - Ichiro Mizuki Official Website". mizuki-spirits.com (in Japanese). July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022. - ^
水木 一郎 さん死去 、74歳 7月 に肺 がんでの闘病 公表 、11月歌謡 祭 には車 いすで登場 し歌 披露 . Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Ichirou Mizuki Official Website (in Japanese)
- Ichirou Mizuki at Anison Database (in Japanese)
- Ichirou Mizuki at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Ichirou Mizuki at Henshin Hall of Fame
- Ichirou Mizuki at IMDb
- Ichirou Mizuki at Discogs.com (in Japanese)
- 1948 births
- 2022 deaths
- Deaths from lung cancer in Japan
- 20th-century Japanese male singers
- 20th-century Japanese singers
- 21st-century Japanese male singers
- 21st-century Japanese singers
- Anime musicians
- JAM Project members
- Japanese male pop singers
- Male voice actors from Setagaya
- Musicians from Setagaya
- Video game musicians