The world of music and anime has received some sad news: Sayuri, a Japanese singer, musician and composer, died on September 20, aged 28. The news was confirmed through an official statement from her husband, Amaarashi, who said that the funeral was held privately, with only family and friends present, out of respect for the family's wishes.

Sayuri, known for her unique and profound style, was one of the most representative artists in the world of anime, mainly for her participation in the theme songs of popular series such as “Boku no Hero Academia”, “Golden Kamuy” and “Lycoris Recoil”. With her powerful voice and lyrics that evoked intense emotions, Sayuri captured the attention of thousands of fans around the world.

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In July 2024, Sayuri shared an emotional post on her Twitter account where she explained the difficult situation she was going through due to her functional dysphonia. In her message, she revealed that she had been having difficulty producing her voice for some time, which led her to seek medical attention and receive the aforementioned diagnosis. Sayuri explained that her voice would shake, crack, or become hoarse and that the muscles involved in her vocalization would not respond the way she wanted, making it extremely difficult to continue singing.

With great sincerity, Sayuri expressed her frustration: “It's very painful not being able to sing. My way of expressing myself and connecting with the world has always been through my voice, and now I feel like I'm disconnected from everything.». Despite this blow, Sayuri also shared a message of hope, saying that although the recovery process was long, she dedicated herself to her rehabilitation with the help of language experts and vocal coaches.

In his own words he commented: “It hurts so much not being able to sing, but I am determined to move forward and be positive in this healing process.». Finally, he asked his followers for patience, promising that he would return when his condition improved: «I know it will take time, but please wait for me.».

Professional career: from anonymity to success

Sayuri began her career under the name Asuka in her hometown of Fukuoka when she was still in high school. Inspired by the band Kanjani Eight, Sayuri decided to learn to play the guitar and began composing her first songs. She became part of the acoustic duo LONGTAL, with which she performed on the streets and in small concert halls in cities such as Hiroshima, Osaka and Nagoya. Despite her youth, in 2012, at the age of 15, she won the Grand Prix of the fifth edition of Music Revolution, a music competition organized by Yamaha Music, which promoted her as a promising artist on the indie scene.

In 2013, she moved to Tokyo, where she adopted the stage name Sanketsu Shōjo Sayuri (酸欠少女さユり), which means "hypoxia girl". This name symbolized her focus on “dimension 2.5” music, where she merged reality with fictional elements, positioning herself as a parallel singer and composer. Her distinctive style, which included performing barefoot and wearing a poncho, earned her recognition and admiration from a diverse audience.

At this stage, his compositions were characterized by dark and melancholic lyrics, in which he reflected his own personal experiences. As she has confessed in several interviews, 80% of her lyrics were based on real experiences. However, since leaving Yamaha Music in 2019, a change has been noted in her music, with happier tones, reflecting an emotional evolution in the artist.

Anime Collaborations

Sayuri also stood out for her participation in the anime industry, being recognized for interpreting the musical themes of several hits. Among her most remembered contributions are:

• “Lycoris Retreat” – Interpretation of the closing theme.
• “Edens Zero” – Interpretation of the closing theme.
• “Yesterday was Utatte” – Interpretation of the second closing theme.
• “My Hero Academia” (Season 4) – First ending theme song performed.
• “Golden Kamuy” (Season 2) – Opening theme song plays.
• “Destiny/Extra: Last Encore” – Interpretation of the closing theme.
• “Good morning, I'm in the woods” – Interpretation of the closing theme.

His voice, always recognized for its tremendous emotional strength and natural vibrato, allowed him to leave an indelible mark on the memory of fans of these series. Although Sayuri left us at a young age, her artistic legacy lives on in the songs that continue to resonate with fans.

Source: Official Twitter Account