The Japanese actor Tsunehiko Kamijō, who expressed Chihiro’s father in the studio Ghibli Spirited awayHe died at the age of 85.
According to the Japanese media Sponichi Annex and TV Asahi on August 1, Kamijō died in a hospital in the Prefecture of Nagano on July 22nd. His funeral was held privately with family members and, in accordance with his desires, there will be no separate commemorative event.
Kamijō appeared in health recently as last November, when he participated in the premiere of the film Shinpei: Uta Koso Subetoalso performing the final musical theme. However, his health deteriorated after contracting pneumonia at the end of the year. He was unable to participate in a greeting on stage for the film held in Tokyo in January and left a message that expressed his regret, “I’m very sorry I can’t sing in front of everyone.”
Kamijō debuted as a singer in 1962. In 1971, he reached great popularity with the Folk Rokumongen group, together with Hitoshi Komuro, with their song Tabidachi No Uta (departure song), which sold over 700,000 copies.
He had a large career as a singer, actor and voice actor, who appears in musicals such as Violinist on the roof, Man of La ManchaAND My proud lady. He also offered memorable shows in dramas including Tokugawa Ieyasu, Freezing point, Doctor X.AND Kinpachi-Sensei.
Kamijō has given his voice to several productions in the Ghibli studio. In Spirited awayHe expressed Chihiro’s father and inside Red pigHe expressed the head of the Mamma help.
The passage of Tsunehiko Kamijō marks the end of an era for many fans of the Ghibli studio and the classic Japanese entertainment. His hot voice and the powerful presence on the stage have left a lasting impression through the generations. While fans revisit his iconic roles, from musicals and dramas to beloved animations such as Spirited away—The legacy will continue to live through the timeless characters who gave life.
Sources: Daum
