Sayuri, a young anime singer, passed away

The world of music and anime has received sad news: Sayuri, a Japanese singer, musician and songwriter, passed away on September 20 at the age of 28. The news was confirmed through an official statement by her husband, Amaarashi, who reported that the funeral was held in private, only with the presence of family and close friends, in respect of the family's wishes.

Sayuri, known for her unique and deep style, was one of the most representative artists in the world of anime, especially for her participation in the musical themes 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 condition of functional dysphonia. In her message, she revealed that she had been experiencing difficulties in broadcasting her voice for some time now, which led her to seek medical attention and receive such a diagnosis. Sayuri explained that her voice would tremble, crack, or become hoarse, and that the muscles involved in her vocalization did not respond in the way she desired, making it extremely difficult to continue singing.

With great sincerity, Sayuri expressed her frustration: "It's very painful not to be 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've been disconnected from everything." Despite this blow, Sayuri also shared a message of hope, noting that although the recovery process would be long, she was dedicated to her rehabilitation with the help of language specialists and vocal coaches.

In her own words, she commented: "It hurts me a lot not to be 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."

Career path: from anonymity to success

Sayuri began her career under the name Asuka in her hometown of Fukuoka while still in high school. Inspired by the band Kanjani Eight, Sayuri decided to learn to play guitar and began composing her first songs. He was part of the acoustic duo LONGTAL, with whom he 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 in the fifth edition of Music Revolution, a music competition organized by Yamaha Music, which propelled her as a promise within 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 "the girl of hypoxia". This name symbolized her focus on "dimension 2.5" music, where she fused reality with fictional elements, positioning herself as a parallel singer and songwriter. Her distinctive style, which included barefoot performances and wearing a poncho, earned her the recognition and admiration of a diverse audience.

During this period, his compositions were characterized by dark and melancholic lyrics, in which he reflected his own personal experiences. As he confessed in several interviews, 80% of his lyrics were based on real experiences. However, since she left Yamaha Music in 2019, a change was noticed in her music, with brighter tones, reflecting an emotional evolution in the artist.

Anime collaborations

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

• "Lycoris Recoil" – Interpretation of the closing theme.
• "Edens Zero" – Performance of the closing theme.
• "Yesterday wo Utatte" – Performance of the second closing track.
• "Boku no Hero Academia" (Season 4) – Performance of the first ending theme.
• "Golden Kamuy" (Season 2) – Opening theme performance.
• "Fate/Extra: Last Encore" – Interpretation of the closing theme.
• "Boku dake ga Inai Machi" – Interpretation of the closing theme.

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

Source: Twitter