“Kazoku Game,” “Shitsurakuen” director Morita Yoshimitsu dies at 61

December 21, 2011

Movie director Morita Yoshimitsu died of acute liver failure on Tuesday night at a hospital in Tokyo, it has been learned. He was 61 years old.

Morita started working with 8mm film during his time in the arts department of Nihon University. In 1981, he made his theatrical debut with the movie “No You na Mono” (“Something Like It”), which earned Best Film and Best New Director at the Yokohama Film Festival. In 1983, he directed the critically acclaimed “Kazoku Game” (“The Family Game”), which starred Matsuda Yusaku with Itami Juzo and Yuki Saori.

Morita’s career included many other award-winning films, such as “(Haru),” “Shitsurakuen” (“A Lost Paradise”), and “Ashura no Gotoku” (“Like Asura”). His final film before his death was the train otaku comedy “Bokutachi Kyuukou ~A Ressha de Ikou~,” which is scheduled to open in March 2012 and stars Eita and Matsuyama Kenichi.

Source:
Sankei Sports

^ Only 61?

Sad.

Dragon Ash bassist IKUZONE dies at 46

April 24, 2012

Baba Ikuzo, better known as the bassist IKUZONE of the band Dragon Ash, has suddenly passed away at the age of 46. An announcement on the group’s official website on Tuesday night revealed that IKUZONE died of acute heart failure on the night of April 21st.

IKUZONE had collapsed in his home studio and was discovered by his family. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where his death was confirmed at 10:55pm.

Dragon Ash was scheduled to perform at the Okuma Beach Fest 2012 event in Okinawa on April 28, but due to IKUZONE’s death, they have canceled their appearance.

IKUZONE was one of Dragon Ash’s founding members in 1996, along with Kj and Sakurai Makoto.

Source:
Natalie

Susumu Kobayashi passes away at 58

Kobayashi Susumu has passed away from cirrhosis of the liver. He died at 10:45 in the afternoon on the 16th. He was 58.

According to people close to him, Kobayashi suffered from illness for several years, and after the filming of “Odoru Daisousasen THE FINAL Aratanaru Kibou” this year in February, he received a diagnosis of a remainder of 2 or 3 weeks left and became hospitalized.

Kobayashi worked as an actor since the 1990s, and he famously played the role of Tsukushi’s father in “Hana Yori Dango”. Kobayashi also acted in roles in dramas such as “Long Vacation” and “Siberia Chou Tokyuu”.