Akihiro Miwa, the legendary Japanese singer and actor who voiced the wolf goddess Moro in Princess Mononoke and the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle, died on June 20 at age 91.
Akihiro Miwa, the iconic Japanese singer, actor, and author who brought unforgettable gravitas to two of Studio Ghibli's most beloved films, died on June 20 at the age of 91. The cause of death was old age.
Miwa is best known to anime audiences worldwide for voicing the wolf goddess Moro in Hayao Miyazaki's 1997 masterpiece Princess Mononoke and the Witch of the Waste in the 2004 film Howl's Moving Castle. In both roles, Miwa's deep, commanding vocal presence lent an otherworldly authority to characters that have since become cornerstones of the Studio Ghibli canon. His portrayal of Moro the ancient, dying wolf god who raised the human San as her own remains one of the most celebrated voice performances in anime history.
Beyond Ghibli, Miwa voiced Arceus in the 2009 film Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Froy in the 1983 science-fiction film Harmagedon, and the Queen of the Night in the animated feature Maeterlinck's Blue Bird.
Born Akihiro Maruyama in 1935 in Nagasaki, Miwa became a professional singer at just 16 years old. His repertoire spanned classical, chanson, tango, Latin, and jazz, and his 1957 hit "Meke Meke" catapulted him to national fame. He became equally renowned for his flamboyant stage persona, performing in drag with his trademark bright yellow hair a look that became one of the most recognizable images in Japanese entertainment.
Miwa's career on stage included acclaimed performances in Yukio Mishima's Black Lizard adaptation, cementing his reputation as one of Japan's most versatile performers. He also appeared in live-action films, notably Takeshi Kitano's 2005 feature Takeshis'. Over the decades, he authored multiple books and became a fixture of Japanese television as a cultural commentator and personality.
Miwa was present in Nagasaki during the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945, an experience that profoundly shaped his life and worldview. He spoke publicly about that day on numerous occasions throughout his career, becoming one of Japan's most prominent hibakusha atomic bomb survivors to share their testimony with younger generations. His firsthand accounts carried particular weight given his stature as a public figure, and he used his platform to advocate for peace.
Miwa passed away peacefully after spending several months recovering at home. His final word was reported to be "thank you," spoken quietly before he closed his eyes. A private funeral attended only by close relatives was held, with the ceremony adorned by the yellow roses he loved a fitting tribute to the performer whose golden hair had become his signature.
In 2018, Miwa was honored as an Honorary Citizen of Tokyo in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Japanese arts and culture across more than seven decades. His voice work in Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle continues to reach new audiences worldwide through streaming platforms including Netflix and Max, ensuring that his legacy endures for generations to come.
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