Exploring Sayuri’s Impact on Anime: From Erased to My Hero Academia and Beyond

On Friday, September 27, 2024, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Sayuri, celebrated for her theme song contributions to popular titles like My Hero Academia, Erased, and other anime series, confirmed her passing. Sayuri died on Friday, September 20, at the young age of 28. Her family and close friends held a private funeral. Musician Amaarashi, her husband, announced on his X account that she had been battling a chronic illness.

Her untimely death is a tremendous loss that has deeply affected the anime community and its various fandoms, given the shocking nature of this news. Many people are now reflecting on Sayuri’s life, particularly her impact as a singer-songwriter within the anime industry.

Sayuri’s Journey as an Artist and Her Contributions to My Hero Academia and Other Anime

Sayuri’s artistic journey began in her teenage years. She was an active participant in her hometown Fukuoka’s local music scene, primarily as a singer-guitarist. Eventually, she formed the musical duo LONGTAL. Performing in small local venues and public spaces, her first major solo debut was at 19 years old with the single “Mikazuki.”

Released in August 2016, “Mikazuki” also served as the ending theme song for the anime series Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace. Following this, Sayuri embarked on a successful music career, delivering numerous opening and ending theme songs for anime.

Some of her most notable contributions to the anime world include “Hana no To” (Tower of Flower) for the 2022 series Lycoris Recoil, “Heikosen” (Parallel Lines) from 2017’s Scum’s Wish, “Sore wa Chiisa na Hikari no yo na” (That was Like a Small Light) from 2016’s ERASED, and “Kokai no Uta” (Song of Regret) from the fourth season of My Hero Academia in 2019. Additional works include:

“Reimei” (Dawn) for Golden Kamuy season 2 in 2018
“Tsuki to Hanataba” (Moon and Bouquet) for Fate/Extra Last Encore in 2018
“Sekai no Himitsu” (World Secret) for EDENS ZERO in 2021
“Aoibashi” for Sing “Yesterday” For Me in 2022

As of the time of this article, these are her known contributions to anime theme songs. While it’s possible that future posthumous releases may emerge, this information remains unconfirmed and speculative.

Sayuri’s Achievements Beyond the Anime Sphere

While her noteworthy contributions to My Hero Academia and various anime series are how many fans recognize her, Sayuri also had a flourishing career outside of the anime medium. She released two albums, with her debut album Mikazuki no Koukai (Crescent Moon Voyage) launched in May 2017, followed by Sanketsu Shojo (Hypoxia Girl) in August 2022. Each album peaked at 3 and 4, and 13 and 8, respectively, on the Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums.

In June 2020, she released a hikigatari album, featuring her singing alongside her guitar, titled Me, which reached 3 and 2 on the Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums, respectively. Additionally, Sayuri had released standalone singles, such as “Ru-Rararu-Ra-Rurararu-Ra-” and “Furaregai Girl” in 2016, along with “Koukai no Uta” in 2018.

Sayuri’s influence in both the Japanese music industry and specifically within the anime realm was profound. She leaves behind a devoted fanbase in both communities, who are collectively mourning her loss and celebrating her legacy across social media platforms and beyond.

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