It is with great sadness that we wish this legend a peaceful rest.
Earlier today, news outlets reported that actor and singer Hideki Saijo passed away. He was 63. Saijo passed away on May 16, at 11:30PM, due to heart failure.
A service is planned for May 26, at Tokyo’s Aoyama Funeral Home.
Hideki Saijo made his musical début in 1972, with album Koisurukisetsu. He quickly gained fame in 1978, when he released a Japanese-language cover of The Village People’s Y.M.C.A. titled Young Man. Other hits followed, including Kizudarake no Laura and a Japanese-language cover of Enrique Iglesias’ Bailamos. At his peak, Saijo shared the title of “Shin Gosanke” (“New Select Three”) with Hiromi Gou and Gorō Noguchi.
Saijo released 87 singles across his entire career, with final song Shinkiro hitting stores in 2015.
In 2003, at around the release window for Sodai Gomi Jyane, Saijo suffered a stroke when performing in Korea. He successfully recuperated, after which he released single Meguriai in 2006. In 2013, he suffered a second stroke.
In the anime world, Saijo performed two anime theme songs:
- Chibi Maruko-chan‘s second ending theme song Hashire Shōjiki Mono
- Turn-A-Gundam‘s first theme song Turn A Turn
The artist also held four anime roles through his career:
- Baby Baachan: HIDEKI
- Botchan: Botchan
- Kuroi Ame ni Utarete: Junji
- Sugata Sanshiro: Sanshiro Sugata
Source: Nikkei
