Akihiro Miwa, the celebrated Japanese singer, actor, and drag queen who lent his distinctive voice to Studio Ghibli's "Princess Mononoke" and "Howl's Moving Castle," has died at the age of 91. Japanese news outlets, including Mainichi, confirmed Miwa's passing on June 20. He was widely recognized for his portrayal of the wolf goddess Moro in "Princess Mononoke" and the Witch of the Waste in "Howl's Moving Castle."

Miwa's career spanned over seven decades, establishing him as a household name in Japan. He began his career in the 1950s as a cabaret singer specializing in French chanson and was one of the country's earliest openly gay public figures. His musical achievements include the hit song "Yoitomake no Uta" from 1964. Beyond music, Miwa also took on lead female roles in films, notably starring as the titular femme fatale thief in Kinji Fukasaku's 1968 film "Black Lizard."

A survivor of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb, Miwa was a vocal pacifist and a critic of efforts to revise Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, which renounces war. His other voice acting credits include Arceus in the 2009 film "Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life."

Miwa was a frequent presence on Japanese television and radio, including the spiritual talk show "Aura no Izumi" from 2005 to 2010. He continued to perform and make television appearances until 2019, when a stroke led to his retirement from regular performances, though he maintained a Sunday radio spot until March 2020 and made occasional TV appearances thereafter. A final message from Miwa shared by NTV emphasized the power of love, stating, "In this world, the only weapon we have for survival is words of love. The key to solving all of the world’s problems is love. If we have love, then there would be no war."

Colleagues and collaborators paid tribute to Miwa's enduring influence. Veteran voice actor Megumi Ogata, known for her roles in "Sailor Moon" and "Neon Genesis Evangelion," shared on X that Miwa's encouraging words had often provided her with strength. Fumi Hirano, who voiced Lum in "Urusei Yatsura," recalled Miwa's praise for her work, which she has carried with her throughout her career. She also shared a clip of Miwa's distinctive laugh prompting a reaction from director Hayao Miyazaki.

Hideo Kojima, creator of the "Metal Gear Solid" and "Death Stranding" series, expressed his remembrance of Miwa, noting that his passing had prompted thoughts of revisiting films like "Black Lizard" and its sequel, "Black Rose Mansion."