Miwa, born Akihiro Maruyama in Nagasaki in 1935, began his professional singing career at 16 and found early fame in Tokyo, including performances at the Ginpari cafe in Ginza, highlighted by the 1957 hit Me Que Me Que.

Beyond his stage career, Miwa authored books and appeared on television and other media as a life coach, drawing on experiences with discrimination, poverty, and a turbulent life.

As a singer-songwriter, he is best known for the ballad Yoitomake no Uta, which portrays a mother working as a day laborer and embodies themes of resilience.

Miwa contributed voice work to Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, dubbing Moro, the Wolf Goddess, expanding his influence into international animation.

He earned acclaim as an actor for the role of a female thief in Kurotokage (Black Lizard), an adaptation of a Yukio Mishima stage play.

Despite suffering a stroke in 2019, Miwa continued appearing on TV and kept writing, underscoring his enduring presence in Japanese media.

Miwa survived the Nagasaki atomic bombing at age 10, a formative experience he frequently referenced in public life.

He was widely recognized for his iconic presence as a drag queen within the Japanese entertainment industry.

Miwa Akihiro, a renowned Japanese singer and actor, died at age 91 from natural causes, with reports dated June 20, 2026.

Akihiro Miwa’s death at 91 was attributed to old age, according to his talent agency.

An editorial note clarifies that Yoitomake no Uta does not depict Miwa’s mother as a day laborer, correcting an earlier description.