News: Totoro theme song singer Azumi Inoue cancels concert after undergoing surgery for cerebral hemorrhage

The official website for singer Azumi Inoue announced on Saturday that her 40th anniversary concert, which was scheduled to take place at Tokyo’s Nakano Zero Hall that day, has been canceled. Kōsuke Imao, her husband and the representative of her agency DoReMi, explained that during a rehearsal, Inoue experienced a headache and subsequently fainted. She was immediately taken to an emergency room, where she received a diagnosis of a cerebral hemorrhage and underwent surgery.

Later, Inoue’s website posted an update stating that the surgery was successful and that she will undergo further observations and rehabilitation. DoReMi expressed gratitude to the concert staff, emergency medical and ambulance teams, and the fans who sent messages of support. The agency will provide updates on Inoue’s well-being as they become available.

Inoue was born in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and made her professional debut in 1983. She is widely known for her contribution of the ending theme song “Kimi o Nosete” (Carrying You) to Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli‘s 1986 film Laputa: Castle in the Sky, as well as the title theme song and other songs for their 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro. Additionally, she provided image songs for Miyazaki and Ghibli’s 1989 film Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Inoue has also performed theme songs for the Guyver: Out of Control, Yadamon, and Before Green Gables anime. Her daughter Yuyu made her professional singing debut in 2012 and has released five singles and two albums.

Source: Oricon