TOKYO - Japanese singer and actor Akihiro Miwa, known for his iconic presence as a drag queen in the Japanese entertainment industry, has died of old age, his talent agency said Sunday. He was 91.
A native of Nagasaki, Miwa, whose real name is Akihiro Maruyama, first rose to popularity as a chanson singer at a club in Tokyo.
As an actor, he earned high acclaim for his role as a female thief in "Kurotokage" (Black Lizard), renowned author Yukio Mishima's stage play adaptation of a Japanese mystery novel.
He is also known for providing the voice for one of the characters in Studio Ghibli's hit animation movie "Princess Mononoke."
Related coverage:
