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Puss 'n Boots Singer/Voice Actor Susumu Ishikawa Passes Away

Singer and actor Susumu Ishikawa passed away on Tuesday after succumbing to stomach cancer and emphysema. He was 79. Ishikawa, who was known by his nickname "Kyūpii-chan" since the late 1950s, had continued performing until very recently. However, he was repeatedly hospitalized over the last year and a half due to his failing health.

Ishikawa was born in Tochigi Prefecture, and after graduating from the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences in 1958, he joined Danny Iida's chorus group. Along with fellow singer Kyū Sakamoto ("Sukiyaki"), Ishikawa became popular with such hit songs as "Bikini Style no Ojō-san." The two vocalists later co-hosted the My My Show variety program.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Ishikawa expanded his repertoire with forays into comedy, acting, and voice-acting. He made his anime singing debut in 1965 when he performed the theme for Fujiko Fujio's Obake no Q-Taro. He won a Japan Record Award for the song and sang the theme for another Fujio television anime, Umeboshi Denka.

Ishikawa then voice-acted as the titular character in Toei's 1969 film Puss 'n Boots and performed the film's opening theme. (To this day, Toei Animation still uses Puss 'n Boots as its company logo.) He also sang the opening and ending themes for the anime television series Dokonjo Gaeru.

Ishikawa's services will be held on Friday and Saturday in Tokyo.

Source: Yomiuri Sports Hochi