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2nd Chibi Maruko-chan Theme Song's Composer Eiichi Ōhtaki Passes Away

Musician Eiichi Ōhtaki passed away on Monday at the age of 65. At about 7:00 a.m., he was brought to a hospital by ambulance from his Tokyo home, but he succumbed to illness on the way. According to the doctors who treated him, he passed away due to an aortic dissection. He was with his family at the time of his passing.

Ōhtaki was born in Ōshū City, Iwate (formerly Yanagawa village) in 1948. After he entered Waseda University in 1968 and met musician Haruomi Hosono, he made his debut in 1970 with the single “Happy End.” Apart from starting his own record label called Niagra, he performed several more hit singles including 1981's "Kimi wa Tennenshoku." This single's album, A Long Vacation, also became a hit and received the Best Album Prize in the 23rd Japan Record Awards. He wrote and produced the song “Ureshii Yokan” (Good Feeling), the song that Marina Watanabe performed as the first opening theme for the second Chibi Maruko-chan television anime.

Source: Sponichi Annex via Hachima Kikō