Sakurai Takamasa-san, someone whom we at AFACHAN had the chance of meeting and work with, has suddenly passed away this morning in an accident, with confirmation from his colleagues in Japan.
He was to be contributing a monthly column that would have provided us with more insights into the Japanese Entertainment Industry. In fact he was editing our translations just yesterday, combined with the fact that the last meeting with was at the Anime Festival Asia 2015 in Singapore last weekend. Only makes the news more shocking, sad and disorienting.
For those who don’t know Sakurai-san, he is a Producer, a Specially appointed professor of Hollywood Digital University, and the Executive Director of International Otaku Expo Association. He is currently on a mission of cultural diplomacy travelling through 27 countries and 150 cities around the world. And has served in various conference committees such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only last weekend, he was in Singapore’s AFA15 to explain why Japanese Idols are so popular, and it’s history, ending to the rousing applause of the audiences.
There he announced his collaboration with AFACHAN, and you can imagine how proud we were at that very moment.
To us, he is a passionate character, travelling the world with his willingness to share his knowledge on the inner happenings of Japan Pop-culture with everyone. It is no doubt that he will be missed, not only by us but also the many industry participants and fans.
May he rest in peace.
Tributes by artiste,
いつか一緒に海外のイベントに行きましょうとお話もしていました。櫻井さんに繋げていただいたものが多くて、まだ心の整理がついておりませんが..。ただただ、感謝の気持ちをお送りしたいです。櫻井孝昌さん、本当にありがとうございました。ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
— 黒崎真音@MysticalFlowers (@kurosakimaon) December 4, 2015
不明瞭なツイート申し訳ありません。今日未明、櫻井孝昌さんが事故で亡くなられました。文化外交、ロシア、ロリータ、ハロプロ、あらゆる面において私にとっての師匠です。落ち着いたら、ちゃんと言葉にします。 — 上坂すみれ (@Uesakasumire) December 4, 2015
上坂すみれちゃんとのインタビューや、共演、そして一緒に歌わせてくれたのも櫻井さんだった。 うーさーの水島監督を紹介してくれたのも櫻井さんだった。 人との繋がりを大切にいつも話を聞いてくれて背中を押してくれる。感謝しても仕切れない。 pic.twitter.com/8ETxc4w7XF
— Yun*chi Pixie Dust* (@_Yun_chi_) December 4, 2015
いまご連絡をいただきまして確認しました。櫻井さん…! @sakuraitakamasa ポップカルチャー研究家の桜井孝昌さん死亡 酒に酔ってJR西日暮里駅のホームから転落 「世界カワイイ革命」などの著書 – 産経ニュース https://t.co/K6Dr8RIDva — よっぴー (@yoshidahisanori) December 4, 2015
ご遺族の皆様、御愁傷様です。 20歳なったら仲間集めて飲みに行こうねってお話をしてたばっかだったのに 短い間でしたが、私と色んな話をしてくれてありがとうございました。 https://t.co/9Y0vfdFE91
— MICHI (ミチ) (@Michi_Stbe) December 4, 2015
IOEA Executive Office director Takamasa Sakurai passed away on Dec.4th. A friend & global promoter of Jpn pop culture, we will miss him.
— IOEA Official (@IOEAOfficial) December 4, 2015
sob i saw him sb sob i will miss him
Very Sad . Rest in Peace and i will miss him
Ohno! :'( It’s so sudden! RIP!
Ohno! :'( It’s so sudden! RIP!
Ohno! :'( It’s so sudden! RIP!
Shocked !
Shocked !
Shocked !
Alvis Lim
It’s just nearly a week.
🙁
Alvis Lim
It’s just nearly a week.
🙁
Alvis Lim
It’s just nearly a week.
🙁
Please r.i.p
Please r.i.p
Please r.i.p
RIP
RIP
RIP
RIP
RIP