Moonriders' founding member Tohru Okada, who notably created the sound for the PlayStation logo, has died. He was 73.
Japanese news outlets, including Excite Japan, reported Tohru Okada's death Wednesday. It cited the confirmation from the musician's management company, saying that the iconic artist died on February 14.
The same statement revealed that Tohru Okada's cause of death was heart failure. Reports also noted that he was hospitalized in 2022 after sustaining a fracture and underwent rehabilitation for it to prepare for his scheduled performance at the Hyde Park Music Festival in Sayama, Japan, in April.
However, the band's Facebook page revealed that the performance had been canceled.
Moonriders' official Twitter account also shared a black-and-white photo of him taken by Shomei Kitagawa alongside the text, "we love you."
We love you pic.twitter.com/CyvjEj6pFJ
— moonriders_net (@moonriders_net) February 22, 2023
According to the American Heart Association, heart failure does not refer to the moment the organ stops working. Instead, it happens when a person's heart no longer pumps as well as it should be. The chronic, progressive condition leads to less supply of blood and oxygen in the body due to the organ's inability to keep up with its normal workload.
In an attempt to do its main function, it can cause enlargement, muscle mass, and faster pump to the organ.
Tohru Okada's family is yet to release an official statement regarding his passing.
Tohru Okada's Career
Born on April 23, 1949, Okada developed a love for music, that he became one of the founding members of Moonriders in 1975. He served as the band's keyboardist.
The band marked its debut with "Hinotama Boy" but was promoted under the name "Keiichi Suzuki and the Moon Riders." It then released its first album, "MOONRIDERS," in 1977.
Moonriders took a break for five years, but it soon came back with the 1991 album, "Saigo no Bonsan."
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Upon losing Okada, the band's current lineup now consists of Keiichi Suzuki, Masahiro Takekawa, Tetsuro Kashibuchi, Hirobumi Suzuki, and Ryoumei Shirai. However, the band has been on a break since 2011 to allow the members to pursue their solo careers.
The rock band notably recorded and performed the theme song for Satoshi Kon's anime film, "Tokyo Godfathers." It also created soundtracks for Nintendo games in the 1990s, including "EarthBound" and "Mother."
Okada, as a soloist, rose to fame by creating the PlayStation logo sound. The musical accompaniment is being used for over 25 years now, including in the recent "No Man's Sky" trailer.
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