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The Mainichi
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Yoichi Shibuya, key figure in Japan's rock culture, dies at 74
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yoichi Shibuya, a prominent figure in Japan's rock music scene, died of aspiration pneumonia, his company said Tuesday. He was 74. Shibuya launched the magazine "Rockin'On" in 1972 to cover Western rock music, followed by "Rockin'On Japan" in 1986, which spotlighted the domestic scene. The place of his death was not disclosed, and the funeral was held privately by close relatives, the company said. He was also known for producing one of Japan's largest and most iconic outdoor music events, the Rock in Japan Festival, which began in 2000. He held multiple roles throughout his career, including radio disc jockey and editor. Shibuya, who died on July 14 while undergoing rehabilitation following a cerebral hemorrhage in 2023, published interview collections with Japanese filmmaker and comedian Takeshi Kitano and acclaimed anime director Hayao Miyazaki.
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
Yoichi Shibuya, Founder of 'Rockin'on' Magazine, Dies at 74
Tokyo, July 22 (Jiji Press)--Prominent Japanese music critic Yoichi Shibuya, who launched Western music magazine "rockin'on" more than 50 years ago, died of aspiration pneumonia at the age of 74 on July 14, the Rockin'on group said on its website Tuesday. He played a key role in popularizing rock music in Japan through his activities as critic and music event promoter. Shibuya was leader of the Rockin'on group, which oversees music event promotion and publishing. Born in Tokyo, Shibuya began his music critic career in 1971, when he was 19. The following year, he launched rockin'on, which became a long-running magazine focusing on Western rock music. In 1986, he launched "Rockin'on Japan," a sister magazine featuring Japanese rock. In 2000, he founded the Rock in Japan Festival, one of the largest music events in the country. The summer festival has been held every year except in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also a popular radio disc jockey, serving as host of programs including "Sound Street" of Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
