Tears flowed endlessly, stunned by the sudden news of his passing

On October 13th, I waslast year's anniversary livein Nagoya to perform as a guest at the 40th-anniversary concert of Sentimental City Romance, the band I worked with. The news of the passing of my deeply respected Mr. Takashi Yanase reached me on my way back from Nagoya, as I stepped off the Shinkansen and into a car.

Mr. Yanase passed away late at night and is now resting at Yanase Studio, his home.──. My hands trembled as I held my phone, repeating "No way?" over and over. After finishing my work back in Tokyo, I went straight to Yanase Studio that night. In the usual interview room, surrounded by countless characters, lay Mr. Yanase's coffin.

His face truly looked as if he were asleep, just like the "Yanase Rabbit" from the Anpanman anime. He seemed about to wake up, saying, "Ah, I slept well." He wore glasses, and his hat and jacket were made from original fabric designed with his silhouette. It was a stylish presentation, befitting Mr. Yanase.

The studio staff and a few close associates gradually told me what had happened. Mr. Yanase had been hospitalized since late August. As with his previous hospitalizations, he had not informed anyone. Since I had no idea he was hospitalized, the news was a complete shock. I was utterly stunned. He had been working a lot even in the hospital. He passed away late at night, having spent the previous evening quite normally in his hospital room. That day, my tears flowed until my cheeks ached.

A Final Farewell: "Thank you for so much love and courage."

The next day was Monday, the regular recording day for Anpanman. The phone call that informed me of Mr. Yanase's passing also requested that the news be kept confidential until the private funeral on the 15th. It was a difficult time, knowing the truth while remaining silent. The B-title of the 1200th episode recorded that day, "Gaitou-san and the Promised Light," felt unusually poignant.

After recording, Ryusei Nakao, who plays Baikimman, approached me, asking, "What's wrong? Are you okay? Your face is completely pale." I suppressed the urge to cry and share my feelings, replying, "Yeah, I'm just a little sleep-deprived"... I wonder if he believed me. I truly wanted to share my feelings with him right away.

After finishing work, I went to Mr. Yanase's home again that night. Since I knew I couldn't attend the private funeral the next day due to work, this was my last farewell. Tears continued to flow, and I gazed at Mr. Yanase's face for a long time. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Yanase. Thank you for so much love and courage."──The flowers I brought were placed in his coffin by everyone the next day. Right on his chest.

A precious guiding light that must never be lost

After the private funeral, a statement was released to the press: "We have lost a precious guiding light that must never be lost. We are simply heartbroken."──Due to the circumstances, I had issued a comment the previous evening. A certain newspaper wrote something like, "Keiko Todainherits his will," but I kept asking myself, "What?! I never said anything like that, and can someone like me possibly inherit his will?!"

I received condolences from many close friends, and emails from my fellow Anpanman voice actors. "You knew, didn't you? It must have been hard to keep silent," said members I had been with the day before yesterday.

On the day of the first memorial service, I was in Kumamoto for a lecture. As I disembarked the plane, a flight attendant with a sorrowful expression touched my hand and offered words of encouragement, "Please do your best." Usually, they would say, "I always watch your work, please keep up the good work!" but this time, she was undoubtedly speaking about Mr. Yanase. I was deeply touched by her warmth. I was also very grateful for the messages of condolence and support I received on my blog.

The next day, I went to the studio to see the now-diminished Mr. Yanase. As it was the first memorial service, a day late, we had a meal with the close staff. While we were talking about Mr. Yanase, K, who had been taking care of him, mentioned that Mr. Yanase had been looking through the latest issue of "Fujin Kouron," featuring me on the cover, with a magnifying glass. I remembered him saying before, "I saw it!" He had also written in a newspaper comment that I was getting more beautiful.

Would Mr. Yanase's monthly words, posted at the Anpanman Shop, disappear from next month onwards? A sudden silence fell upon the room. But then, the idea of publishing some of Mr. Yanase's poems came up, and everyone seemed to be trying to look forward, agreeing, "Yes, that's a great idea!"

My last memory: the stylish and cool Mr. Yanase

This past April,the "New Kobe Anpanman Museum" opening eventwas the last time I was with him.

At that time, Mr. Yanase unveiled a jacket made from his original print fabric for the first time. Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the museum, he suggested, "Let's leave the cane behind!" So I replied, "Understood! Let's link arms as I escort you!" and we cheerfully strode onto the stage together. Since Mr. Yanase couldn't hear the MC's cue for the ribbon cutting, I signaled him with my hand, "Tap, tap." He even sang and danced along until the end in the museum's theater. His choreography was perfect! It was deeply moving.

I believe he left his cane behind because he wanted to make a stylish impression.
And in that moment, I truly thought he was incredibly cool.

We took the same Shinkansen on the way back. Looking back now, Mr. Yanase on that train was the last time I saw him.
It's only been half a year since then. I wanted to see him just one more time, and then one more time. The memories are endless.

Aiming for the great umbrella of Mr. Yanase

On October 21st (Monday), the regular Anpanman recording began with a moment of silence. As soon as Nakao-san saw me, he hugged me, and I cried again. As Rei Sakuma was leaving, she told me, "Please make sure to eat properly!" and the staff encouraged us to keep moving forward.

However, around that time, I was vaguely thinking, "Maybe I should quit Anpanman..." It wasn't that I didn't want to do it. I suddenly felt anxious, thinking that I had come this far because of Mr. Yanase's support. Could I really continue? Did I have the confidence? Did I have the resolve? I kept asking myself these questions. When I confided in a close female staff member, she replied that we would all support each other and move forward.

I truly realized I had been under such a large umbrella... Of course, I had always worked hard, but I was surprised by the immense sense of loss, as if I had lost my home.

Days passed as I continued to work on Anpanman diligently. Thirty-five days passed, then forty-nine. Each time, I went to Yanase Studio and talked with everyone in front of Mr. Yanase, I came to understand his greatness even more, and I felt that I, and indeed all of us voice actors, were now approaching our roles as Anpanman characters with an even stronger sense of mission.

Everyone is continuing their work with quiet determination. And surely, they will continue to do so. While we may not be able to hold as large an umbrella as Mr. Yanase did, we are connecting our individual small umbrellas, overlapping them, trying to approach the size of his. This Anpanman team, both cast and staff, are true professionals, a family, and a treasure.

"Life is about making others happy. The next moment is... light."

In April 2011, a "pre-mortem tribute issue" featuring Mr. Yanase's unique humor was scheduled for release, and I wrote a eulogy, even though I knew it was a joke, and cried. But then, on March 11th,the Great East Japan Earthquakeoccurred, and the project was postponed. Mr. Yanase declared, "I can't die now!" and energetically resumed his activities, particularly showing great concern for the children in the disaster-stricken areas.

Even now, when I go to Yanase Studio, I feel as if Mr. Yanase might appear. I can't believe that he is no longer in this world. But it seems he has swiftly turned his cape and gone on patrol in heaven.

"Life is about making others happy. The next moment is... light."
These are Mr. Yanase's teachings. Do things that make people happy, and there will always be light.

Everyone, please have a wonderful New Year.