May she rest in peace
Ritsuko Okazaki (1959-2004)

Singer-composer Ritsuko Okazaki died on May 5th from sepsis shock, which results from a bloodstream infection. She was only 44 years old. Ms. Okazaki was responsible for writing theme songs for many anime shows including "Love Hina," "Fruits Basket," and "UFO Princess Walkure," as well as songs for such famed voice actresses as Megumi Hayashibara, Yui Horie, and Kikuko Inoue. "Fruits Basket" theme is considered among the best anime songs ever written. As a performer, she formed the band Melocure with Megumi Hinata. Together, they did the main theme song for "Stratos 4."

In addition to writing and performing great songs, she wrote lyrics, and arranged her own songs as well. For Yui Horie's album "Rakuen," she wrote four tracks; "Clover," "A Girl in Love," "Kokoro Harete Yoru mo Harete ," and "Egao no Rensa." In "Symphonic Rain Vocal Album - Rainbow," voice actresses Hiroko Kasahara, Mai Nakahara, Masumi Asano and Fumiko Orikasa performed vocals on songs penned (both music and lyrics) by Okazaki. Her new album was slated for June 23 release. At this time, its release has been postponed with no new release date given. It was to include her own interpretation of "Rainbow," and two additional new songs. Hopefully, the album will be completed by her production crew and be released sometime in the near future so that her literal swan song could be heard by all those who had admired her talent.

Ritsuko Okazaki Album


	Okusama Wa Maho Shojo Main Theme Animation Release: 2005/07/27 | CD	within 2-4 weeks 1200yen
	Love & Life - private works 1999-2001 Ritsuko Okazaki Release: 2005/05/05 | CD	within 3-5 days 2913yen


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