Boom Boom Satellites’ Kawashima Dies

Michiyuki Kawashima, guitarist and singer of the Japanese electro-rock band Boom Boom Satellites, died Oct. 9 after years of battling brain tumors. He was 47 years old.

Photo: By May Young from Metro Gotham, United States

The same day, Kawashima’s partner in the band, bassist Masayuki Nakano, released a statement that read, “Kawashima set off on the next stage of his journey. I imagine he is soaring around the world, finally freed from the restrictions of his body. His passing is not a tragedy, but the achievement of a lifetime goal and a happy ending.”

Kawashima is survived by his wife, actress Risa Sudo, and their two children. Since 2012, Kawashima had suffered off and on from partial paralysis due to his condition. His brain tumors relapsed four times, the last one in August of 2015.

However, the band continued to produce music and perform until June of this year. Unlike many Japanese bands, Boom Boom Satellites were more popular overseas than in their native land. They debuted in Japan in 1990 and in Europe in 1997, releasing nine albums in all.