Voice Actress, Singer Sayaka Kanda Dies at 35

by DatRandomDude
Dec 18, 2021 1:45 PM | 50 Comments

Voice actress and singer Sayaka Kanda, known for playing Yuna in Sword Art Online Movie: Ordinal Scale and Mana Nagase in Idoly Pride, died on Saturday. She was 35 years old.

According to news outlet Mainichi Shimbun, Kanda was found collapsed in the outer garden of the 14th floor of a Sapporo hotel at around 1:00 p.m. She was taken to the hospital unconscious and pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. The Hokkaido Prefectural Police are investigating the incident.

Kanda was scheduled to star in the My Fair Lady musical in Sapporo on Saturday. When the staff could not reach her by 11:00 a.m., she was replaced by co-star Manato Asaka. Upon receiving a report from a concerned individual, the Hokkaido Prefectural Police from the Sapporo Central station searched the nearby accommodations and discovered her body.

Kanda was born in Setagaya, Tokyo prefecture in 1986. Her parents were J-pop singer Seiko Matsuda and actor Masaki Kanda. She began her career as a singer in 2002 with the single ever since and as an actress in 2003 with the movie Dragon Head.

She began voice acting as Nadeshiko Adenokouji in Binbougami ga! (Good Luck Girl!) and played characters including Miharu Mashiki in Konbini Kareshi (Convenience Store Boy Friends) and Anna in the Japanese dub of Frozen.

She was the vocalist of the musical duo TRUSTRICK, which formed in April 2014 and performed anime theme songs for Juuou Mujin no Fafnir (Unlimited Fafnir), Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!), Shounen Maid, and Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Mirai-hen (Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Future Arc). The duo went on indefinite hiatus in November 2016 and officially disbanded in April 2019.

Kanda also performed one of the ending themes of Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2202: Ai no Senshi-tachi (Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2202) and insert songs for Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale, Sword Art Online: Alicization, and Idoly Pride.

Kanda announced her marriage to actor and fashion model Mitsu Murata in 2017, who co-starred in the Danganronpa stage play the Summer prior. The couple divorced in 2019.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun, Sports Hochi

Seiyuu Life Event

20 of 50 Comments Recent Comments

Was it a car wreck?

I loved Yuna's cameo in Sword Art Underworld

Jun 20, 2022 2:47 PM by CarbonMD

She's hopefully in a better place now.

Dec 24, 2021 7:18 AM by Ahegyao

Kuma said:

HikarieChan said:

Alright thanks , I had some doubts if it's suicide

the police has confirmed it suicide. the motive was health and romantical issue based on 2 suicide note she left behind.

https://bunshun.jp/denshiban/articles/b2158

Alright , thanks for the update , and sad to hear that

Dec 23, 2021 5:12 PM by HikarieChan

HikarieChan said:

Kuma said:

she fell from her room in 20th floor to garden in balcony of 14th floor. staff call police when she didn't arrive with scheduled event. later police found her unconscious in the locked balcony after witness hear sound there. she died few hours later in the hospital. that's all we currently know. police lead investigator say they ruled out accident and looking for "possibly attempted suicide".
_______________

RIP, she was also solely daughter of famous actor/actress family too. very sad to hear.

Alright thanks , I had some doubts if it's suicide

the police has confirmed it suicide. the motive was health and romantical issue based on 2 suicide note she left behind.

https://bunshun.jp/denshiban/articles/b2158

Dec 23, 2021 3:54 PM by Kuma

This is so fucking unfortunate man....Wow.

Can just wish for her soul to rest in peace.

Dec 23, 2021 7:53 AM by Cravenowl

Regardless if you knew her before or not, a young soul losing her life in these circumstances will have an impact on you.

RIP and condolences to her friends and family.

If this happened because someone wanted to hurt her, I hope they catch whoever did it asap.

Dec 20, 2021 8:50 AM by CataOrShane

I've never heard of her, but her mother, Seiko Matsuda, is really famous, and I even own her "North Wind" LP. It's really sad that she lost her daughter like this. If it was suicide, who knows what struggles and depression she must've been going through.

Dec 19, 2021 4:18 PM by _-_Sally_-_

I heard Song For You before sleep and when I wake up, received this very sad news... Unbelievable and so much suddenly.

Dec 19, 2021 3:15 PM by NogueraB

Idoly Pride staff posted a message on twitter, expressing their condolences and sorrow for losing her.
https://twitter.com/idolypride/status/1472358136766148608

Dec 19, 2021 2:27 PM by DreamingBeats

Kuma said:

deg said:
RIP i hope its not overwork related death aka karoshi again

HikarieChan said:
Rip, any details on how she died?

Alright thanks , I had some doubts if it's suicide

Dec 19, 2021 12:55 PM by HikarieChan

Damn she was still so young. how tragic rip

Dec 19, 2021 8:03 AM by Junelovesanime

Thank you for making the anime world a beautiful place. Rest In Peace.

Dec 19, 2021 5:39 AM by X_A_N_A

Rest in Peace.

She's really a great singer.
I can't believe i woke up in the morning today and heard this sad news :'(
My favorite role from her is Yuna from SAO: Ordinal Scale and Mana from Idoly Pride.

Your beautiful voice will always be remembered forever in my heart.

Dec 19, 2021 4:53 AM by KENN_7

Rest In Peace... :'(

We will miss you..

Dec 19, 2021 4:08 AM by Marie_Rose

Rest In Peace... :'(

I will miss your beautiful voice.

Dec 19, 2021 4:03 AM by Mira_Suou

Rest in Peace... :(

Dec 19, 2021 1:03 AM by Pre_Yum

deg said:
RIP i hope its not overwork related death aka karoshi again

HikarieChan said:
Rip, any details on how she died?

Dec 19, 2021 12:29 AM by Kuma

Damn... Why Japan is full of mentally illed famous actors?
My condolences to her family.

Dec 19, 2021 12:28 AM by Mysticus92

RIP Sayaka.
Taken from us at so young of an age.

Coincidently i was re watching SAO Ordinal Scale where she had a major supporting role and was hoping to see her again in roles next year. But to think that Yuna was the last role she would play to me though.

Though I only seen her in a few roles her vocal range was amazing as was her singing ability as demonstrated in Ordinal Scale. The seiyuu industry has truly lost one of their finest today.

Dec 18, 2021 11:55 PM by Shingster

May you rest in peace, Sayaka Kanda. I didn't think that you would die, I was waiting for you to play your voice in one of the characters, I just watched two anime which in anime has your voice, I really didn't think you would die at the age of 35

RIP

Dec 18, 2021 11:16 PM by Muhfar

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