entertainment

Singer Sayaka Kanda dies after fall from Sapporo hotel room

26 Comments

Singer-actress Sayaka Kanda has died after falling out of a hotel window in Sapporo on Saturday.

Kanda, 35, who was the only child of actor Masaki Kanda and pop singer Seiko Matsuda, was found on the balcony outside a 14th-floor room at around 1 p.m., Fuji TV reported. Police said it appeared she had fallen or jumped out of the window of her room on the top floor of the 22-floor hotel in Chuo Ward.

Kanda was rushed to hospital where she died at around 9:40 p.m.

Kanda made her debut as a singer in 2001. In 2014, she also provided the voice for the character Anna in the Japanese dubbed version of the hit animated film “Frozen.”

Kanda married actor Mitsu Murata in 2017 but they divorced in 2019.

She was in Sapporo, appearing as Eliza Doolittle in the stage musical “My Fair Lady." She attended the rehearsal on Friday but didn't show up for the noon performance on Saturday.

If you or someone you know is in Japan and having suicidal thoughts, there are people who can help. Click here for more info.

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26 Comments
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This is tragic. What are impressionable younger people to think?

16 ( +17 / -1 )

It must be pure hell to lose your only child.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

There are people in this world whose lives are pure misery and hell but they do all they can to survive, but then you have these people who feel having everything they want is not enough and chose to commit suicide. I hope that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, she will find a true meaning of what life is and how precious it is...

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

This is the cost of a culture where being perfect is important.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

I was glad to see a short message following these news in the TV about how the cause of death is still undecided but giving help numbers for people struggling with their lives.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

Tragic, many people just can't handle fame or the attention especially in Japan.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Poor thing. I feel so sorry for her.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

We think they have everything. They think they have nothing.

Both are wrong.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

*If you or someone you know is in Japan and having suicidal thoughts, there are people who can help. Click here for more info.*

First time noticing this. That’s cool.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Very sad news!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Her father’s birthday is the 21st of this month. What a terrible event.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

It must be pure hell to lose your only child.

It's pure hell to lose ANY child, just the worst. Very sad news.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Tragic, whatever the circumstances.

She was very good at her job, as was her mother.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

OMG. I'm shocked and speeches. I met her 6 years ago. She's elegant and kawaii for her age. Never ever I would imagine she has any difficult issues in her life.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

RIP Sayaka.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

FizzBitDec. 19  09:53 pm JST

If you or someone you know is in Japan and having suicidal thoughts, there are people who can help. **Click here** for more info.

First time noticing this. That’s cool.

'Cool'? This is serious business. Many people live their whole lives trying to please others and wanting to do good and 'do right' but feel that it still ain't enough. The pressure is on for bigger better faster more more more. For many people they feel their best is never good enough.

nandakandamandaDec. 19  08:01 pm JST

Poor thing. I feel so sorry for her.

I do too. She certainly needed some help in her life and unfortunately didn't get it. And these indifferent people just don't 'get the picture'. They think they know the answers for everyone. They are wrong.

We think they have everything. They think they have nothing.

Both are wrong.

And the worse part of it is, they feel that nobody can understand them esp. if others haven't been in their shoes. And there's the ever-judging self-appointed moralists who just say these people are just weak, losers, druggies, drunks, irresponsible and just trash. And these indifferent haughty attitudes make me angry.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

It must be pure hell to lose your only child.

Yes, but they were not on good terms. One has to wonder if she needed more support from her mother/family.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am so sad to hear this news. I hope Seiko will be strong. My sympathies.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So very sad, RIP.

Mental health issues are nothing to take lightly.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

May you “Rest In Peace”, Sayaka Kanda. - Many were very proud watching You sing live in front of the national audience and those Japanese living abroad during the 2014 Kohaku Uta Gassen. Was looking forward to one day seeing you sing as live as Eliza Doolittle. “Condolences” offered to her grieving parents, friends, fellow cast-members & fans around the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

For those who want to see her before some will seek to enforce copyright and only to profit from her memory and image, here is a short video from abroad: - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2dua5w -

She sings the first 1:15, then a short medley with Idina Menzel, and then finally, the Big “ishouni taimu” ‘sing along’ with the Red & White teams at the 6:20 mark, near the end of this 7min Video. The camera tuns toward Mom, Seiko Matsuda, a few times.

The whole thing seems poignant yet so very tragic now given her saddening choice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is very tragic on many levels. Sad to lose a very talented young lady. My prayers to her and her family.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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