In a heartbreaking revelation, Michio Mamiya, the legendary composer known for his moving soundtrack in the iconic Studio Ghibli film "Grave of the Fireflies", passed away last year on December 11, 2024. 

The 95-year-old Japanese maestro succumbed to pneumonia. While his death was initially reported by The Asahi Shimbun in December, it has only now reached a global audience following the tribute to Mamiya at the 2025 Annie Awards.

Mamiya's family organised a vigil on December 17, followed by a funeral on December 18, according to Anime News Network.

Although his passing was reported months ago, it gained worldwide attention after the "Grave of the Fireflies" composer was remembered during the "In Memoriam" segment of the 2025 Annie Awards on February 8, 2025. The annual ceremony paid tribute to several other notable figures from Japan's anime industry who passed away in 2024.

In addition to Mamiya, the awards also honoured Japanese director and manga creator Yoji Kuri, beloved voice actors Taiki Matsuno ("One Piece", "Inuyasha", "Spongebob Squarepants"), Toshiyuki Nishida ("A Letter to Momo"), Noriko Ohara ("Doraemon"), and Emi Shinohara ("Sailor Moon"). Other industry icons remembered were illustrator Mutsumi Inomata, artist Keiichi Tanaami, and "Dragon Ball" manga creator Akira Toriyama.

While Michio Mamiya is best remembered for his haunting score in "Grave of the Fireflies", his collaboration with Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata was a defining element of his career. He also composed the soundtracks for other films like "Gauche the Cellist", "Horus: Prince of the Sun", and "Tenguri: The Boy of the Plains".

Born in Hokkaido, Mamiya studied music at the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), where he was mentored by classical composer Tomojiro Ikenouchi. He went on to have a prolific career, contributing immensely to both anime and classical music.

Mamiya co-founded the composer group Yagi no Kai alongside fellow composers Yuzo Toyama and Hikaru Hayashi. Their piece "Composition for Chorus No 1" won the Mainichi Music Award in 1958. Mamiya's opera, composed in 1974, also won the grand prize at the Salzburg Opera Festival, cementing his legacy as a versatile and talented composer.