Lead guitarist Mikio Fujioka of the KAMI BAND, the support band of the Japanese pop-metal idol group, BABYMETAL, has passed away at the young age of 36.
This was confirmed via BABYMETAL’s official Twitter account, quote:
The “Little” Guitar Kami of #BABYMETAL ‘s #Kamiband has passed away in the METAL GALAXIES. We hope that he is now with his GUITAR MASTER A.Holdsworth and enjoying an epic guitar session with him.
The “Little” Guitar Kami of #BABYMETAL ‘s #Kamiband has passed away in the METAL GALAXIES. We hope that he is now with his GUITAR MASTER A.Holdsworth and enjoying an epic guitar session with him.
We are the one
Together
We’re the only one
You are the one
Forever#RIP #THEONE pic.twitter.com/NMUg3mhmes— BABYMETAL (@BABYMETAL_JAPAN) January 9, 2018
Fujioka’s wife released details of Mikio-san’s passing, via his Twitter account, stating that the demise was an untimely accident resulting from a fall atop an observation deck while stargazing on December 30. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries last January 5. His wife also thanked the fans for the outpouring of support amid his passing.
訃報のお知らせ
ギタリスト藤岡幹大が平成29年12月30日に天体観測中高所から落ち療養の最中、平成30年1月5日夜容態が急変し娘2人に見守られながら享年36歳で永眠いたしました。— 藤岡幹大(仮) (@mikio158cm) January 9, 2018
ファンの皆様、関係者様、全速力で生きた彼のことを今後も愛して頂けたら幸いです。ありがとうございました。 妻
— 藤岡幹大(仮) (@mikio158cm) January 9, 2018
Fujioka was a graduate of the Musicians Institute of Osaka in 2000, and has been touring with BABYMETAL since 2013. He is alsoa music teacher and has published textbooks for the subject. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
