Hirata Runa, a Japanese child pop star, died just days after performing a concert, apparently from flu-related complications.
Hirata, an 8-year-old trainee member of the Japanese girl group Dianna, “passed away peacefully” around 4am on Sept 25, her family said in a statement shared on X.
Her talent agency confirmed the young singer died of myocarditis caused by influenza. According to Mayo Clinic, myocarditis is the “inflammation of the heart muscle,” which can “reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood” and trigger additional symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath and rapid or irregular heartbeat.
“The wake and funeral were held privately with only close family members present, in accordance with the wishes of the bereaved family,” the Dianna Project wrote in a statement translated from Japanese.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to all the fans who supported Hirata Runa and to all those involved who provided assistance,” it continued.
“We kindly request that you refrain from making individual inquiries, interviews, or asking questions on social media regarding this matter, out of respect for the feelings of the bereaved family.”
Hirata’s death came less than a week after her final performance in Nagoya on Sept 20, according to Chinese outlet The Standard. After her show, she took to X to share her gratitude with her fans.
“Thank you for today, I appreciate it,” she wrote in the post, which also included a photo of her smiling. “It was so much fun.” - New York Daily News/TNS
