Departures of note

Tsunaki Mihara was a guitarist and vocalist active in Japan's 1960s group-sounds boom as a key member of Jacky Yoshikawa and Blue Comets, where his popularity rivaled that of bandmate Tadao Inoue. Born in Tokyo, he took up classical guitar in elementary school and played in a jazz band during high school before joining the Blue Comets.

After leaving the band, Mihara backed Hiromi Go as part of his backup band and led his own big band, Tsunaki Mihara and The New Breed. He also served as conductor and arranger at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's annual New Year's music broadcast, extending his reputation beyond the group-sounds era.

He died of kidney cancer on September 11, 2026, at the age of 80.