J-Pop Star Dies Days After Final Performance

Hirata Runa, an eight-year-old J-Pop performer known as Luna-chan, died on Friday, five days after her last stage appearance. Her agency announced that her death was due to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which was linked to influenza.

Runa, who was in the third year of primary school, was a trainee with the girl-group scheme DIANNA Project in Nagoya, Japan. She performed at the group's Regular Live Vol.70 concert on September 20. Following the event, she posted a message thanking fans, stating, "It was so much fun. I hope the people in part three have fun too."

Her agency confirmed her passing, stating, "Nagoya trainee Hirata Runa has passed away due to myocarditis resulting from influenza." Further medical details have not been released.

The agency also stated that Runa's wake and funeral were held privately with close relatives attending, and requested that the public refrain from private inquiries or social media speculation. Runa's family shared a message through her official account, noting that a third of her life was spent as an idol and expressing that "Runa loved everyone." They asked that she be remembered as an "eternal idol."

Fellow trainee Miyata Ryoka expressed her grief, stating she was "at a loss for words" and would be pausing her social media activity to mourn privately.