J-POP TRAINEE HIRATA RUNA, 8, DIES DAYS AFTER FINAL PERFORMANCE AS FAMILY SHARES HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE

Eight-year-old Japanese child performer Hirata Runa, known to fans as Luna-chan, has died just days after taking part in a live performance.

Runa, a trainee with the DIANNA Project in Nagoya, Japan, died at around 4am on September 25, according to her family. The project later confirmed that she died from myocarditis associated with influenza.

The heartbreaking news came only five days after the young performer appeared on stage.

HER FINAL PERFORMANCE

Runa had been training as an idol through the DIANNA Project, a Japanese girl-group and performer program based in Nagoya.

Born on April 16, 2018, she was eight years old and in the third grade of elementary school.

On September 20, she appeared at the project’s Regular Live Vol.70 concert.

Following the performance, Runa shared what would become her final public message with fans.

She thanked those who had watched the show and wrote that she had had a lot of fun, encouraging people attending the later part of the event to enjoy themselves too.

Five days later, she was gone.

FAMILY: “A THIRD OF RUNA’S LIFE WAS AS AN IDOL”

Following her death, Runa’s family shared an emotional message through her official social media account.

They said:

“A third of Runa’s life was as an idol.”

The family described Runa as someone who loved everyone and asked supporters to keep her memory alive.

They wrote that, if possible, they hoped she could remain “as an eternal idol” in a corner of people’s hearts.

The family also expressed gratitude to the friends who had been kind to Runa, the fans who supported her, the agency that helped her become an idol and everyone who had been part of her life.

A SUDDEN LOSS

According to the DIANNA Project’s official announcement, Runa died after developing myocarditis associated with influenza.

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle and can, in some cases, cause serious complications.

The agency did not release additional medical details about Runa’s illness or treatment.

Her death came shortly after what appeared to be a normal public performance, making the news particularly difficult for fans and fellow performers.

Fellow trainee Miyata Ryoka also expressed her grief, saying the news had left her at a loss for words.

PRIVATE FUNERAL HELD

Runa’s wake and funeral were held privately, with only close relatives attending, according to the official announcement.

The family and agency have asked the public to respect their privacy during the grieving process.

They specifically requested that people refrain from making individual inquiries, seeking interviews or posting questions about the circumstances on social media.

Tributes nevertheless appeared online from fans and people who had followed the young performer.

Many expressed shock at losing someone who had appeared on stage only days earlier.

REMEMBERING LUNA-CHAN

For those who followed Runa’s journey, her final performance now carries a painful significance.

She stepped onto the stage on September 20, thanked her supporters afterward and shared how much fun she had had.

Five days later, her family announced her death.

Rather than focusing only on the tragedy, her relatives have asked people to remember the child performer for the happiness she shared with others.

“Runa loved everyone,” her family said, asking that she remain in people’s hearts as an eternal idol.

Runa’s life as an idol was short, but her family says that part of her identity will remain with the people who knew, supported and loved her.