Miyuki Kanbe

Miyuki Kanbe (神戸 みゆき, Kanbe Miyuki) (7 May 1984 — 18 June 2008) was a Japanese model and actress from Kanagawa employed by the talent agency Rouge. She was blood type O.

She is best remembered for her role in the Sailor Moon musicals as Usagi Tsukino; other credits include Battle Royale II (2003), Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (theme songs, 2003), Kamen Rider Hibiki (2005-2006) and the related movie Kamen Rider Hibiki & The Seven Fighting Demons (2005).

Kanbe was cast in the role of Eponine in the Japanese production of Les Miserables, but was forced to give it up due to poor health in February 2007. Since then, she had been in and out of the hospital until her death in Kawasaki City on 18 June 2008 at 4:08 am. The cause of death is cited as sudden heart failure.

According to the Masaki Honda, president of the Rouge talent agency, Kanbe died in the presence of loved ones, and appeared to be at peace.

Kanbe was chosen out of 500 women for the role of Usagi Tsukino. Most of her career involved roles that were physically demanding, and she was noted by both colleagues and superiors for going above and beyond that which was required of her. It is also noted that she accepted an offer to work with the production company responsible for Les Miserables upon recovery from the events of 2007.

As late as June 2008 Kanbe had been active and vocally expressing an interest in furthering her career. Aside from acting, she was known to have enjoyed vintage clothing and design, and in a meeting on the 9 June 2008, with Rouge president Masaki Honda, mentioned wanting to broaden her work to include fashion through the means of photography.

She received a private funeral in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture on June 21, 2008 and some celebrities such as her friend Shoko Nakagawa attended it.

Miyuki Kanbe Commercial


Miyuki Kanbe Memorial Video.