By James “I am Lame” Shaw
(The Wind up Geek)
At last year’s Macross World Convention in Torrance, California, it was learned Japanese voice actress Run Sasaki (Vanessa; The Super Dimension Fortress Macross) was collecting donations from North American fans for a worthy cause. Her intent was to present a bouquet of flowers to the mother of her former co-star, Arihiro Hase (Hikaru Ichijyo). Hase who joined the cast of Macross at the young age of 17 took his own life at the age of 31 by leaping from his 7th floor apartment on the morning of July 30, 1996. Sasaki chose April 22nd (Japan time) for the flower presentation because of its significance. It is the birthday of Hase who would’ve been 51 years old.
Hase’s mother has kept a shrine to both Hase and her husband, actor Sanji Hase (High School! Kimengumi, Akazukin Chacha), who died of lung cancer in 2002. According to Sasaki, incense was burned to show respect for the dead.
Source(s): Gwyn Campbell, Macross Fans- US Facebook group, and Run Sasaki.
Photo Source(s): Run Sasaki.
