[JAPAN] ZARD lead singer Sakai Izumi dies in accident

May 28, 2007 by Dennis Amith

Sakai Izumi (40), lead singer of the popular rock band ZARD was found dead on Sunday after an accident which media has reported as a fall from a hospital.

Mainichi Shimbun reports, “Singer Izumi Sakai has died after sustaining head injuries in a fall from the edge of a hospital building in Tokyo, her management agency has announced. Sakai, a member of the popular group ZARD, was 40.”

“Sakai fell about three meters from the slope outside Keio University Hospital in Tokyo’s Shinjuku-ku, apparently after coming back from a walk. The slope was slippery due to rain.”

“A passerby found her lying on the ground at about 5:40 a.m. on Saturday. She had suffered head injuries, and was confirmed dead on Sunday.”