Takashi Miki, the composer of countless songs during the last few decades, died on Monday morning at a hospital in the Okayama prefecture. Miki, whose real name was Tadashi Watanabe, was 64.

Born in Tokyo in 1945, Miki aimed to become a singer at a young age. However, he later chose to pursue composing, and he made his debut in 1967. With a style ranging from pop to enka, he grew in popularity during the '70s, creating tunes for major artists like Hideki Saijo, Agnes Chan, Hiromi Iwasaki, Sayuri Ishikawa, Teresa Teng, and many more.

Miki was also known for the theme song to the "Soreike! Anpanman" anime series. In recent years, he composed music for theatrical productions as well. In 2004, he became a board chairman for the Japan Composer's Association. The following year, he was granted the Shiju Hosho (Purple Ribbon Medal).