[Obituary] Official Lupin the 3rd Account Pays Tribute to Composer Yuji Ohno: “We Offer Our Condolences with Gratitude for His Many Years of Work”

Yuji Ohno, composer of the Lupin the 3rd theme and a jazz pianist, passed away on May 4 due to old age. He was 84. His death was announced on his official website on May 13. Following the news, the official X account for the anime Lupin the 3rd paid tribute to him.

Yuji Ohno’s Passing Announced on Official Website

The website published the announcement under the title “Notice of Yuji Ohno’s Passing,” stating, “Our composer and jazz pianist Yuji Ohno passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 4, 2026, due to old age. He was 84.”

The statement also expressed gratitude, saying, “We sincerely thank everyone for the exceptional kindness shown to him during his lifetime.”

It further explained that Ohno had been spending his days as usual until shortly before his passing and “departed peacefully without suffering while asleep.” Since making his debut as a jazz pianist in the early 1960s, Ohno worked on numerous projects, including the music for the anime Lupin the 3rd. The statement added, “We are certain that his achievements and music, which contributed to the development of the music industry over many years, will continue to be loved without fading.”

Official Lupin the 3rd Account Pays Tribute

In response to the news, the official Lupin the 3rd X account posted, “Composer and jazz pianist Yuji Ohno, who created many pieces of music including ‘Theme from Lupin the 3rd’ starting with the anime Lupin the 3rd Part II in 1977, passed away on May 4. We offer our condolences with gratitude for his many years of work. Thank you very much.”

Ohno was born on May 30, 1941, in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. He began playing piano in elementary school and taught himself jazz in high school. While studying at Keio University, he belonged to the Light Music Society. He began performing as a jazz pianist with Koji Fujika Quintet. He later joined Hideo Shiraki Quintet before forming his own trio.

After the trio disbanded, Ohno produced a vast amount of commercial music as a composer and also worked on music for films and television, including The Inugami Family and Proof of the Man, creating many memorable pieces.

His distinctive sound, filled with lyricism and grand scale, helped pave the way for the peak era of Japanese fusion. His soundtracks for Lupin the 3rd and The Great Chase became major topics of attention in the late 1970s.

In recent years, his composing activities focused mainly on Lupin the 3rd and NHK’s television program Small Journey, while he resumed activities as a performer. In addition to performing with the Yuji Ohno Trio, he formed Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Five in 2006. In 2016, he launched Yuji Ohno & Lupintic Six with a new lineup, actively performing at jazz clubs in Tokyo, concert halls across Japan, live houses, and rock festivals.

Since the birth of “Theme from Lupin the 3rd” in 1977, Ohno continued walking alongside Lupin as a composer and, as a performer himself, continued expressing living, evolving Lupin music on the front lines.

Source : ORICON NEWS