Japanese child idol Hirata Runa dies at 8 after flu-linked heart condition

Hirata Runa, an eight-year-old trainee member of the Japanese girls’ idol group DIANNA Project, has died of a heart condition linked to influenza, her agency has confirmed. She was eight.

Runa “passed away peacefully” at around 4am local time on September 25, her family announced in a post on her X account. The DIANNA Project, based in Nagoya, confirmed on September 28 that she died of “myocarditis resulting from influenza”, myocarditis being an inflammation of the heart muscle.

The young performer had taken the stage just five days before her death, appearing in a concert on September 20. After the show she shared a smiling photograph on X and thanked her supporters, writing that she had enjoyed the day.

In its statement the agency thanked the fans who supported Runa and asked the public to respect the bereaved family, requesting no individual inquiries, interviews or questions on social media. A private funeral was held with close relatives in attendance. Her family wrote: “One third of Runa’s life was spent as an idol … please let her remain in a corner of your hearts as an eternal idol.”

Sources: People, Economic Times