A Heartbroken Idol Searched For Her Missing Fan In Person And Uncovered His Tragic Fate
Idols often express their love for fans through their music, but one singer went above and beyond for her #1 supporter. After receiving heartbreaking news, she decided to tell the world about her fan and honor his memory.
For nearly ten years, Okkyan, a 55-year-old man, attended nearly every one of Emi Arisaka‘s concerts since the Japanese idol debuted in 2008. Okkyan had become such a familiar face in the crowd that Emi Arisaka noticed when he stopped coming to her concerts in 2017.
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Worried, the idol tried to contact Okkyan to check up on him. She was unable to contact Okkyan online—he had stopped updating his social media—and she didn’t have his phone number. Small details that Okkyan had told her about his personal life, such as his real name and the fact that he lived near a particular station, became essential clues that helped the idol track down his home address.
I wandered, lost in an unfamiliar town, feeling sicker and sicker, realizing that by searching, I might be forcing myself to confront the worst.
— Emi Arisaka
When Emi Arisaka visited Okkyan’s home, she learned from neighbors that Okkyan had been hospitalized the previous year for aortic dissection, a circulatory condition that had required surgery. Sadly, Okkyan’s condition deteriorated after he was released from the hospital and he passed away at home alone.
Emi Arisaka also learned that no funeral had been held for Okkyan since he had no close family members. So, the idol decided to honor Okkyan in her own way. She began by writing a long, heartfelt blog post to Okkyan on March 19, 2018 that expressed her devastation. Among other things, she reminisced about their first meeting and joked that it felt like she saw him more than she saw her own family.
Emi Arisaka lamented the fact that although Okkyan had most likely owned her merch, she didn’t have any keepsakes to remember him by. She created her own by commissioning an artist, Mr. 326, to draw an illustration of Okkyan, and she made a video with group photos for a memorial concert she decided to hold in Okkyan’s memory.
The concert was held in April 2018 at the Hatsudai Doors music club in Shibuya. In addition to performing herself, Emi Arisaka also invited Flowered Gem, another idol Okkyan loved, to perform at the show.
I want to keep your memory alive and remind people of the kind of person you were.
— Emi Arisaka
“What is the relationship between an artist and a fan?” Emi Arisaka mused. For her and Okkyan, it was an unforgettable friendship.
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