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"Mr. Yanase was the Anpanman. He embraced us gently and taught us to share," actress Keiko Toda, whose voice was used for Anpanman's character on the TV show, said in a statement. "We've lost a precious guiding post." Makoto Amano, an official at his publishing agent, said Yanase had briefly retired before the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters, but returned to work after learning that an Anpanman theme song was cheering up residents in the disaster-hit region, Kyodo News agency said. The day before Yanase died, he was still discussing ideas with his staff about an Anpanman film set for release next year, Kyodo said. Yanase, known for his pacifist messages, also wrote poems and lyrics for children's songs. "It's October as usual. I'm doing fine, so please feel at ease," he closed his monthly poem greeting published on his website.
[Associated
Press;
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