We are saddened to learn that Rina Matsuno of Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku has passed away at the age of 18.
The idol group had announced on Tuesday that she would be unable to appear at a planned Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku concert that day due to health issues. Matsuno was resting at home for the day, but her condition worsened and emergency services called. Despite being rushed into hospital, she passed away. No further details on her illness have been forthcoming.
Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku are a popular idol group who are viewed as a sister group to Momoiro Clover Z. The outfit are known for kinetic pop songs such as 2013’s ‘Ume’, ‘Haitateki!’ and ‘Natsudaze Johnny’ which gave the group their highest chart position at No. 2 in 2015. They were also responsible for a number of anime themes, including Nanana’s Buried Treasure and Pokémon: Black and White: Rival Destinies.
Their last studio album was Anarchy released in 2016 (a Best Of compilation followed the same year).
Rina Matsuno was born in Tokyo in 1998 and had originally been part of idol outfit Minitia☆Bears prior to joining Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku in 2010. She also starred in the 2014 film Joker Game Dasshutsu alongside former Ebichu member Hirono Suzuki.
At the time of the news of Matsuno’s passing breaking, some of the other members of the group were due to make radio show appearances. Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku’s official website is currently down due to the amount of people trying to access the site.
http://shiritsuebichu.jp
https://www.facebook.com/shiritsuebichu
https://twitter.com/ebichu_staff
