Yuji Ohno, 1941 - 2026
Yuji Ohno, the celebrated musician and composer behind the music of Lupin III, has passed away at the age of 84.
He passed away of natural causes in his sleep on May 4th, 2026. The news was announced via the musician’s official website on Wednesday, May 13th, 2026. A live performance of his music scheduled to take place on May 30th, 2026, at the Billboard Live in Tokyo will still go ahead despite his passing. The event was produced by Ohno himself, and it will be held on what would have been his 85th birthday.
Ohno first started his professional career in music during 1966, backing Hideo Shiraki and Yūzō Kayama's record "Hideo Shiraki Meets Yuzo Kayama". It was not until the early 1970s until he began composing for television and film, with a career spanning works such as Captain Future, Golden Dog, Space Adventure COBRA, and many more.
His popular Lupin III theme tune made its debut in 1977, alongside the opening titles of Lupin III: Part 2. The song has become so iconic in Japan, it has been parodied plenty, used as a chant to help encourage the Tokyo football team, and has featured consistently alongside the show for over forty years. Alongside scoring Part 2’s opening and the ending themes, Ohno also handled the shows BGM – and taking inspiration from classic jazz musicians such as Bob James, he created many iconic tunes that are still used and enjoyed by many today.
Since then, Ohno has worked with the likes of Hayao Miyazaki on animated films and been a staple of the Lupin franchise since his first foray with it on Part 2. Aside from only one animated film and a couple of animated spin-offs, Ohno has composed every Lupin special, series, and movie since 1977 through to his semi-retirement in recent years. He also performed his music on stage alongside orchestras, and also on smaller scale for the public across Japan’s many jazz venues.
Our thoughts go out with his family and friends. May he rest in peace. Thanks for everything, Mr. Ohno. For all the joy you have brought me, and your fans throughout the years. Your work will live on, and you will never be forgotten.
In 2018, me and my partner took a seat in Naru, a small jazz venue located in the centre of Tokyo. We arrived early – an hour or so, in fact, and as we sat sipping beer and soaking up the atmosphere, we slowly began to see the thirty or so seats available filling up. One by one, the place grew busier, with small groups of co-workers, and individuals hoping to have a drink, a cigarette, and unwind with some jazz after a long day at work.
After watching one of his group members pluck away at a bass guitar for some time, a calm and cool Yuji Ohno entered the venue. He came in, and sat himself straight down in the corner, alongside his band members. It was almost like he wasn’t fazed at all by the people sitting in the bar, waiting for his set. Clearly, he was focused on his music, and what he and his two buddies were about to perform (one on bass guitar, as mentioned, and the other on saxophone).
Eventually, 7pm hit, and they took to the stage to a round of applause. Since it was a small bar, the stage was incredibly close quarters. We were sat around six or so metres away from him, with only one person sat in front of us. The lights went down, the bar went completely silent, and Ohno began to play.
He and his band performed various covers of classic hits – including Fly Me To The Moon, The Saint Louis Blues, and more. He was clearly in his element – while composing for Lupin was now his day job, this felt like a look into his nightlife, and what he enjoyed playing in his free time. He covered tracks that must have meant so much to him and served as such an inspiration over the years – some renditions of which you can hear as part of his 2004 released “Plays The Standards” album. Each member of the trio played their bit, and we watched for around an hour or so, before we had to take our leave.
At the end, after paying the bill, I worked up the courage to approach Ohno, who was at the bar, speaking with some fans and signing copies of “The Best Compilation Of Lupin The Third Lupin! Lupin!! Lupinissimo!!!”, which had released the year prior. At first, I was afraid of saying hello. The thoughts of “never meet your hero”, crossed my mind, and I wondered how he would react to the only foreigners in the bar, with little to no knowledge of the Japanese language, approaching him.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ohno”, I said, in embarrassingly bad Japanese. “Thank you for all of your music”! It was almost like he received an electric shock, in that moment, bouncing into action. “Ah yes”, he replied, in English. “Thank you so much for coming, that is nice of you!” I couldn’t believe it. I was speaking with Yuji Ohno. The man whose music I adored. Music that has helped me through tough times and gain a real love for the Lupin series. At least in that moment, he was pleasant, kind, and a real gent. We shook hands, I thanked him again, and we left it there.
Honestly – without exaggeration, this meeting back in 2018 is probably one of the most memorable moments of my life. Seeing Ohno perform, in his element, high-fiving people on his way to the bar after finishing his set, and having a great time, was such an experience. I would have always regretted not shaking his hand, and thanking him for all his music, that night. It only made things better to learn what a kind person he was, and I will never forget him for it.
We may have lost such a talented individual with his passing, but his music, and the memories, will always remain. May he continue doing what he appeared to love most - jamming on the piano with his buddies - beyond those pearly gates for an eternity.
