The official X (formerly Twitter) account of guitarist Mei Nekozuki announced on July 26 that she has passed away. The news was shared by her family, who thanked fans for their support throughout her life and confirmed that the funeral would be held privately for immediate family members.
Nekozuki was known for her work as a support guitarist for the BanG Dream! bands MILLSAGE and Ikka DumbRock!, and was also active with C2 Kikan 1MYB, the official girls band for KanColle (Kantai Collection). Earlier this month, she was announced as a member of the newly formed band The Last Diamond (Shūmatsu no Diamond).
Family Announces Mei Nekozuki’s Passing
The announcement was made through a statement shared on Nekozuki’s official X account by her family.
The statement reads:
To everyone who has always supported Mei Nekozuki,
We are deeply saddened to share that Mei Nekozuki has passed away.
On her behalf, we sincerely thank everyone for the warmth, encouragement, and support you showed her throughout her life.
We sincerely apologize for having to share this news so suddenly, and we ask for your understanding.
As a result, the birthday live concert and bar event that had been scheduled have been canceled.
Information regarding ticket refunds will be announced at a later date once preparations have been completed.
We are currently contacting everyone involved. Because this happened so suddenly, there may be people we have not yet been able to reach. We kindly ask for your patience.
The funeral will be held privately with immediate family members only.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who supported Mei Nekozuki.
The Family of Mei Nekozuki
Alongside announcing her passing, the family confirmed that Nekozuki’s scheduled birthday live concert and bar event have been canceled. Refund details for ticket holders will be announced at a later date.
The Last Diamond Also Releases a Statement
Nekozuki had only recently joined The Last Diamond, the new band centered around voice actress and singer Anna Suzuki, with her participation announced on July 6.
Following the family’s announcement, the band also released a statement confirming the news:
It reads:
We sincerely apologize for having to share this heartbreaking news.
As already announced by her family, MEI (Mei Nekozuki), guitarist of The Last Diamond, has passed away unexpectedly.
We are truly grateful for all the kindness and support everyone showed her during her lifetime.
As for the band’s future activities, we will discuss the matter with everyone involved and share further updates at a later date.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding.
The Last Diamond Staff
The group had been preparing to release its debut single, “Kuuki Yomu na!” on July 29. Following Nekozuki’s passing, the band said future activities will be announced after discussions with the relevant parties.
Remembering Mei Nekozuki’s Work
Throughout her career, Mei Nekozuki was active across several music projects within the anime and game community.
She performed as a support guitarist for the BanG Dream! bands MILLSAGE and Ikka DumbRock!, while also performing with C2 Kikan 1MYB, the official girls band associated with KanColle (Kantai Collection). Earlier this month, she began a new chapter in her career by joining The Last Diamond, where she was set to perform alongside Anna Suzuki.
At the time of writing, no further details regarding her passing have been publicly disclosed. Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more anime and music industry news and updates.
About Mei Nekozuki
Mei Nekozuki was a Japanese guitarist known for her performances across multiple anime and game-related music projects. She worked as a support guitarist for the BanG Dream! bands MILLSAGE and Ikka DumbRock!, and was also a member of C2 Kikan 1MYB, the official girls band for KanColle (Kantai Collection).
In July 2026, she joined The Last Diamond, a newly formed band centered around voice actress and singer Anna Suzuki. The group’s debut single, “Kuuki Yomu na!”, had been scheduled for release on July 29, 2026.
Mei Nekozuki passed away on July 26, 2026. Her family announced that private funeral services would be held for immediate family members, while tributes from fans and fellow musicians continue to be shared following the news.
Source: Music Natalie
