hide - The Funeral TV Report

On May 2nd, 1998, Hideto Matsumoto (hide) passed away... News of his death was crushing and unbearable. Funeral services has been held on May 7th 1998 at 1H PM, at the Chikuji Hongan Temple. The chief mourner was Mitsuru-kun. --------------------------------- ~ NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON MAY 7, 1998 ~ By CHISAKI WATANABE c. The Associated Press TOKYO (May 7) Tens of thousands of young fans shut down central Tokyo today in an extraordinary outpouring of grief for a rock guitarist who hanged himself One fan followed him in suicide, and two tried. Helicopters buzzed over the Buddhist temple where as many as 50 000 lined up outside services for Hideto ’hide’ Matsumoto. TV networks went live as ambulances carted away dozens overcome by emotion and the 82-degree (28c) heat. Matsumoto killed himself on Saturday, leaving nothing to explain why. His group (X-JAPAN, one of Japan’s most popular) broke up in September, Matsumoto had a solo tour pl