was a Japanese actress and singer. She was the only child of actor Masaki Kanda and pop singer Seiko Matsuda.
Early life
Kanda was born at Tokyo Teishin Hospital in Chiyoda, Tokyo. She was the only child of actor Masaki Kanda and Seiko Matsuda. Her paternal grandmother Teruko Asahi (1924–2001) was a former actress.
Career
In 1999, while a student at a Japanese school in Los Angeles, she appeared in Bean Cake, a short film that won the Palme d'Or du court métrage at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. She was quite active as an actress in movies and mostly on stage since her debut. She also wrote some lyrics for her mother Seiko Matsuda's songs.
Kanda made her Kōhaku Uta Gassen debut in December 2011 singing "Ue o Muite Arukō" alongside her mother, Seiko Matsuda.
In July 2012, Kanda debuted as a voice actress on TV animation Good Luck Girl!, which led her to be cast as Anna in the Japanese language dub of Disney's animated film Frozen. She won the Best Lead Actress award for the role in the 9th Seiyu Awards. In 2019, she voiced as Anna once again for Kingdom Hearts III.
In April 2014, she formed the duo Trustrick with guitarist Billy. They released their debut album, Eternity, on June 25 of the same year. They disbanded on December 17, 2016.
Kanda appeared as a special guest in the Alan Symphony Concert from December 20, 2014, alongside Tibetan Chinese diva Alan Dawa Dolma, and together, they sang a music piece originally performed by Alan titled .
Kanda released covers of Vocaloid songs on her YouTube channel.
Personal life
In May 2017, Kanda married actor Mitsu Murata. Kanda announced their divorce in December 2019. Up until her death, Kanda was in a relationship with actor Takahisa Maeyama after co-starring in the stage adaptation of Crest of the Royal Family in August 2021. Kanda and Maeyama had planned to marry.
Death
On December 18, 2021, Kanda was found unconscious in the outer garden on the fourteenth floor of a hotel in Chūō ward, Sapporo. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The cause of death was determined to be traumatic shock by the Sapporo Central Police Station, which also said that she had fallen from her room in the upper floors of the hotel. Kanda's remains were cremated and her family kept her ashes at home. A report from Shūkan Bunshun claimed she committed suicide following vocal cord issues as well as issues with her relationship with Maeyama.
Discography
Singles
"Ever Since" (2002) "Garden" (2003) "Mizu Iro" (2004) "Jōgen no Tsuki" (2005)
with TRUSTRICK
"World's End Curtain Call -theme of DANGANRONPA THE STAGE-" (2014) "FLYING FAFNIR" (2015) "innocent promise" (2015) "Recall THE END" (2016) "DEAD OR LIE" (2016) duo with Maon Kurosaki "Rainbow Summer" (2019), the theme song of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
Digital Singles
"LUVORATORRRRRY!" (2018) "Good Morning, Polar Night" (2019) "Roki" (2019) with TRUSTRICK "On your marks!" (2014) as Yuna from "Sword Art Online" "Ubiquitous dB" (2017) "delete" (2017) "Break Beat Bark!" (2017) "longing" (2017) "smile for you" (2017)
Albums
Doll (2005) Liberty (2011)
with TRUSTRICK
Eternity (2014) TRUST (2015) TRICK (2016)
Mini-Albums
with TRUSTRICK
未来系Answer E.P. (2015) beloved E.P. (2016)
Cover Albums
MUSICALOID #38 (2018) MUSICALOID #38 Act.2 (2019) MUSICALOID #38 Act.3 (2021)
Compilation Albums
as Yuna from "Sword Art Online" Sword Art Online the Movie : Ordinal Scale (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2017)
Filmography
Film
Bean Cake (1999) Dragon Head (2003) – Ako Seto School Wars: Hero (2004) – Mitiyo Wada Imadoki Japanese yo (2008) – Kyouko Farewell, Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown (2008) – Sora Amazing Grace (2011) – Shizuku Asamizu Geki×Cine Bara to Samurai (2011) – Pony de Bribon Real Girl (2018) – Ezomichi (voice)
Television drama
Yankee Bokō ni Kaeru / Drop-out Teacher Returns to School (TBS, 2003) – Nanae Koga 四分の一の絆 (TBS, 2004) – Maiko Nisio Mito Kōmon (TBS, 2004, 2007) – Kozue, Osaki たった一度の雪 〜SAPPORO・1972年〜 (HBC, 2007) – Chiho Shimomura Omotesando Koukou Gasshoubu! (TBS, 2015) – Emiri Seyama