Japanese rock musician Chu Kosaka dies at 73

TOKYO -- Chu Kosaka, a musician and frontman for the Japanese rock band "Apryl Fool," died on April 29, it has been learned. He was 73.

Kosaka, whose real name was Masayuki Kosaka, debuted with the rock group "The Floral" in 1968. The following year, he formed Apryl Fool alongside Haruomi Hosono and Takashi Matsumoto, laying the foundations for Japanese rock and roll history.

After Apryl Fool disbanded, Kosaka released the album "Horo" in 1975, a collaboration with members of the band "Tin Pan Alley" including Masataka Matsutoya. The album was hailed as a masterpiece of soul music.

In March this year, Kosaka, who also served as a Protestant church pastor, revealed on his website that he was battling stage 4 bowel cancer."