Shizuka Miura

 was a Japanese ball-jointed doll maker, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She became recognized in Japan for her doll work. Worldwide, Shizuka is best known for having been the founder and front woman of the rock band Shizuka.
Biography.
Shizuka Miura initiated in the art of dollmaking under the influence and mentorship of master dollmaker . She became recognized in Japan notably for her gothic ball-jointed dolls.
In circa 1992, Shizuka started her musical career by adapting some of her poetry into songs. Initially, she rented venues and performed by herself. Shizuka soon formed an eponymous band with musicians from the Tokyo psychedelic underground scene. With the group, she worked on the release of a studio album, three live albums, and two video albums. Shizuka also performed in many live shows in Japan, two tours in the United States, and a festival in Scotland.
Shizuka Miura, as the band's frontwoman and only singer, featured slow, chanted, and tremulous vocals—characteristics that connoted sadness and a "haunting, gothic atmosphere".
Shizuka died on circa 31 January 2010. Her cause of death was suicide. Mason Jones wrote that "it may have been due to medication", but it remains publicly unknown. On 25 April, a DVD-video album was released by PSF Records as a visual tribute to Shizuka, which contains one of the last live performances by her group recorded at ShowBoat (a Tokyo live venue) on 30 December 2008.