Artists of the World bids farewell to a legend

Japanese, may you rest in peace.

Today, October 23, 2025, Panama mourns the loss of Leavitt Eduardo Zambrano Haynes, known worldwide as Japanese. At 52 years old, this pioneer of Spanish-language reggae in Panama leaves behind an indelible legacy that shaped an entire generation of musicians and fans.

His influence ran deep—artists like J Balvin, Nicky Jam, and Arcángel looked up to him long before they achieved international fame. Born in Margarita, Colón Province, Japanese was a founding member of Scare Dem Crew, one of Panama’s first Spanish reggae groups. His raw and authentic style, both lyrically and musically, made him an icon of the urban genre.

Throughout his career, he collaborated with major Latin music figures, including Tego Calderón, with whom he released “Tumba Tuca” in 2019.

Beyond his musical achievements, Japanese was a fighter—someone who faced adversity with courage. In 2020, he suffered a stroke that temporarily took him off the stage, but his unbreakable spirit brought him back, proving that music was his life. Despite ongoing health challenges in recent years, he never stopped sharing his art and message of resilience.

Japanese was a proud member of Artists of the World, and his bond with our artistic community was deep and lasting. He stayed in close contact with Alejandro Rudler (founder and president), recently expressing his trust that Rudler would help ensure his music continued to be heard around the world—keeping his artistic legacy alive. Alejandro Rudler had already honored him in Argentina, the United States, and Brazil, recognizing his historic contribution to the urban Latin movement.

Today, Artistas del Mundo and Alejandro Rudler say goodbye to a legend—one who will forever be remembered as a true pioneer of urban reggae and Latin music.

May his soul rest in peace, knowing that his music will live on forever.