Earlier that day, Yamamoto posted on Twitter that he had been considering "doing something" for at least a year, though he did not specify what he was referring to at the time. He added that he had kept a secret from his family, friends and doctor, but that he had already made the decision to do so since he considered that his body was "at the limit". He made special reference to his deteriorating mental state saying that it was "obvious" after looking at his previous posts on Twitter, and that soon he would "be unable to even think." He added that his self-published story "Chalice in Hazard" is, in fact, his last message.
Other authors and fans sent Yamamoto messages of encouragement after he made the posts, immediately urging anyone who could come in direct contact with him to do so immediately, or to use the Japanese 110 line to contact emergency services.
In a subsequent Twitter post, with a preface written by someone other than Yamamoto, it was revealed that emergency services were called and Yamamoto was found safe and sound. The post explained that Yamamoto had been melancholic due to the isolation ordered to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Finally, Yamamoto revealed in an epilogue to the new edition of his novel Project Piano in March this year, that he had been suffering from strokes since 2014. In the epilogue, Yamamoto urged readers to treat his novel as "his last will. and will ”as“ hard science fiction writer ”. He also wrote about his love of this genre in the epilogue, lamenting that his deteriorating physical condition will likely prevent him from writing again in the very near future.
On the other hand, Yamamoto was a member of Group SNE, a cadre of creators who developed the Record of Lodoss War franchise. Yamamoto personally played the iconic character Deedlit in the fantasy role-playing sessions that formed the main story of the franchise.
Source: Hiroshi Yamamoto's Twitter account (link 2, link 3) via Hachima Kikō
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