Very sad confirmed news out of Japan.

The great and irreplacable director Ishiguro Noboru has passed away at
age 73.

For those of us who have been into anime for more than 20 years, his
name has been synonymous with anime. His works are what got us into anime.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-21/yamato-macross-director-noboru-ishiguro-passes-away

http://www.asahi.com/obituaries/update/0321/TKY201203210546.html