Japanese actor Toshiyuki Nishida, known for his roles in works including ¡°Beyond Outrage¡± and ¡°Tsuribaka Nisshi,¡± was found dead at his residence in Tokyo on Thursday. He was 76.
The actor who enjoys cross-generational popularity has been a mainstay in Japanese entertainment for decades, with an expansive career in film, TV, music and theater since he first entered the industry in 1970.
He is well known for his role as Densuke Hamasaki, or Hama-chan, in ¡°Tsuribaka Nisshi¡± (literally translated as ¡°Fishing Nut¡¯s Diary¡°) series of films, of which 22 were released between 1988 to 2009.
Nishida won a Japan Academy Film Prize for best actor in 1989 for his role in ¡°The Silk Road¡± and in 1994 for his roles in both ¡°Tsuribaka Nisshi 6¡± and ¡°Gakko.¡± He also received a Blue Ribbon Award for best actor for his performance in ¡°Get Up!¡± and ¡°Tsuribaka Nisshi 14¡± in 2003.
More recently, he received recognition for his role in Takeshi Kitano¡¯s internationally popular Outrage series playing underground boss Nishino in ¡°Beyond Outrage¡± and ¡°Outrage Coda.¡±
Born in 1947 in the city of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, he entered the entertainment industry when he joined the Tokyo theater company Seinen-za in 1970. He began to gain mainstream popularity in 1980 when he scored the main role for the ¡°Ikenaka Genta 80 Kiro¡± (The 80-kilogram Genta Ikenaka) TV series as well as a primary role in the 1981 period drama ¡°Onna Taikoki¡± on NHK.
He is also well known for his work as a singer, having had a hit song ¡°Moshimo Piano ga Hiketa Nara¡± (If I could play the piano) in 1981, which landed him a spot on NHK¡¯s Kohaku Uta Gassen ¡ª the broadcaster¡¯s annual New Year¡¯s Eve special ¡ª in which he went on to perform on three other occasions and even host once.
Outside of films, Nishida became a household name for being the master of ceremonies for popular variety TV show ¡°Knight Scoop¡± between 2001 and 2019.
There had been reports of Nishida experiencing health problems in recent years. The actor often took roles that allowed him to be in a wheelchair or in a sitting position. But he continued to act in many notable shows and films.
One of his last appearances will be in ¡°Doctor X ¡ª Final,¡± the concluding film in the ¡°Doctor X¡± franchise, in which he played a recurring character. The movie is scheduled for release in December.
Actress Ryoko Yonekura, who plays the titular character in the ¡°Doctor X¡± franchise, posted an Instagram story on Thursday to recall how she had exchanged words with Nishida merely two days ago, and saying that she ¡°has no words¡± and that she ¡°can¡¯t believe it yet.¡±
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