22 Years of Epitaphs: In Memoriam, Mr. Ken Nakamoto, a “supporting role” comedian left behind “not at all plain” achievements.

On October 19, Mr. Ken Nakamoto (81 years old), a superstar of the Showa era “Drifters,” passed away. On the previous day, October 18, he was hit by a wagon at an intersection without a traffic light in Yokohama City’s Nishi Ward, Kanagawa Prefecture, striking his head hard, and acute subdural hematoma was the direct cause of death. After Nakamoto’s death, there has been a lot of talk about his “separation” from Junka, a 27-year-old enka singer whom he married for the third time in 2012, and the fact that he was forced to live a solitary life in a trash house. However, what should not be forgotten are the accomplishments that Ms. Nakamoto left behind in the entertainment world.

He was the first entertainer to make gymnastics comedy a reality. All Together! (TBS), where he performed a perfect backflip using his experience in gymnastics, and then struck a pose with a powerful fist at the end.　All the children in the TV room imitated him,” said a person involved in the production of a variety show on commercial TV.

A graduate of Tokyo Metropolitan Aoyama High School, she was a dual-brand athlete with a promising future as a gymnast. However, because Gakushuin University did not have a gymnastics club, she taught herself to play the guitar, and when she happened to enter a jazz cafe, she jumped in and sang, which led to her joining a jazz band. The drummer of the band was Cha Kato (79). 1966, the Drifters opened the Beatles’ concert at the Nippon Budokan. Mr. Nakamoto was also the lead singer of the band. However, after the Drifters became comedians, he consistently played supporting roles.

Mr. Nakamoto played the role of a silent comedian who never uttered a single line. But these were the only times that Mr. Nakamoto played the main role in a comedy. And even in gymnastics, he always gives flowers to the guest talent at the end. He always played a supporting role to complement the leading actor in any situation,” said a writer for a commercial variety show.

After her marriage to Junka, she released duets and made her YouTube debut, but she always played a supporting role for Junka. Such a life must have been comfortable for Ms. Nakamoto.

Drifting would not have been possible without Mr. Nakamoto, but now Cha Kato and Boo Takagi are the only two members of Drifting. This thought makes me even more sad.