Takakura Ken’s ‘Loneliness and Suffering Insights from a Close Friend, 10 Years On

“I envy you.”

“I loved driving on mountain roads, often cruising the route from Hollywood to Griffith Observatory that James Dean raced in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ (’56). There was a particular fondness for certain car models; once, he even asked me to find a rare Porsche 911 Turbo for him.

It’s a fond memory that I finally found one after searching through Porsche dealers across the United States. He was also into collecting guns, likely inspired by his admiration for Westerns. He even had his Colt Python .357 Magnum modified so that even a woman could easily cock the hammer for self-defense.”

At some point, Tak became one of the few people Takakura trusted. There were moments when he muttered, “Tak, I envy you. You have a smart wife and adorable kids. I envy the fact that you have a happy family.”

“In 1971, issues arose when Chiemi Eri’s half-sister embezzled money from Chiemi, leading to their divorce. Although Takakura adopted children in his later years, he never remarried. Perhaps he hesitated to welcome a new wife.

He always carried a leather pouch in his travel bag, and when asked what was inside, he would say they were souvenirs from Chiemi’s trip to America, local charms. It was surprising to see him continue to cherish memories of his ex-wife even over 20 years after their divorce.”

Takakura’s last stay in Los Angeles was in 2011. He spent a week with me, visiting Venice Beach, buying lots of Levi’s denim at the Beverly Hills mall, and more.

He passed away from malignant lymphoma three years later. Even in the afterlife, he must be entertaining others with his favorite jokes.