Kagawa Teruyuki’s Effective Return to NHK Signals Distant Dawn for His Comeback

Focusing on “Kabuki” and “Insects”

In August 2022, actor Teruyuki Kagawa (58) was reported by news sites like “Daily Shincho” for allegations of sexual misconduct involving a club hostess in Ginza three years prior, leading to his withdrawal from regular programs and commercials. Although he has not yet returned to television, as a kabuki actor, he made a comeback on December 6, 2022, by participating in the performance to celebrate the succession of the 13th generation Ichikawa Danjuro at the Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo.

“About six months after his return, in June of last year, a tragic incident occurred when the parents of his cousin, Ichikawa Ennosuke (48), passed away. Ennosuke was arrested and charged with assisted suicide, receiving a three-year prison sentence with a five-year suspended sentence in November. As a result, Ennosuke has literally been unable to take the stage, and Kagawa has had to lead his own theater company, Sawamuraya, alongside his son, Ichikawa Danko (20),” noted a theater journalist.

Facing a heavy burden, Kagawa seems to have made up his mind and issued a statement on the official website of his personal agency, which he represents as CEO, on August 25 of last year. He declared his intention to focus on “kabuki” and “insect” activities moving forward.

“Until now, Kagawa has appeared in numerous film and television works, but by the time he made his statement, he may have already resigned himself to the thought that there would be no more offers. Since then, he has continued to perform on the kabuki stage and has focused on his insect-related business that he had been working on previously,” shared a TV industry insider.

Kagawa effectively made a “comeback” with NHK

With over 35 years of experience as an actor, Teruyuki Kagawa is widely recognized for his skills and expertise. Outside of his acting career, he has been passionate about boxing since his youth. He even held a column in a specialized magazine, showcasing his extensive knowledge, which impressed experts and former world champions during boxing broadcasts. Thanks to his connection to boxing, Kagawa managed to return to video productions.

“Starting July 13, he was selected as the navigator for the boxing information program ‘Boxing Navi: Premium Lounge,’ which began streaming on Prime Video. With skyrocketing broadcasting rights fees, traditional networks have withdrawn from airing world championship boxing matches, but Prime Video is heavily investing in the content. Unlike terrestrial networks, which might hesitate to hire Kagawa due to sponsorship concerns, this opportunity has become a perfect ‘godsend’ for him,” shared a sports journalist.

Additionally, the special drama “Saka no Ue no Kumo,” based on the novel by Ryotaro Shiba and starring Masahiro Motoki (58), which aired from 2009 for three years, has been re-broadcasting on NHK General from September 8. Kagawa also appears in this production.

His scenes will air as they are, effectively marking his “comeback” to NHK. It seems that the momentum for his return to television will continue to build.

“It’s unlikely that he will suddenly appear in a new regular program. His return will likely start with promotional appearances for kabuki or similar events. However, after the incident, he caused significant trouble for TBS, where he was hosting the information program ‘THE TIME,’ as he had to apologize on-air and subsequently stepped down. Other networks are now starting to consider the timing for his return. Although it took time, his ‘comeback’ to NHK suggests that a return to dramas may be on the horizon.

Currently, the most anticipated comeback is for TBS’s Sunday drama ‘99.9 – Criminal Lawyer,’ starring Jun Matsumoto (41). This popular series has even been adapted into a film, and there have been many calls for a sequel, but it is said to be impossible without Kagawa’s involvement, which has delayed its realization. However, returning to this series might still be challenging at this point,” noted a broadcasting reporter.

For Kagawa, who is gradually walking the path to recovery, the “goal” still seems distant.

 

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