Remembering Actor Toshiyuki Nishida and His Warmth at Gatherings

“I’m sorry for staying too long, old man~”

Nishida was always extremely busy, but an issue of FRIDAY (August 14, 2015) reported a rare moment when he was seen joyfully sharing drinks with fellow actors. In mid-July 2015, in the evening, he spent time with actor friends at an open café in Daikanyama (Shibuya Ward). His companions were Yasunori Danta (67), Ken Mitsuishi (63), and Kosuke Suzuki (49).

“Nishida, Mitsuishi, and Suzuki were co-starring in the April 2015 drama ‘I’m Home’ (TV Asahi). He worked with Danda in the movie ‘Galaxy Street,’ which was released in the fall of the same year. It seemed to be a completely private drinking party with this close-knit group centered around Nishida” (entertainment agency insider).

When he made eye contact with passing pedestrians, he smiled and said, “Hello~,” and to a waiter bringing water, he bowed and said,

“Thank you~. I’m sorry for staying so long in such a stylish place, old man.”

The cheerful gathering continued well into the evening, filled with smiles.

“In recent years, Nishida always carried a cane while moving around, and recently, he had become weak enough to use a wheelchair. However, he never reduced the number of his work commitments” (private broadcasting drama production insider).

His last appearance in a television drama was on September 21 in “The City I Saw at the End” (TV Asahi). In cinema, his final work will be “Doctor X: The Movie FINAL,” which is set to be released on December 6.

It’s incredibly disappointing to think that we won’t see his carefree demeanor anymore. I pray for his soul’s peace.