Kenji Suzuki’s “final thoughtfulness” on the eve of his retirement from NHK.

In 1924, many celebrities sadly passed away. We look back on the activities of the past and remember the deceased, based on the articles we have introduced in the past…

With the History of Television

Former NHK announcer Kenji Suzuki passed away at a hospital in Fukuoka City on March 29 at the age of 95 due to old age. He was an announcer who lived with the history of television, including live broadcasts from the Kuroshi Dam (1963), live broadcasts from the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train before it opened to traffic (1964), and hosting a special program on the Apollo 11 moon landing (1969).

Born in Tokyo in 1929, Mr. Suzuki joined NHK in 1952, before the start of television broadcasting. He said that he wanted to become an announcer because it was the least popular occupation for which there were few applicants. She mainly demonstrated her abilities in news programs, but from the ’70s onward, she often hosted culture and variety programs. His friendly appearance with his chubby figure, round face, and large dark glasses, as well as his quick-witted delivery, attracted a lot of people.

Suzuki’s most famous program is “Quiz Omoshiro Seminar,” which aired from 1981. On September 12, 1982, the program received a viewer rating of 42.2% (Video Research, Kanto region). It is still the highest ever among the many quiz programs that have been famous in the past.

Mr. Suzuki also participated in the creation of questions for the show, reading 20 books in order to create one question, which is about 1,000 books in a year. As a voracious reader, he has also written more than 200 books in his lifetime, including a book published in 1982. Among them, “Kikubari no susume” (“Encouragement of Kikubari”), published in 1982 by Shosha, became a huge bestseller, selling more than 4.3 million copies in one year.

Mr. Suzuki was one of NHK’s most popular announcers and hosted the Kohaku (red and white) TV show from 1983 to 1985. He attracted more attention for his flamboyant costumes than the performers, but it is the 1984 Kohaku that has become the talk of the town.

That year, singer Harumi Miyako had announced her retirement, and the last performance was the last stage of the Kohaku Grand Finale. After she finished singing, when the audience called for an encore, Ms. Suzuki called out to the audience , “Please give me one minute. She then pleaded with Harumi, who was crouching down with tears in her eyes, and the encore was realized. It was a moving scene that will remain in the history of Kohaku. The phrase “Please give me one minute” became a popular phrase.

The “consideration” shown at the end

In 1984, Mr. Suzuki’s retirement was extended by two years because of his status as a director, but he retired from NHK in January 1988. This magazine interviewed Mr. Suzuki just before his retirement (February 5, 1988 issue). Looking back on his career, Mr. Suzuki said, “As an announcer, I am not good at what I do.

As an announcer, I was not very good. So I worked harder than others. Failure stories? I am often asked about my failures. But professionals don’t fail. Some people talk about their failures with great gusto, but I can’t tell you.

When I asked him about his fondest memories of the past 36 years, he replied, “The year 1959.

The live broadcast from Katsura-rikyu in 1959. It was the first time a TV camera was in Katsura Rikyu. It was raining lightly, and as we entered the shoin (drawing room), I thought, “Oh, if only the sun would shine here. I was really happy.

What also attracted attention was his post-retirement plans. Would I transfer to a commercial broadcaster? Or would he go to an NHK affiliate? Or would he run for election? There were also rumors that he might run for election. When we asked him about it, he responded with his typical “considerate” answer.

Until I resign, I can’t mention my future plans. It would be disrespectful to the staff and viewers I am working with.

After retiring, Mr. Suzuki devoted himself to activities to pass on the traditional performing arts, such as serving as director of the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater and cultural advisor to Aomori Prefecture, in addition to writing and lecturing. After 1990, it seems that he rarely appeared on television.

Legend has it that Mr. Suzuki went to the studio having memorized the entire script. He believed that it was unprofessional for an announcer to speak as written in a script, and that he could speak in his own words only when he added facts he had researched on his own. Based on this belief, Mr. Suzuki’s announcing technique was a craftsmanship, and he was also called “the last craftsman announcer.

We pray for his soul rest in peace.