Noritake Kinashi Shares the Deep Feelings Behind His Brief Message to Hospitalized Partner Takaaki IshibashiNoritake Kinashi Shares the Deep Feelings Behind His Brief Message to Hospitalized Partner Takaaki Ishibashi

The Best Outcome is Result OK

“I wake up every morning at 3:30 AM and start moving around by 4:30. It’s even before the newspapers arrive (laughs). I hop between convenience stores and so on.”

When he returns home, he fixates on baseball broadcasts, reacting with joy and disappointment to Shohei Ohtani’s (31) at-bats in MLB.

“If Ohtani isn’t hitting, I change the channel. Just like everyone else (laughs).”

In summer, he immerses himself in the high school baseball Koshien tournament, often dozing off to the sound of cheering crowds. This is how Noritake Kinashi, 63, starts his day.

Kinashi formed the comedy duo “Tunnels” with his high school classmate Takaaki Ishibashi (63), gaining massive popularity. With numerous high-rating shows such as “Thanks to Everyone from Tunnels” (Fuji TV), they dominated Heisei-era television. Additionally, Kinashi showcased his unique presence as an actor, starring in the 2024 drama “When Spring Comes” (Fuji TV), his first lead role in 24 years.

Continuing to captivate fans with his diverse talents, Kinashi is currently holding his third nationwide touring exhibition, “Noritake Kinashi Exhibition—TOUCH.” The venue features around 230 pieces, including paintings and sculptures, with the highlight being new works from his signature “REACH OUT” series—centered on the motif of hands, which he has been painting for over 20 years. The tour began in Osaka and will move to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture) starting September 13.

“The title ‘TOUCH’ was born from ‘REACH OUT.’ It represents the idea of reaching out hands and connections between people. Sometimes I add a bit more to the series to give it a different expression. The works don’t have to be finished—they can stay in progress. That’s why I tell visitors feel free to touch some pieces. Even if they chip or change, ‘result OK.’ That adds flavor, doesn’t it?”

He adds,

“This touring exhibition is more like an amusement park or school festival than a typical art show. I create a course in my mind: starting from A, then B, C and then onto the next theme. You could say it’s like sharing my diary with people.”

“Next stop: Tokyo Dome!”

Kinashi’s artistic talents bloom as he continues to achieve success one after another. Despite his busy schedule, he visited his partner Ishibashi, who has been undergoing treatment for early-stage esophageal cancer, at the end of June. He recalled the day he visited together with Ishibashi’s eldest daughter, Honoka (36):

“When I called and asked Honoka, ‘Can I see Takaaki?’ she said, ‘I’ll check it out,’ and then she arranged everything.”

However, the words exchanged in the hospital room were brief.

“When I said, ‘We have to beat this, right? When you get better, Tokyo Dome,’ he replied, ‘Yeah, that’s right.’ If he doesn’t get better, he can’t even sing. That’s pretty much all we talked about. Then I talked a little with Honoka and said, ‘See you later.’ That’s how it’s always been.”

Behind those words lies the memory of last November’s Budokan live concert. It was a special night where “Tunnels” stood on stage together again after 29 years. The lingering feeling from that night still remains.

“While singing, I thought, ‘How nostalgic.’ I’m sure the audience felt the same. The feelings from 29 years ago came back to me. Many people wrote great songs for us. It really was special.”

Continuing to expand his activities both as “Tunnels” and as an artist, Kinashi is charging forward into the second half of his life, aiming toward 70 years old.

The September 11 issue of FRIDAY (September 26 issue) and the paid version FRIDAY GOLD feature candid talks about his first experiences at 63 and his unique work philosophy.

From the September 26, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”