Terminally Ill Director Takasu Confesses the One Thing He Asked Partner Rieko Saibara to Do in His Will
Even though he was scammed in the past, he’s now totally into a racehorse purchase story from the same person.
Speaking of Takasu, it’s still fresh in memory that his racehorse Takasu Takasu Takasu, of which he is the owner, won its debut race the other day.
Saibara: “That Takasu Takasu Takasu too — he bought the horse after being approached with the same kind of offer by someone who had fooled him once before. Isn’t that stupid? I was listening to his phone call with that person from behind, and I couldn’t help thinking, ‘Hey, hey!’ and jumping in.”
About 10 years ago, Takasu was approached by an acquaintance about jointly purchasing the naming rights for a racehorse for 50 million yen. He paid half, 25 million yen. At the time, he was told the naming application had been rejected, so he gave up on naming the horse — but in reality, the application had never even been submitted to the JRA.
Takasu: “That guy was a classmate from my university days. He promised that he’d give me the naming rights, then lied to me saying ‘I submitted the application, but it didn’t go through.’ I did get a full refund, though. After that incident, we lost touch — then suddenly he called me out of nowhere. When I told him, ‘Considering last time, this leaves a bad taste in my mouth,’ he said, ‘This time it’s real! I can redeem myself!’ But this time, the horse’s application was approved, and it even won its debut race (laughs).”
Saibara: “Since the horse won, I asked him, ‘Use that money to buy me a stylish LED light inspired by contemporary art!’ and he said, ‘Absolutely not!’ Even though I’d be thrilled to receive an art piece.”
Takasu: “Eighty thousand yen for an LED light, you’re definitely being scammed.”
Saibara: “There’s this delicious bottled milk, and he teased me saying, ‘For that, I might pay 80,000 yen.’ He’ll pay 25 million yen for a horse, yet he won’t even buy me an 80,000-yen light. Such a cheapskate.”
Their playful, happy banter continued as the conversation moved toward Takasu’s battle with illness. It has been about 11 years since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Even while continuing treatment today, he still tirelessly makes rounds at Takasu Hospital in Aichi and performs surgeries at Ginza Takasu Clinic in Tokyo. In his private life too, he keeps active — golf, mahjong, watching sumo tournaments, and more.
Saibara: “He’s practically a professional at facing terminal cancer. Actually, right after my series ‘Darling is…’ was approved in 2014, his cancer was discovered. We even discussed whether the series could continue, but the editor said, ‘Dr. Takasu is someone who loves being in manga more than anything,’ so we decided to go ahead.”
Takasu: “I just don’t die easily. And the cancer doesn’t go away either. It’s coexistence now. Coexist until it doesn’t kill me. Even if a terrorist were living inside my house, as long as I can keep functioning without collapsing, I’m fine. All my friends who had cancer have died, though.”
Saibara: “He’s a person who always keeps fighting, no matter what. He once built up 10 billion yen in debt during the bubble era and paid it all off. He’s the type who can’t stop halfway. Same with cancer treatment.”
Takasu: “Finding new weapons and trying them out is fun (laughs).”
Saibara: “Maybe the cancer is weakening because of all his daring treatments — but his body looks like it’s weakening too. Still, that’s just the way he lives.”
Takasu: “I’m committed to being ‘active for life.’ I worked yesterday, and I’ll work tomorrow. It’s fun to show the people who think, ‘There’s no way he can still perform delicate surgeries,’ that I actually can.”
Saibara: “He’s putting on a brave face. But he just keeps moving forward, always forward. He works so much — it’s admirable. I once thought I hated drawing manga and considered quitting long ago, but seeing Katsuya snapped me out of it. You can quit anytime. As long as you have work, you have to keep going.”
“When I die, be the chief mourner.” — What Director Takasu wrote in his will.
As the conversation approached its final stage, Saibara noticed that Takasu looked tired and began massaging the soles of his feet. Takasu, meanwhile, listened to Saibara’s humorous stories, laughing heartily — “Gahaha!” — his expression softening with joy.
Takasu has published Takasu no Yuigon (Kodansha), a book recounting his intense life, and it has become a topic of discussion. For Saibara, following the death of Kamoshida, whom she cared for through his battle with cancer, there is again the possibility she may face the final moments of someone dear to her.
Saibara: “He tells me, ‘When I die, be the chief mourner,’ but I really don’t want to.”
Takasu: “You’re going to be the chief mourner at my funeral! That’s the natural order. I’ve already written it in my will.”
Saibara: “I try not to think too far ahead anymore. With a ‘finite love,’ it’s enough to think only about today and tomorrow.”
Takasu: “When your time starts running out, life gets deeper. A day passes quickly. A week feels like a day, and eventually, a month will feel like a day too, I suppose.”
Saibara: “That’s why I want to enjoy the moments when we can be together and go on dates. I don’t want to be the kind of old person who finds things to complain about — I want to find the good things and share happiness. Otherwise, I’ll get overwhelmed by all sorts of conflicts (laughs).”
By the time the interview ended, the sun was beginning to set. “After tomorrow’s clinic, what should I do next?” Takasu murmured. Saibara replied, “I want to eat Shanghai crab.” Hand in hand, the two slowly walked away together.
Together they are 140 years old. Their backs, savoring the value of today and dreaming of the hope of tomorrow, were filled with emotion.
Massaging Takasu’s tired-looking feet. “When I rub them, he gets quiet like a child (laughs),” Saibara said happily.
From the November 7, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”
PHOTO： Takehiko Kohiyama
