Akashiya Sanma, Akiko Wada Among Mourners Sharing Memories of Tamao Nakamura

They once happened to run into each other at a pachinko parlor

“Ever since she played my biological mother in ‘The Unfettered Shogun’ (TV Asahi), she treated me like her real son. In private, we would have dinner together about once a year, including my family. The last time I saw her was last year. I heard from the care facility staff that she was still in good health at that time, and she said, ‘Let’s work together again.’ Even today, she had such a beautiful face. Thank you for your long years of hard work.” (Singer Matsudaira Ken, former attendant of the late actor Shintaro Katsu, and husband of Tamao Nakamura)

On June 16, the wake for actress Tamao Nakamura (aged 86) was held at Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The altar was decorated with items she reportedly loved in life, such as Coco Chanel perfume and an ashtray, and the portrait used was one of her favorite promotional photos. About 400 people attended the service, including general mourners, to pay tribute to her, who passed away from pneumonia on June 9.

According to an entertainment reporter:

“Nakamura suffered a compression fracture of her spine after a fall while working in the countryside in February 2023. After that, she had been receiving care in a facility in Tokyo. She had also been absent from the annual New Year’s program ‘Sanma & Tamao’s Grant Your Dream!’ Special (TBS) since 2024, where she and Akashiya Sanma were a beloved duo. In the month before her passing, her health reportedly declined and she lost her appetite.”

A large number of prominent figures attended the funeral. In addition to major entertainers such as Akiko Wada and Akashiya Sanma, there were also co-stars from “Sanma’s SUPER Karakuri TV” like Tomomi Nishimura and Risa Tachibana, as well as veterans such as Kazuo Tokumitsu and Eiko Segawa, who shared her era, all lining up to offer incense.

Singer Akiko Wada, tearfully recalling memories of the deceased, said:

“Both Tamao and I loved pachinko, and we sometimes bumped into each other at pachinko parlors. I was in disguise, but she wasn’t. When she noticed me, she would say, ‘You must be hungry,’ and bring me bread. She was such a bright person. I think right now she’s up there, laughing together with Mr. Katsu.”

Sadaharu Oh, who had been close to her late husband Shintaro Katsu, also paid tribute:

“She was someone who truly loved baseball and even came to watch my games as a fan. When she came, the stadium would light up. She was such a lively person. We are deeply saddened, but I hope she is now with Mr. Katsu, without worrying about anything, happily together.”

The passing of a great actress who brightened Japan for more than half a century continues to leave many in mourning even a week after the news.