Sanma Akashiya, Akiko Wada, and Others… Major Entertainment Figures Who Gathered at the Wake Reveal “The True Personality of Tamao Nakamura During Her Lifetime”

A chance encounter at a pachinko parlor…

“Ever since she played the role of my biological mother in *The Rowdy Shogun* (TV Asahi), she treated me like her own son. In our personal lives, we’d go out to dinner together with my family at least once a year.The last time I saw her was last year. I visited her at the nursing home, and she was still in good spirits then; we talked about ‘working together again someday’… Even today, her face looked so beautiful. Thank you so much for all your hard work over the years.” (Ken Matsudaira, a singer who was formerly an assistant to the late actor Shintaro Katsu, Tamao Nakamura’s husband)

On June 16, the wake for actress Tamao Nakamura (aged 86) was held at the Kirigaya Funeral Hall in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.The altar was decorated with items such as “Coco Chanel” perfume and an ashtray—which Tamao had reportedly loved during her lifetime—and the portrait displayed was a promotional photo she herself had said was her favorite. On the day of the service, approximately 400 people, including members of the general public, attended to pay their respects to Tamao, who had passed away on June 9 due to pneumonia.

“In February 2023, Ms. Nakamura fell while on a work assignment in the provinces and suffered a compression fracture of the spine.She had since been recuperating at a nursing facility in Tokyo. She had also been absent from the annual New Year’s special “Sanma & Tamao’s New Year’s Gift! Shall We Make Your Dream Come True? Special” (TBS), a popular program featuring her iconic partnership with Sanma Akashiya (70), since 2024.“It seems she had been feeling unwell and had lost her appetite in the month leading up to her death,” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

The list of attendees was an impressive one. In addition to entertainment industry heavyweights such as Akiko Wada (76) and Sanma Akashiya, it included TV personalities Tomomi Nishimura (55) and Risa Tachibana (54), who co-starred with her on “Sanma’s SUPER Karakuri TV” (TBS).Furthermore, a wide range of celebrities who were contemporaries of Tamao—including Kazuo Tokumitsu (85) and Eiko Segawa (78)—lined up to offer incense.

Akiko Wada, who attended the service, looked back on memories of Tamao’s life with tears in her eyes.

“Both Tamao and I loved pachinko, and we would sometimes bump into each other at pachinko parlors. I would be in disguise, but Tamao would be playing pachinko without any disguise at all. Whenever she noticed me, she’d say, ‘You must be hungry, right?’ and bring me some bread. She was such a cheerful person… I imagine she’s over there right now, laughing happily with Katsu-san.”

Sadaharu Oh (86), who was said to have been friends with Tamao’s late husband, actor Shintaro Katsu, also paid his respects, saying, “I’m sure the whole of Japan is feeling lonely now.”

“She loved baseball very much and would come to my games as a fan. Whenever Tamao-san came, the stadium would come alive. She was such a lively person. We miss her, but above all, I hope she’s now living happily with Katsu-shin-san, without worrying about what others think.”

The death of a great actress who continued to bring joy to all of Japan for over half a century. Even now, a week after the news of her passing, many people are still overcome with grief.