Yuki Katsuragi: Unyielding Fighting Spirit Overcomes Injuries in TV’s “Human Cannon
Entertainment Reporter Toshio Ishikawa's "Behind the Scenes" of the entertainment industry: ......
Toshio Ishikawa, entertainment reporter, tells us what happened behind the scenes of the entertainment industry: ……
Yuki Katsuragi, a singer who had hit songs such as “Bohemian” about 30 years ago, passed away on June 27 at the age of 73.
She was a volleyball player in high school and participated in the National Athletic Meet twice as an attacker. She was asked to join a well-known company with a strong volleyball team, but due to her short stature, she moved to the position of setter.
At the time, the trend was for volleyball players to be “attackers. I didn’t like it, so I left the company.
She decided to pursue her dream of becoming a singer and pursue a career in music. Without listening to his family’s objections, he left Okayama for Osaka as if running away from home. He attended music school while working part-time.
In 1973, he participated in the “Yamaha Popular Song Contest” and won the singing award. Later, he also won a prize in the “5th World Song Contest. With Yamaha’s support, he decided to make his debut.
And his debut song was “Kiso wa Yama no Naka”. After singing a few songs, it led to the big hit “Bohemian” provided by Asuka Ryo and Daisuke Inoue of “Chage & Asuka”.
This song became the theme song for the ’83 TBS drama “Akai Ashion”. It featured Yoko Shimada, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Yoichi Miura, and others.
Until then, she had been singing new music-type songs, but after this song, she was replaced by rock songs. Her misfortune came in the form of a TV variety show.
In October 2003, when she participated in “Tunnels no minasan no okagedeshita” (Fuji Television Network), she fell face first into a pool of urethane that had been filled with the pool. He suffered a crushed thoracic vertebrae fracture and dislocated sternum.
He underwent major surgery to have a titanium brace implanted in his back. Unable to move his body at all, he was prepared to retire.
However, he held a comeback concert in May ’04. In 2006, she was well enough to perform the national anthem before the Japan Open tennis final between Kei Nishikori and Daniil Medvedev.
He loved cooking and enjoyed delivering bentos and side dishes to his co-stars and others. Backstage at the “singing contest” hosted by the Yume Group, Katsuragi’s cooking and side dishes were the talk of the town, and many staff members and performers were waiting for her “cooking.
Ms. Katsuragi, who had been traveling around Japan on a bus, announced last April that she had stage 4 primary peritoneal cancer, and after undergoing two surgeries, she returned to the stage in May of this year, but her health deteriorated. At his own volition, Mr. Katsuragi had continued to receive medical treatment at home.
Her last stage performance was on June 17.
My life is gratitude, gratitude,” he said.
He said his final farewell to his fans and other people concerned. Three days before his death, he called his former teachers and friends from his school days. He thanked them for all they had done for him.
Mr. Katsuragi said.
Mr. Katsuragi had said that if he died in his apartment, it would cause trouble for the people around him.
He died in his hospital bed. He told the person concerned that he called an ambulance.
I called an ambulance. Thank you for everything.
The last thing he did was to call the people concerned and tell them, “I called an ambulance. Eriko Watanabe, a member of the popular comedy duo “Asagaya Sisters,” was honored at a
I had the honor of working with her on a TV show, singing the famous song “Bohemian” in front of her, and being able to listen to her unique voice and long tones up close was a truly unforgettable and happy experience.
I was truly an unforgettable and happy experience,” she tweeted on Twitter. Ayumi Nakamura, a singer, also tweeted
I will always treasure the excitement I felt when I was able to stand on the same stage as Yuki Katsuragi after she made her debut.
I treasure the moment when I made my debut and stood on the same stage as Yuki Katsuragi.
Ms. Katsuragi was a target for younger singers. Her “Bohemian” will be sung forever by the younger singers who adored her…Gassho.
Text: Toshio Ishikawa (Entertainment Reporter)
Born in Tokyo in 1946. He has a unique career path from Shochiku's advertising department to a reporter for women's magazines to an entertainment reporter. He has appeared on "The Wide" and "Information Live Miyaneya" (both on Nippon Television Network Corporation), and currently appears regularly on "Mentai Wide" (Fukuoka Broadcasting System), "Su Matan" (Yomiuri TV), and Rainbow Town FM.
Photo: Kyodo News