TOKYO - Hiroshi Kume, a leading figure in Japanese television as both a program host and news anchor, has died at the age of 81, his agency announced. His wife, Reiko, said he “remained true to himself to the very end,” while fellow performers including Tetsuko Kuroyanagi expressed their sorrow at his passing.
Kume, who left a lasting mark on Japan’s television history, died of lung cancer on January 1st at the age of 81.
His wife, Reiko, commented, “I think Kume stayed true to who he was until the very end. He drank his beloved cider in one go and then departed. It was just like the final episode of News Station, when he finished his beer. I believe he had no regrets about the days he spent running through life as a free-spirited communicator.”
Kume joined TBS as an announcer in 1967 and went on to host the popular quiz show Pittashi Kan-Kan. Kinichi Hagimoto, who appeared on the program, recalled receiving the news of Kume’s death by saying, “He was a smart and sharp host, so I used to joke with him, saying, ‘Golf isn’t so smart, is it?’ I really felt there was still so much ahead of him, so my honest reaction was, ‘Hey, are you really leaving us already?’”
Kume also gained widespread popularity as a co-host of The Best Ten alongside Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, where their lively exchanges made the show a household favorite. Kuroyanagi said, “Ever since The Best Ten, you were my true best friend. Whether it was politics or everyday life, we were perfectly in sync without any rehearsal. You were actually very sensitive and kind. I don’t want to say goodbye. When the day comes that we can meet again, let’s continue our conversation. ‘Can you see my tears?’ Thank you for truly being my friend.”
After leaving TBS, Kume became the main newscaster of TV Asahi’s News Station in 1985. His frank and accessible style won strong support from viewers, and the program continued for more than 18 years.
Mari Watanabe, who co-hosted the show, said, “It doesn’t feel real. I feel like a sharp-tongued email from Kume will arrive this week as usual. I owe him so much, and I have endless memories. Right now, I just hope to share these feelings with his beloved family and the staff he cared for so deeply.”
In 2005, Kume appeared on TBS’s general election vote-counting special, where he reunited as a nighttime news anchor with Tetsuya Chikushi of NEWS23, once his rival, and pressed then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi with pointed questions.
Kume was also active in radio, hosting his own program on TBS Radio for 14 years and receiving the Galaxy Award’s DJ Personality Prize. In 2015, he co-hosted a special program marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II alongside actor Haruka Ayase.
His agency said, “During his lifetime, he received extraordinary kindness and support from so many people, for which he was deeply grateful.”
Source: TBS
