Comedian Chiaki Junior (49) updated his YouTube channel by November 1st and posted a video interview with his senior, Tomohiro Takayama (55). Takayama, a 7th period student at NSC Osaka School, is one senior to the Chiaki Brothers. He used to form a comedy duo called “Ketsukatchin” with Isao Izumi and had a great success in the early 1990s as part of the duo “Bay Blues” with Eitoku Kawamoto. They won awards such as the ”Kamigata Comedy Grand Prize” and the “ABC Comedy Newcomer Grand Prix,” and were highly anticipated. However, Kawamoto fell ill and passed away on October 31, 1994, at the age of 25 due to acute hepatitis and cerebral hemorrhage. In later years, Takayama compiled his memories into a novel called “Bay Blues: 25 Years and 364 Days,” which was later adapted into a movie.
In the video titled “Talking about the 2nd Avenue Theater Era that we can now talk about,” Junior and Takayama reminisced about the backstage of that time and shared memories of Kawamoto. Junior nostalgically said, “It was an amazing youth, running through it was too fast. Although it’s just a ‘what if,’ I still think about it now, if he (Kawamoto) were still alive. All comedians of our generation think the same thing.” He also confessed that he was hospitalized with hepatitis six months after Kawamoto’s passing. “After Bay Blues left the 2nd Avenue Theater, the Chiaki Brothers were going to be the main hosts of a program called ’Sungei! Best 10.’ On the first recording, I said ‘See you next week!’ and then collapsed,” he recalled. “In my memory, Kawamoto’s (liver) value was around 7500, and mine was 5000. I was in the same condition as Kawamoto, who died from acute hepatitis. I was unconscious for four days,” he revealed.
He also mentioned that there were instructions not to disclose the fact that it was either type A or type B hepatitis. “They called my parents and company employees, saying, ‘If it’s type B hepatitis, it’s already over.’ It was like, ‘Since we already had Kawamoto, don’t let this one out to the public,'” he said.
Junior eventually recovered. “Even after I got better, no one came to visit me. At that time, the Aum Shinrikyo cult was spreading sarin gas, and the TV was constantly showing news about the cult. It was not interesting at all!” he joked while talking about his connection with the legendary comedian Kawamoto. In 2000, he became unconscious again and suffered a major injury in a motorcycle accident.
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How did Tomohiro Takayama’s comedy career evolve after the passing of his former duo partner at such a young age?
Comedian Chiaki Junior, who is 49 years old, recently updated his YouTube channel on November 1st. He delighted his fans by posting a video interview with his senior, Tomohiro Takayama, aged 55. Takayama, a former student at NSC Osaka School, is one senior to the Chiaki Brothers. In the early 1990s, he formed a successful comedy duo called “Ketsukatchin” with Isao Izumi. Later, he joined the duo “Bay Blues” with Eitoku Kawamoto and achieved even greater fame. Their skills were highly recognized, and they won prestigious awards such as the “Kamigata Comedy Grand Prize” and the “ABC Comedy Newcomer Grand Prix.” However, tragedy struck when Kawamoto fell ill and sadly passed away on October 31, 1994, at the young age of 25 as a result of acute hepatitis and cerebral hemorrhage.
I can’t wait to hear Chihara Junior’s stories and memories, he’s always been hilarious on stage!