Shimura’s executive workplace says the 70-year-old man was hospitalized on March 20 after complaining of fatigue. He developed severe pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus on March 23. He died just two weeks after the first symptoms appeared. It is not known how or where he contracted the virus.
Shimura was born in 1950 in Tokyo. While in high school, he joined the comedy troupe The Drifters as an apprentice. In 1974, he became a full member, ushering in a rise that would make him one of the biggest stars in Japanese comedy.
For children growing up in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s, the Drifters’ Saturday night comedy show was a regular occurrence. I don’t forget to sit in front of the TV, slightly able to express my excitement, waiting for Shimura and his friends to show up. and plays a variety of endearing characters. ” Foolish Warlord,” “Mustache Dance,” and “Weird Uncle” are just a few of the jokes that have become synonymous with this era in Japan.
As Shimura’s popularity grew, he became well-known in Asia. On Monday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted thanking him for making her people laugh. His death was reported around the world, with media outlets such as Reuters and AP highlighting his enormous influence. about Japanese comedy.
Shimura’s death also sparks a heightened sense of urgency in Japan regarding the coronavirus. Many other people on Twitter expressed the feeling that they felt that someone they enjoyed had died, as Shimura had been a constant presence in their lives. The tweets also imply that other people are taking the virus more seriously.
“We young people will have to make up our minds not to spread the virus,” one tweet read.
“If you’re not happy with Shimura Ken’s death, then don’t leave your house for non-essential purposes,” another said.
“Don’t worry about getting the virus, worry about infecting others,” said another.
Popular YouTuber Hikakin says that he has idolized Shimura since he was a child and that his taste in comedy has influenced him greatly. He says Shimura’s death encouraged him to teach his enthusiastic young people about the severity of the virus.
“Young people, perceive that we are in a crisis,” he says in a video. “I understand that you need to swoon and see the cherry blossoms, but don’t. “
Hikakin says it’s hard to deal with Shimura’s death, but he hopes other young people will honor Shimura by being more careful. He says he wants them to live each day with a sense of urgency, imagining the remorse they would feel if they ignited a circle. of a family member, or frifinish and that user died. He says he believes that by dying, Shimura Ken could end up saving many lives.