Following the tragic death of Sakurazuka Yakkun in a car accident, his former comedy partner, Takeuchi Kousuke, broke his silence and took to Twitter to mourn his the loss of his friend.
The story of Yakkun’s death is still sending shockwaves around the Japanese internet, as many netizens continue to express their sadness at the loss of a much-loved comedian.
From Yahoo! Japan:
“Upon Hearing Of Former Partner’s Death, Takeuchi Kousuke Reflects: “I Will Do As Yasuo Would Have Wanted.”
Takeuchi with his former partner, Saito Yasuo, or Sakurazuka Yakkun.
Upon hearing that comedian Sakurazuka Yakkun (aged 37, real name Saito Yasuo) had died in a car accident on October 5, his former partner and narrator in Abare Nanchaku, Takeuchi posted his reflective thoughts on Twitter.
Takeuchi thanked the supportive people around him, saying, “I have made you all worry. Thank you so much for all the emails, phone calls, and replies on Twitter.” He mourned the sudden death of his friend, saying, “Please ignore my needs just for today. Put your hands together for my partner instead. From tomorrow I will do as Yasuo would have wanted.”
Saito and 4 others collided with the median strip on the Chugoku Expressway in Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, causing a single-car accident. Upon getting out of the car, Saito was struck by the following car, and despite being transported to hospital died of a ruptured heart. The 5 were on their way to Kumamoto Prefecture in preparation for an event they were to make an appearance at the next day.
Saito had formed Abare Nanchaku with Kousuke Takeuchi in 1999, and they performed together until 2005. After that, he recreated himself as the character “Sukeban Kyouko”, wearing a ‘sailor’ outfit and wielding a shinai, and appeared on Japanese variety shows such as “Enta no Kamisama” [The Gods Of Entertainment] around 2006.
Comments from Yahoo! Japan:
nsj*****:
The “Daily Sporting News” style is deplorable. Are you really writing like this, even though someone died? “He’s gone and died,” are you kidding me?E
つぶやきジロー:
I saw Abare Nanchaku at Bakusho Onnea Battle.
Their style of using drawings and dark humour was pretty funny.
hir*****:
Abare Nanchaku was the best comedy duo.
It was a shame they broke up, even though their Onbato performance was so good.
fc2*****:
People you were just chatting and laughing with until yesterday can be gone like that.
Again all I can think is that accidents are horrible things.
It reminds you that even though there are lots of little annoying rules and controls in place, if they can prevent accidents even a little, they are so necessary.
duc*****:
I remember Nanno Yoko at the microphone when Honda Minako died, and she saidrather than listening to my comments, please play her songs a little more often — rhetoric alone is not a memorial.
ilo*****:
It’s like, a weird feeling.
Even if you’re not a fan, if you think about the fact that you can never see that performance again… a person’s death is a big deal.
yus*****:
I’m sure there were times while they were working together that they annoyed each other, but given the relationship they had as partners his sadness and loss would be more than most.
papico:
I pray for his happiness in the next life.
Civil_Defense_Force:
I pray from my heart for his happiness in the next life.
asa*****:
Again, this makes me think about how scary Expressways are. We must use Yakkun’s last message as a way to create a world without accidents.
