Wikipedia

Toru Watanabe

Toru Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺 徹, Hepburn: Watanabe Tōru; 12 May 1961 – 28 November 2022) was a Japanese actor and singer. He starred in Taiyō ni Hoero! (1981), Yoake no Runner (1983), and Kaze no Naka no Aitsu  (ja) (1984), and won the 1985 Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. He released several singles, one of which topped at #2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

Toru Watanabe
Born(1961-05-12)12 May 1961
Oyama, Tochigi, Japan
Died28 November 2022(2022-11-28) (aged 61)
Tokyo, Japan
EducationIbaraki Prefectural Koga Third High School (ja)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer

Biography

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Early life

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Watanabe was born on 12 May 1961 in Oyama, Tochigi.[1][2] His mother worked as a poster girl for a local restaurant her family ran, and his father worked as a nagashi accordionist.[2][3] The family moved frequently, around "the heart of the Kantō Plain, on the borders of Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Saitama prefectures", and he once lived in a six-story tenement house in the Kosuna area in Koga, Ibaraki.[2] He was educated at Ibaraki Prefectural Koga Third High School (ja).[4] He later attended the Bungakuza Theatre Institute and joined the agency in 1985.[1]

Media career

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In 1981, he debuted as Junji Takemoto/Rugger in the TV drama Taiyō ni Hoero!, before starring in the 1984 Nippon TV drama Kaze no Naka no Aitsu  (ja).[5][6] In 1987, he played Hiroshi Kiyomitsu in the film Actress  (ja).[7] He won the 1982 Golden Arrow Award for Best Newcomer in Broadcasting.[8] He starred in his film debut in Yoake no Runner (1983).[9] He was one of the winners of the 1985 Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year.[10]

In 1982, he released his first single "Kare (Rival)".[6] He rose to popularity with his second single "Yakusoku", made for Glico Almond Chocolate commercials, topping at #2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[5][11] Three more singles, "Ai no Naka e" (1982), "Yaketsuku Memory", and "Again" (both 1983), reached the top 30 of the same chart.[11] He also appeared on several variety shows.[9] He appeared alongside Jackie Chan in Kirin Company's commercial for its Nama A Beer.[12] The Yomiuri Shimbun noted that he had a reputation for his cheerful personality.[13]

Watanabe also performed on the stage for several decades, including at Bungakuza.[1] He won the 2000 Kikuta Kazuo Theater Prize (ja) Theater Award for his roles as Teppei Ōmori in Akasatana  (ja) and Yamauchi Kazutoyo in Kōmyō ga Tsuji  (ja).[14]

In 2019, he served as the emcee of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 74th National Athletic Meet (ja) in Ibaraki Prefecture.[15]

Illness and death

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Watanabe suffered from chronic health. He was reportedly a voracious eater, consuming 6,000 calories a day, and he would normally eat six meals a day, including three bento boxes during filming.[16][17] He once peaked at 130kg, before slimming down to 90 kg, and he was later diagnosed with diabetes.[16] After having a heart attack, he was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease in April 2021, underwent surgery for aortic valve stenosis in May, and was discharged from the hospital with a weight of 79 kg.[18][16][19] He resumed activities in July 2021.[20] He dropped out of several planned stage performances due to his illness that year.[9] He often underwent dialysis due to chronic kidney failure from diabetes.[21]

On 19 November 2022, his final appearance before his death was a remote appearance at the Akita University Medical Forum;[22] despite his precautionary negative COVID test, the forum had went remote.[23] After returning to Tokyo the next day, he was diagnosed with bacterial gastroenteritis and hospitalized.[6] He died of sepsis at 9:01 PM on 28 November 2022.[9] He was 61.[13]

A family funeral was held in Tokyo on 5 December, with his eldest son as the chief mourner, and the same day his wife and eldest son held a joint press conference about his death.[24] His dharma name was "Yōkōin Kentoku Tetsushinkoji (陽光院賢徳徹真居士)".[25] A farewell ceremony was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa on 28 March 2023, with approximately 1,200 people in attendance.[5]

Personal life

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After co-starring together in Kaze no Naka no Aitsu, Watanabe married singer and actress Ikue Sakakibara in October 1987.[6] Their wedding reception took place at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa and was broadcast live on Nippon Television Network, hosted by Kazuo Tokumitsu and reaching an audience rating of 40.1%.[3][26] The couple had two children, actors Yūta (ja) and Takuya.[27] In 1993, after reports surfaced that he had been having an affair with a 27-year-old model for more than nine months, he denied the affair at a press conference.[17]

Watanabe had also spoken about his experiences with death threats made by a maternal uncle against his father.[28] Watanabe built two houses in Setagaya, both after each of his sons was born; by 2022, the latter was worth an estimated 400 million yen.[3]

Watanabe loved mayonnaise so much that he would secretly consume it even though his wife, worried about his health, limited the condiment in the household.[19] At his farewell ceremony, attendees received a specially designed bottle of mayonnaise in his honour.[29]

Filmography

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Discography

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Albums

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Title Details
Kakenukeru made (駆け抜けるまで…)[33]
Talking (in all-caps)[34]
  • Released: 1 January 1983
  • Label: Epic/Sony
Dramatic Road (ドラマティック・ロード)[35]
  • Released: 21 November 1983
  • Label: Epic/Sony
Mr. Sentimental (Mr.センチメンタリスト)[36]
  • Released: 21 March 1986
  • Label: Epic/Sony

Singles

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Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN[11]
"Rival" (彼《ライバル》)[37] 1982
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 — —
"Yakusoku" (約束)[38] 1982
  • Released: 25 August 1982
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 2 —
"Ai no Naka e" (愛の中へ)[39] 1982
  • Released: 10 December 1982
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 6 —
"Yaketsuku Memory" (灼けつくメモリー)[40] 1983
  • Released: 21 May 1983[11]
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 27 —
"Again" (stylized in all-caps)[41] 1983
  • Released: 21 September 1983
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 21 —
"Hitomi Serious" (瞳・シリアス)[42] 1984
  • Released: 1 May 1984
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 — —
"Ki ni Naru Aitsu" (気になるあいつ)[43] 1985
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 — —
"Netsujō" (熱情)[44] 1986
  • Released: 1 February 1986
  • Label: Epic/Sony
 — —
"Vitamine CM" (ビタミンCM)[45] 1991 — —
"Tōi Yume ni Aeru made" (遠い夢に逢えるまで) (with Kuniko Yamada (ja)[46] 1995 — —

Awards

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Year Award Category Work(s) Result Ref.
1982 20th Golden Arrow Awards Golden Arrow Award for Best Newcomer in Broadcasting Won [8]
1985 9th Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Himself Won [10]
2000 26th Kikuta Kazuo Theater Awards (ja) Kikuta Kazuo Theater Prize (ja) Theater Award Teppei Ōmori in Akasatana (ja) and Yamauchi Kazutoyo in Kōmyō ga Tsuji (ja) Won [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "渡辺　徹". Bungakuza (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Watanabe, Toru (2 December 2022). "〈渡辺徹さん死去〉極貧の少年時代、一念発起して家を建てた父、その家で新妻の榊原郁恵は「夏のお嬢さん」を歌った". Bunshun Online (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Hiroko Ohnishi. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "渡辺徹さんの死は美談ばかりではなかった…妻・郁恵さんを苦しめた「不倫と牛飲馬食」｜週刊誌からみた「ニッポンの後退」". Nikkan Gendai (in Japanese). 18 December 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  4. ^ "渡辺徹さんにを委嘱" (PDF). Kōhō Koga (in Japanese). 1 September 2007. p. 5.
  5. ^ a b c "渡辺徹さんお別れの会 幅広い人脈1200人が出席 角野卓造、サンドウィッチマン…愛されキャラしのぶ". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 28 March 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "渡辺徹さん　敗血症のため死去、61歳　先月20日に発熱、腹痛などで入院治療も28日亡くなる". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b "映画女優 : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  8. ^ a b "GOLDEN ARROW AWARDS 受賞者一覧" (PDF). Japan Magazine Publishers Association. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d "俳優の渡辺徹さん死去　「太陽にほえろ！」刑事役、６１歳". jiji.com (in Japanese). 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  10. ^ a b エランドール賞歴代受賞者一覧 [List of Élan d'Or awardee] (in Japanese). All Nippon Producers Association. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d "渡辺徹のシングル売上TOP4作品". Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  12. ^ Kurei, Hibiki (2023). "オレたちを熱狂させたスーパースター、ジャッキーは何者だ？！". Show 50-nen Otoko (in Japanese). No. 24.
  13. ^ a b "俳優の渡辺徹さんが敗血症のため死去、６１歳…「太陽にほえろ！」など出演". Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b "菊⽥⼀夫演劇賞（2010年〜2000年 受賞者）". eibunkyo.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  15. ^ "渡辺徹さんの訃報に係る知事談話". Ibaraki Prefecture (in Japanese). 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "渡辺徹、デビュー以来の70キロ台で退院". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 9 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  17. ^ a b "(2ページ目)渡辺徹さんの死は美談ばかりではなかった…妻・郁恵さんを苦しめた「不倫と牛飲馬食」". Nikkan Gendai (in Japanese). 18 December 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  18. ^ "渡辺徹、心筋梗塞の手術していた 復帰後の体重はデビュー以来の70キロ台". Oricon News (in Japanese). 8 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  19. ^ a b "渡辺徹 初めて冷やし中華作ったと明かすも…「特権」大量マヨネーズに心配の声続出". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 7 June 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  20. ^ "渡辺徹 闘病支えた息子からの還暦祝い赤パンツ「うれしすぎて、入院中ずっとはいた」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 12 July 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  21. ^ "渡辺徹さん死去 61歳 敗血症 病気と闘った半生 10月舞台はほっそりした姿 榊原郁恵とおしどり夫婦". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  22. ^ "渡辺徹さん、秋田での医療フォーラムが最後の仕事に サキホコレ弁当「ホッとする」". Akita Sakigake Shimpō (in Japanese). 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  23. ^ "渡辺徹さん長男裕太「3日前病院に行ったら顔色も変わっていて、意識もなかった」直前様子明かす". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 5 December 2022.
  24. ^ "渡辺徹さんの妻・榊原郁恵が会見「渡辺徹は偉大だったんだな」長男・渡辺裕太と". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  25. ^ Sakakibara, Ikue (20 July 2023). "榊原郁恵 彼がくれた最後の優しさ。「コロナ禍でもあるし、大事をとって別の部屋で寝よう」家で過ごした最後の日に寝室を別にしたのが心残りで…". Fujin Kōron (in Japanese). p. 5. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  26. ^ "榊原郁恵 夫・渡辺徹の結婚は「テレビで中継しなきゃいけないっていうのがちょっと大変だった」". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  27. ^ "榊原郁恵、俳優の長男&次男と並び笑顔「次男さんが徹さんにそっくり」「イケメンがおふたり」 親子3ショットに反響". Oricon News (in Japanese). 2 June 2025.
  28. ^ Watanabe, Toru (2 December 2022). "(2ページ目)〈渡辺徹さん死去〉極貧の少年時代、一念発起して家を建てた父、その家で新妻の榊原郁恵は「夏のお嬢さん」を歌った". Bunshun Online (in Japanese). Interviewed by Hiroko Ohnishi. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  29. ^ "渡辺徹さん「お別れの会」会場には思い出の品で「渡辺徹展」最後は全員で代表曲「約束」歌唱". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 28 March 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  30. ^ "そろばんずく : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  31. ^ "リンキング・ラブ : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ・動画". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  32. ^ "棘の中にある奇跡 笠間の栗の木下家 : 作品情報・キャスト・あらすじ". Eiga.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  33. ^ 駆け抜けるまで. (cover). Toru Watanabe. Epic Records Japan. 1982. 28-3H-62.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / TALKING（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  35. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / Dramatic Road（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  36. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / Mr.センチメンタリスト（邦楽）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  37. ^ 彼《ライバル》 (cover). Toru Watanabe. Epic/Sony. 1982. 07-5H-117.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / 約束（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  39. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / 愛の中へ（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  40. ^ 灼けつくメモリー (cover). Toru Watanabe. Epic/Sony. 1983. 07-5H-163.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / AGAIN（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  42. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / 瞳・シリアス（音楽ソフト）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  43. ^ 気になるあいつ (cover). Toru Watanabe. Epic/Sony. 1985. 07-5H-25.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ^ "【買取】渡辺徹 / 熱情（邦楽）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  45. ^ "【8cm】ビタミンCM 新品CD". Book Off (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  46. ^ "【買取】山田邦子＆渡辺徹 / 遠い夢に逢えるまで（邦楽）". Suruga-ya (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2025.
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