Japan in Shock as Covid-19 Claims Comedy Legend Shimura Ken

March 30, 2020- The entertainment world and comedy fans from all over Japan were shocked and saddened to hear the news that comedy legend Shimura Ken died late last night from the Coronavirus at the age of 70. Shimura was one of the members of the Drifters, a comedy group that starred in the hugely popular skit show Hachiji Da Yo! Zen’in Shuugo! (In English: It’s 8 o’clock! Everyone get together!). The hugely popular show ran from 1971 to 1985 and spawned many popular jokes and comedic characters. Shimura first started feeling fatigued on the 17th. On the 19th he developed a fever and reported trouble breathing. He was hospitalized the next day with severe inflammation of the lungs. Once he tested positive for Covid-19 on the 23rd, the news of his condition was widely reported. He was the first major celebrity in Japan to come down with the virus and is now the first to die from it. As a comedian, Shimura was most well-known for his characters, “Hitomi-Obaasan”, “Henna Ojisan”, and “Bakatono-sama.” Even in recent years he was a regular on television with a show featuring animals and with an annual special featuring his Bakatono-sama character (and many famous cameos). (Top photo credit: Bakatono-sama official Twitter account)

Shimura Ken  (photo credit: link)