Toshiyuki Nishida obit

 

Actor Toshiyuki Nishida Dies Aged 76

He was best known globally for his role as Pigsy in the TV series Monkey

He was not on the list.

Famed actor Toshiyuki Nishida has sadly passed away. He was 76. According to investigative sources, he was found collapsed at his home in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon. He was confirmed dead on the spot. Police are currently investigating the details of his death. 

Nishida was born in Koriyama city, Fukushima Prefecture in 1947. His father died when he was young and after his mother remarried, Nishida was adopted by his aunt and uncle. The latter took him to watch movies on weekends, which inspired the youngster to join a drama club while at elementary school. In his late teens, Nishida moved to Tokyo, where he entered a theater company.

In the 1970s, the Koriyama city-native regularly appeared on TV and quickly became a fan favorite due to his vague expression and friendly demeanor. By the end of the decade, he was also known by overseas audiences thanks to the popular series Monkey, an adaptation of the 16th century book Journey to the West (Saiyuki).  He played Pigsy (Cho Hakkai), with Peter Woodthorpe voicing the character in English.

Most Famous Roles

Nishida’s career continued to flourish in the 1980s as he garnered a starring role in the drama series Ikenaka Genta 80 Kiro and played Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Onna Taikoki. His most famous part, though, was as Densuke Hamasaki in the movie series Tsuribaka Nisshi, with 22 films being released between 1988 and 2009. Other notable films included Dreams of Russia, Gakko and Gakko II  and The Ramen Girl, with Brittany Murphy.

Nishida won two Best Actor gongs at the Japanese Academy Awards for The Silk Road and Tsuribaka Nisshi 6. He also received the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for Get Up! and Tsuribaka Nisshi 14. Away from acting, he was known as the MC for the popular variety TV show Knight Scoop and for his singing. His most famous song, “Moshimo Piano ga Hiketa Nara,” released in 1981, landed him a spot on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Nishida was hospitalized in 2003 following a heart attack. There have been a number of reports regarding his health in recent years, though he did continue to take on various roles.

 

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2002

 

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1998

 

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1997

 

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1996

 

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1996

 

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1994

 

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5.3

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1993

 

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6.6

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1993

 

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7.0

1993

 

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5.5

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1993

 

Tsuribaka nisshi 5 (1992)

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7.1

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1992

 

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5.8

Huang Fung Foo

1992

 

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7.1

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1992

 

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7.0

1992

 

Tsuribaka nisshi 4 (1991)

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6.6

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1991

 

Tsuribaka nisshi 3 (1990)

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6.6

Densuke Hamasaki

1990

 

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1990

 

Tsuribaka nisshi 2 (1989)

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6.7

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1989

 

Tsuribaka nisshi (1988)

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7.0

Densuke Hamazaki

1988

 

Tonkô (1988)

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6.8

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1988

 

Takeda Shingen (1988)

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7.9

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1988

 

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1986

 

Lost in the Wilderness (1986)

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7.2

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1986

 

Rokêshon (1984)

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7.0

Be-yan

1984

 

Station to Heaven (1984)

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7.0

Tagawa

1984

 

The Horizon (1984)

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7.3

Yoshida

1984

 

Dennis Falt, Kôshirô Matsumoto, and Kenji Sawada in Sanga moyu (1984)

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6.7

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1984

 

Keiji monogatari (1982)

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6.3

Tanei

1982

 

Edo Porn (1981)

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6.4

Sashichi - Kyokutei Bakin

1981

 

Onna taikôki

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Hideyoshi Toyotomi

1981

 

Ikenaka Genta 80 kilo

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Genta ikenaka

1980–1989

 

After the Ball Game

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1980

 

The Heat of the Pennant Race (1980)

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4.3

Koichi Tabuchi (voice)

1980

 

The Man Who Stole the Sun (1979)

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7.5

Loan Collector

1979

 

Kaze no hayato

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1979–1980

 

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5.3

Koichi Tabuchi (voice)

1979

 

Dead Angle (1979)

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7.0

Nishida

1979

 

Masaaki Sakai in Monkey (1978)

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8.4

TV Series

Pigsy (season 1)

Zhu Ba-Jie (Pigsy season 1)

1978–1979

26 episodes

 

Devil's Flute (1979)

Devil's Flute

6.2

Kosuke Kindaichi

1979

 

Special Investigation Unit (1977)

Special Investigation Unit

8.4

TV Series

Takasugi keiji

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Toi ippon no michi (1978)

Toi ippon no michi

6.5

1978

 

Ballad of Orin (1977)

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7.4

Suketaro

1977

 

Tobe! Songokû

TV Series

1977–1979

 

Okita Sôji (1974)

Okita Sôji

6.0

Nagakura Shinpachi

1974

 

Don't Turn Back, Tsurukichi

TV Series

Torakichi

1974–1975

 

Ranru no hata (1974)

Ranru no hata

Jihei

1974

 

Soundtrack

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6.8

performer: "Sôma nagareyama"

2020