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Comedian, actor and director "Beat" Takeshi Kitano, 62, says that his Tuesday night TV Asahi show "Saishu Keikoku! Takeshi no honto wa kowai katei no igaku," which has aired for the last six years, will change to incorporate more discussion of psychological concerns.
Kitano, who hosts the show solo, said that he wants to introduce more talk about stress and other issues, referring to the fact that more than 30,000 people committed suicide in Japan in 2009, marking the 12th year in a row.
The show has a new title - "Takeshi no kenko entateinmento! Minna no katei no igaku." It begins on Jan 12 with a three-hour special from 7 p.m. but will resume its 8 p.m. time slot the following week.
Kitano said of physical illness during one of his shows this year: "There aren't that many people who stay healthy easily. There's a reason some people are healthy - you have to work at it."
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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some14some
From Physical Health to Mental better move to Moral Health of Capitalist Nation and disucss about food imports from China also Japan Agricultural Ministry's imports of Foreign Rice, JT importing Gyoza etc... that will improve people's health a lot !
kirakira25
Great. Peoples deep issues will be wheeled out for entertainment. That`ll help encourage the people really suffering to get help.
herefornow
Wonderful, Japan will now be turning to a 62 year-old comedian who nearly killed himself in a drunk-driving incident for advice on mental health. Priceless.
goddog
Ahhhh...does he mean the motorcycle accident he had when toasted was meant to be and he is now working at staying healthy?
nath
I think Takeshi is on the right track. Comedians are the peoples advocate.
Samantha Ueno
Takeshi usually says what everyone else is afraid to say. Apart from installing some blue lights on train platforms, there hasn't been much done about the suicide problem and its getting worse. At least he is trying to get to the root of the issue.
DenDon
its something at least, hats off to him
bobbafett
I agree with Sammi and DenDon and Pamelot. Its great he is trying something so bold. The head, bury, sand crowd may abandon him in his quest. I hope not. I hope he can wake them up somehow.
artster
Thank you, Takeshi.
Lowly
Takeshi's an interesting guy. He is supposedly one of the most controversial comedians on TV, though I rarely see him open his mouth to speak. Apparently a lot of what he does say gets cut.
The TV shows he hosts incorporate enough fluff and prattle to be entertainment but are often fairly interesting and informative in a real way, much more so than other non-news/NHK documentary programs.
andrewtokyo
Takeshi is one of the best loved and most influencial comedians on TV today. Putting his focus on mental issues in Japan can only positive. He is a very thoughtful, intelligent and sensitive actor, director, comedian, poet and more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshi_Kitano
andrewtokyo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshi_Kitano