Obituaries (訃報)
I have only almost a month to go. Looking back on this year, I heard of a lot of deaths of celebrities. Just recently, I have heard the deaths of an actor, Shohei Hino-san and a former Sumo wrestler, Akira Kitanofuji-san. They were famous for their love affairs when they were full of energy. In particular, the actor had hunted popular singers and actresses and used to be followed by a lot of reporters. The latter was so strong in sumo that he reached the highest rank in sumo. But he was also very active in his private life.
But they changed their lifestyles late in their lives. The actor began a new TV show late in his life, in which he travelled all over Japan by bike. It must have been very hard for him to travel every day with keeping his old body going.
In the case of the ex-sumo wrestler, he attracted TV viewers as a sumo commentator. He was very good at talking and made a lot of interesting and funny comments on sumo. He amused me a lot and if it had not been for him, I would not have been able to enjoy sumo that much. May they rest in peace.
Yesterday, I got more sad news. A rakugo storyteller, Katsura Jakujyaku-san, passed away. I was stunned with the news. He was the same age as me. He was too young to pass away. He was one of the best. He was so good at rakugo that he had often caught me in the spiral of laughing. I really appreciate his efforts. But all I can do now is to wish him a peaceful journey to the afterlife.
Time always goes on and never wait for me, no matter what happens to me.
今年も残すところあと1カ月となりました。今年を振り返ってみると、著名な方々の訃報がたくさんありました。つい最近も、俳優の火野正平さんと元力士の北の富士さんが亡くなりました。お二人が血気盛んなころは、浮名を流されたものです。特に火野さんは人気歌手や女優を口説き、多くの記者に追い回されていました。北の富士さんは、大相撲で横綱になるほど強かったですが、プライベートでも精力的でした。
でも、お二人の生き方も、晩年になるとがらりと変わりました。火野さんは、晩年、新番組に参加し、自転車で日本全国を旅しました。老体に鞭を打ちながら、毎日、自転車で移動するのは大変だったと思います。
北の富士さんは、晩年、相撲解説者として視聴者を魅了しました。トークがとても上手で、相撲に関する面白おかしいコメントをたくさんしてくれました。ボクも大いに楽しませてもらったし、彼がいなかったら、相撲の楽しみも半減していたと思います。お二人のご冥福をお祈りします。
昨日、さらに悲しいニュースが飛び込んできました。落語家の桂雀々さんが亡くなったのです。唖然としました。ボクと同い年で、亡くなるには若すぎです。雀々さんは、最高の落語家の一人でした。落語がとても上手で、笑いの渦に巻き込まれたものです。彼の努力には本当に感謝しています。でも、今のボクにできることは、雀々さんのご冥福を祈ることだけです。残念無念です。
時は常に進み、何があろうとも、ボクを待ってくれることはないのですね。