Top 10 Interesting Facts about Chosuke Ikariya

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Chosuke Ikariya                  

70s Japanese drama at Raohe St. Night Market- Photo by Yosomono- Wikimedia Commons

Chosuke Ikariya’s most outstanding role in his acting career was the Crying Demon that haunts Akira Kurosawa in the film ‘Dreams’ released in 1990. Ikariya was a comedian and actor. Of dreams coming true, Chosuke Ikariya was a factory worker that wanted to be an artist. He started out by learning how to play the double bass, and became really good at it performing in various bands such as the Jimmie Tokita & His Mountain Playboys band.

Nicknamed “Chō-san”, Chosuke Ikariya built a successful career for himself- he got to live his dream.

Here are top 10 interesting facts about Chosuke Ikariya.

1. He Led The Band ‘The Drifters’

The Beatles Band wax figures in Hong Kong- Wikimedia Commons

Ikariya first performed in an amateur Hawaiian music band and grew to perform in a famous band “The Drifters” (from 1962 to 1985).  After a while he led the band, injecting it with humor making it that much more popular- the band always featured comedy routines.

Ikariya’s band opened for the Beatles at the Nippon Bodokan Hall in Tokyo in 1966.

2. Ikariya’s Talent Was Scouted

Chosuke Ikariya always stood out during performances. He was one of the tallest members of his band at 5 feet seven inches, and would clown around a lot. While performing with his band The Drifters, his acting abilities were noticed by scouts who convinced him to start acting.

He won a Japanese award for Best Supporting actor for his performance of Heihachiro Waku in the movie by Katsuyuki Motohiro, “Bayside Shakedown” (1998).  So much for someone who thought his destiny was tied to bass playing, at which he was outstanding nonetheless!

3. Ikariya Performed In One Of TBS’s Most Popular Shows

TBS Headquarters- Photo by Nobukku- Wikimedia Commons

The Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) offered The Drifters a regular weekly show Hachiji dayo, Zenin Shugo! This show became one of the most popular shows of its time. It was packed with comedy and low-brow humor, quite popular among children, to the disdain of their parents!

The show’s end after a good run, unfortunately, marked the end for The Drifters as well who each went to pursue solo careers and goals.

4. Ikariya Won An Academy Award                  

Japan Academy Prize- Photo by Nihongakushiin hōmupēji- Wikimedia Commons

Ikariya’s appearance in the Taiga drama Dokuganryu Masamune in 1987 spurred him in pursuit of his career in acting after his band split. He had by then become a famous actor loved by the public. He landed various roles mostly as a father on television and in movies. Chosuke Ikariya won a Japanese Academy Award for his role in the drama Odoru Daisōsasen, which inspired two other movies.

5. Chosuke Ikariya Boasts A Large Body Of Work

Ikariya was a respectable actor in his own right. He boasts of over 25 successful movies and at least 11 TV dramas. His career would still have grown and flourished but he suffered cancer, which caused his death at 74.

6. Ikariya Was Rather Skeptical Of His Abilities

Chosuke Ikariya almost stood in the way of his success by not believing in himself. When his band broke up with each member pursuing their interests, his manager suggested that he tries acting. However, Ikariya didn’t have as much faith in his acting; he had to be convinced to give it a shot. Additionally, when he was scouted playing in his band, he had to be persuaded to pursue acting.

Ikariya’s skepticism would also have kept him and The Drifters from taking up the offer to do a weekly show on Tokyo Broadcasting System.

Perhaps Ikariya was just being modest as well?  When he won the Japan Academy Award, he felt guilty for it as he had never taken his role seriously! He also didn’t find it a big deal that his band opened for the Beatles in their show in Japan, rather it was all in a day’s work for him.

7. Ikariya Was A Large Factor In The Survival Of The Drifters

When The Drifters faced instability with members leaving and others joining it between 1962 and 1963, Ikariya was persistent with the course and ended up in leadership of the band. The band wasn’t doing as great at this time and its TV appearances helped it stay afloat. Ikariya did most of the writing for all their performances.  Both his leadership and skill were very instrumental in the survival of the band.

8. Ikariya Had A Lengthy Hospitalization

After complaining of pain in his neck, Ikariya was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes. He made an official announcement of the same, shortly after which he was hospitalized. Ikariya, unfortunately, stayed in the hospital from about June of 2003 to March 2004, leaving the hospital only once in July, for the opening of the movie Bayside Shakedown 2.

This must have been a difficult period for a man who had practically lived his whole adult life on set.

9. Ikariya Grew Up In The Countryside

Shizuoka Countryside- Photo by Dandy1022- Wikimedia Commons

From playing in a famous band to gracing the stages in Japan and on TV, Ikariya’s upbringing is telling of the challenges that he might have faced when he was up and coming.

He grew up in the countryside of Shizuoka when war-displaced his family from their home in Sumida, Tokyo. Going by modern challenges that creatives such as actors and musicians share when they are in pursuit of their dreams, it is not easy for a star to break out when in the countryside!

This notwithstanding, Ikariya was not held back by his circumstances and was able to establish his name in the industry.

10. Ikariya Was The Father Of Japanese Slapstick TV Comedy         

70s Japanese drama at Raohe St. Night Market- Photo by- Yosomono- Wikimedia Commons

Chosuke Ikariya and his band as earlier established brought a new flavor to television filled with comedy, whose scripts he wrote. This style can however be solely credited to Ikariya- he had his version of ‘Saturday night live’ (as seen on American television). He was great at it. For three decades his shows captured audiences in Japan, and in their prime, these shows enjoyed a fifty percent audience share!

His style was replicated in all Japanese variety comedy. Scenes like live pranks on stage and ‘roasting’ of special guests became the norm.

Ikariya carried on his antics on Saturday shows on TV, interesting adults and children alike. Popular culture then identified him alongside some of his popular catchphrases such as ‘what a load of rubbish’’ and ‘wotcha’, which are still used in Japanese popular culture.