[caption id="attachment_147193" align="aligncenter" width="548" caption="Around 2400 celebrities and entertainment industry workers attended Tanaka Yoshiko's wake on April 24th, including her on-screen children (top left to right): Yamada Yu, Kuninaka Ryoko, Sugiura Taiyo, and Kitagawa Keiko"][/caption]

Actress�Tanaka Yoshiko, who passed away on April 21st, did not have�children in real life, but she leaves behind 22 actors and 25 actresses who played her children on screen. Many of Tanaka's "kids" have made touching remarks after their mother's passing.

Adachi Yumi (29, played Tanaka's daughter in the 1994 drama "Ienaki ko") commented, "I heard the news of her passing and I am still in disbelief. Just like her screen role, she brought a warm atmosphere to the set during filming, and was truly like a mother."

Fukada Kyoko (28, daughter in the 1998 drama "Kamisama, mou sukoshi dake") commented, "During filming, she would always squeeze my hand. I still haven't forgotten the warmth of the hand that encouraged me time and time again. I am very sad that I won't be able to see her and have her be my mother anymore."

Oguri Shun (28, son in the 2009 drama "Tokyo DOGS") commented, "I don't know what to say to the sudden news of her passing. In the drama, she played my mother, who had an outrageous premise, very cutely. I can only remember her bright and kind self, who didn't show signs of her illness at all."

Kamiji Yusuke (32, son in the 2007 drama "Wakusei Monogatari") commented, "Tanaka Yoshiko mama. She is the only person in this world that I will call 'mama'. (When he told her he wanted to quit his job) she encouraged me by saying, 'This is Yusuke's life's mission.' Thank you for creating the person I am now. I will work hard at what mama called 'life's mission'."

Gori (38, son in the "Churasan" drama series) commented, "She spoke slowly and gave you a calm feeling. She was like my mother in Tokyo. Even after many years, she still called me by my character name "Keishou", and worried about me like I was her real son. I should have met up with her more instead of being shy. She was a kind person, so she hid her illness to spare those around her from worrying. I won't be able to see her again. I can feel my heart being squeezed."

Kuninaka Ryoko (31, daughter in the "Churasan" TV series) was called "Eri" by Tanaka, the name of her character in the "Churasan" series. The last time she saw Tanaka was when she visited the hospital on April 16th. With tears in her eyes, Kuninaka commented, "She always took care of me and I wasn't able to do anything. (On April 16th) it was hard to maintain a conversation, but she knew I had visited and smiled. I remember her calling me 'Eri' all the time with a cute voice."

Yamada Yu (26, daughter in the 2008 drama "Seigi no Mikata") spoke with tears at Tanaka's wake, "We went out to eat together and talk, and if I was worried or in trouble, she would hold my hand and say 'It'll be okay'. I learned of her passing through the news. (I thought) why does it have to be 'mama'... She always had a smile as bright as the sun, and I still can't believe it."

Kitagawa Keiko (24, daughter in the 2000 drama "Hitsudan Hostess") commented, "(During filming) I never saw her with a dark expression. I wasn't able to notice (her illness). I remember very vividly when she said 'I'm happy that I get more children in the entertainment industry like this. It's very lively.' I wish I could have spent more time with her."

Sugiura Taiyo (30, son in 2007 film "Zero kara no Kaze") commented, "At the time, I had just gotten married (to talent Tsuji Nozomi), and she congratulated me with such happiness that it was as though it was�happening�to herself. Even though she's a big senior (in the industry), when I was with her, she made me feel calm...like a mother's aura. During filming, she did not show any signs of battling illness. She always made the atmosphere less tense with her kind smile. I can't believed that she is gone. I think everyone who has every played her child feels the same way."

At Tanaka's funeral on the 25th, Tanaka's husband Kodate Kazuo thanked the actors and actresses who played his wife's children, saying, "In total, (she) was blessed with ... 47 children and was able to receive the gracious title of 'Japan's mother'. Everyone (who played her children) treated her as though she was their real mother and spent time with her in private. She was able to spend time to the fullest. Thank you very much."

Source + Photo: Sanspo 1 2 3, Mantan Web, Chunichi Sports