On August 18th, actor Takakura Ken (81) appeared as a guest on the live news-variety program 'SmaSTATION!!' hosted by SMAP's Katori Shingo as the 'editor-in-chief' on TV Asahi.

Although it's hard to believe, it actually was Takakura's first appearance on a live program in his entire career. However, he isn't a frequent guest on TV shows in general as well. His last recording for a TV show was for the 'BISTRO SMAP' corner in 'SMAPxSMAP' in 1997.

That day, 'SmaSTATION!!' introduced him as "the acting legend Takakura Ken" and featured various clips of many of his friends and colleagues, such as Kitano Takeshi, Shimura Ken, Takeda Tetsuya, and Ishikura Saburo, who shared a couple of interesting things about the actor. SMAP's Kusanagi Tsuyoshi also made a guest appearance. He's part of the great ensemble that is supporting Takakura in his latest movie 'Anata e'.

Kusanagi commented, "Takakura really taught me so many different things. My respect for him is beyond words."

Takakura himself surprised many with his fun personality and amusing remarks. It didn't seem like his first live broadcast at all. "I really didn't want to come here," he joked and studio was filled with laughter, "Toho set me up!" He also tried to deny everything his friends said in the clips, "Nothing they said was true!"

Moreover he made an agreement with Katori on the show. He said, "You and I are pretty much strangers, aren't we? If there will be a chance someday somewhere, I certainly would love to work with you."

'Anata e' is Takakura's 205th movie and is based on an original draft by producer Ichiko Seichi who died in 2008. Director Furuhata Yasuo and scriptwriter Aoshima Takeshi reconstructed the draft and made it into a movie. Takakura plays a Japanese prison counselor who wants to find out the true intentions of his late wife and travels from Toyama to her hometown in Nagasaki in his camper van. The movie is going to open in cinemas nationwide on August 25th.

Source + Picture: eiga.com, TV Asahi