2024-04-20 22:15:00
It’s been 8 years since Yuko Kotegawa disappeared from the public scene.
Yuko Kotegawa (64), who graced television screens in the 1980s and 1990s, led a quiet life surrounded by brightly colored flowers. Behind her disappearance from the public scene were the struggles and sufferings of a fashionable actress.
One day in early April, when the temperature approached that of a summer day, a woman was hard at work gardening in the garden of a detached house in a quiet residential area of Tokyo. The colorful red and yellow flowers are in full bloom and every inch of the garden is well maintained, indicating that she spends most of her time “gardening.” Kotegawa’s current leisurely lifestyle is the opposite of her busy days as an actress. It’s already been eight years since she disappeared from the public scene.
Drama of 2016 »It’s spacious but somehow» (Nippon Television), with Masaki Okada (34 years old), Tori Matsuzaka (35 years old) and Yuya Yagira (34 years old). A sequel film was released last year, but one thing that quietly disappeared from the story was Kotegawa, who played Yagira’s mother.
“Mr. Kotegawa took a break following this drama. Not only as an actress, but she has not received any other work. It can be said that she is in a de facto state of ‘retirement’.” (Official Entertainment)
Born and raised in Oita Prefecture, Kotegawa entered the entertainment industry in 1976, while she was a sophomore in high school, when she was chosen first among approximately 10,000 contestants in the “Miss Salad Competition Girl” co-sponsored by Toho and Kanebo. . The film of the same yearstars and storm“She made her debut as an actress.
“In 1979, she got her big break when she played the role of Ako, the younger sister of Tetsuya Watari (died at 78), who starred in “Seibu Keisatsu” (TV Asahi). Since then, she was requested in films, dramas and commercials. In 1989, he starred in the film “.Afternoon of flowers“won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Leading Actress” (Entertainment Reporter)
In his private life, he appeared in the 1980 drama “night slopeShe has a passionate relationship with Ken Tanaka (73), with whom she starred in “” (TV Asahi). They attracted much attention as the first couple in the entertainment industry to declare their relationship, and they married in 1986. Their first daughter was born the following year, but by then discord had developed between the couple.
“It is said that there was a quarrel between Mr. Tanaka, who was married to Mr. Kotegawa, and Mr. Kotegawa’s biological father, who lived with him. Additionally, Mr. Kotegawa continued to work hard even following giving birth. Mr. Tanaka, who wanted him to join the family, was not satisfied. Even though he is also an actor, he seems to have felt a sense of shame towards his wife, who has more work and income than him.
In the midst of his stifling life, Tanaka began to immerse himself in playing the South American folk instrument “quena”, which was a hobby of his before his marriage, but when he played it at home , his family complained that he was too noisy. . How to cope. Eventually, the couple started living separately because Mr. Tanaka was renting an apartment for Kena to practice.” (Entertainment Reporter, mentioned above)
In 1999, five years following their separation, Kotegawa and Tanaka held separate divorce press conferences, effectively ending their 13-year marriage. This is when Kotegawa was 40 years old.
I don’t want to work anymore
Around the same time as her divorce, Kotegawa was reportedly worried regarding her acting career.
Kotegawa lamented: “When you reach middle age, there are fewer roles to play. » Its lead actresses, Yukiyo Toshu (81) and Reiko Ohara (died at 62), were in their forties, although Kotegawa continued to do so. playing the lead role even following he was quite old, by the time Kotegawa was around the same age, actors in their 20s were taking center stage in dramas, and the “adult romance” Kotegawa wanted was becoming difficult to produce. ” (mentioned above, entertainment industry executive)
In her 50s, Kotegawa was showing her presence in roles such as mother, but she eventually began to have other problems. An acquaintance of Kotegawa reveals this.
“As the slots of the “2-hour dramas” in which she often appeared diminished, she began to suffer from menopausal symptoms and maintaining her body shape seemed to be a huge burden. She, however, managed to maintain her professionalism there were times when he doubted if he should continue to push himself so hard.
Despite this, she continued to appear in one-off dramas, but as mentioned above, she left the public stage in 2016. Then, in February this year, Ayana (36), who was her only and active daughter as an actress, announced her retirement from the entertainment industry, which once once more brought attention to Kotegawa’s current status.
“Ayana was also a cosplayer and video game commentator on YouTube. She worked at her own pace, so I was surprised by the sudden announcement of her retirement. “Speculation spread to the point that Mr. Kotegawa was seriously ill.” (Entertainment reporter mentioned above)
The current situation of the Kotegawa River has suddenly made many people concerned worried. When I visited the mother and daughter’s house in Tokyo, Ayana answered Kotegawa’s name.
“Currently, I live with my mother (Kotegawa) and my grandmother. My mother has not retired from the entertainment industry, but her energy and physical strength seem to have weakened… If you don’t work for a long time, you’ll start to feel like you don’t want to work anymore. It’s like it’s been going on for a while.
He denied retiring and gave this answer regarding his health.
“There may have been some effects (of menopause, etc.), but my body is fine. My mother and I take turns cleaning. My mother is a mother and she seems to have a strong desire to ‘Take it easy, right? Now I have plenty of time for my hobbies and it’s easy to live with three women. However, once I get my energy back, I’ll. I might want to take center stage once more.
Kotegawa’s hobby is gardening. The aforementioned knowledge speaks.
“I have been addicted to gardening for a long time following planting roses to ward off thieves in my garden. “Roses won’t bloom beautifully if you don’t grow them with love,” she said. from soil preparation to pruning and replanting. He used to be a person with many hobbies, but since he moved away from work, he lives entirely in the garden.
Only 64 years old. When the garden is full of flowers, it can reappear before us.
*Josei Seven issue dated May 2, 2024
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