Kiyoshi Nishikawa (西川きよし, Nishikawa Kiyoshi, born 2 July 1946) is a Japanese comedian, actor, and former politician.
Kiyoshi Nishikawa | |
|---|---|
西川きよし | |
 | |
| Member of the House of Councillors | |
| In office 8 July 1986 – 25 July 2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 西川潔 2 July 1946 Kōchi, Kōchi |
| Political party | Dainiin Club |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor |
| Same year/generation as: Kinichi Hagimoto Danshi Tatekawa | |
Comedy career
editNishikawa trained to be a comedian under Kin Ishii, and became a student at Yoshimoto Shinkigeki (a comedy troupe run by Yoshimoto Kogyo) in 1964.[1] In 1966, he formed a manzai duo with Yasushi Yokoyama, and rose to fame,[1] the pair eventually becoming one of the leaders of the manzai boom of the early 1980s.[2] The pair won the Kamigata Manzai Grand Prize three times in 1970, 1977, and 1980.[3]
Political career
editNishikawa served in Japan's House of Councillors for three terms between 1986 and 2004 as an independent, representing the Osaka district.[1] He came first all three times he stood for office, with more than one million votes.[4] Nishikawa resumed his entertainment career after 2004.
Personal life
editNishikawa's wife is Helen Nishikawa. They married in 1967 when she was a top actress in Yoshimoto Shinkigeki and he still an up-and-coming comedian.[5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit- The 47 Ronin in Debt (2019)
Television
editHonours
edit- Person of Cultural Merit (2020)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Nishikawa Kiyoshi". Kotobank (in Japanese). Asahi Shinbun. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Yokoyama Yasushi". Kotobank (in Japanese). Asahi Shinbun. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Kamigata Manzai Taishō jushōsha ichiran". Radio Osaka OBC. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Kinki yūryoku kōhō shinogikezuru". Nikkei Net (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shinbun. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "周囲が大反対の「スターと駆け出し芸人の恋」を西川きよし本人が語る". Dot (in Japanese). Asahi Shinbun. Retrieved 24 November 2014.