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Nekohachi Edoya

Nekohachi Edoya

Actor · 1921 – 2001 · Japan

Nekohachi Edoya, affectionately known as "Edo Neko," was a talented impressionist and actor who was affiliated with the Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai (Rakugo Art Association). He was born on October 1, 1921, and his real name was Roku-ro Okada, a name given due to being the sixth son. His legacy left a lasting impact on the world of entertainment. During the tragic events of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, Nekohachi was just 23 years old and serving in the Japanese Army's Naval Artillery Regiment No. 1 (Dawn 2953 Unit) stationed in Ujina, which is now part of Minami Ward in Hiroshima City. He held the position of Corporal Rokuro Okada. On that fateful morning, he had plans to meet with actress Keiko Sonoi, an acquaintance from the traveling theater group "Sakura-tai," in Hiroshima. Unfortunately, after winning a vocal mimicry competition the previous day, he had indulged in the prize of alcohol, leading to a hangover that caused him to oversleep and miss the meeting. It was shortly after being roused from sleep by a subordinate private that he found himself thrust into the midst of the atomic bombing. (Incidentally, Sonoi was lodging near the hypocenter during the bombing and was exposed to the blast. She later evacuated to Kobe, but she sadly succumbed to atomic bomb-related illnesses on August 21, 1945.) Nekohachi's regiment was positioned in Ujina, a location over 3 km away from the hypocenter, resulting in less immediate impact from the bombing. He received orders from his superior to assess the extent of the damage near the Okihashi Bridge and communicate with the Fukiyama Naval Artillery Battalion headquarters in Hijiyama-cho. This was his first encounter with the devastating aftermath of the bombing. Subsequently, he was mobilized as part of the Dawn Unit to provide relief and medical assistance within the city. His exposure to residual radiation in the city led to persistent health issues that he grappled with throughout his life, attributed to secondary radiation exposure. The deeply traumatic nature of Nekohachi's experiences during the bombing and his subsequent involvement in relief efforts and medical work caused him to remain silent about these events for many years. However, in later years, he courageously documented his personal encounter with the bombing in works like "Soldier's Life and Pikadon" (兵隊ぐらしとピカドン) and "The Cat that Crawled out of the Mushroom Cloud" (キノコ雲から這い出した猫). It's noteworthy that Maruyama Masao, a historian and thinker, also experienced the atomic bombing as a member of the Dawn Unit, serving in the headquarters. 3rd Generation Edoya Nekohachi was renowned for his remarkable vocal mimicry abilities and acting prowess. His association with the Rakugo Art Association marked a significant contribution to the entertainment industry. His influence and legacy continue to thrive through his family members who have followed in his footsteps. (Source: Wikipedia Japan "江戸家猫八 (3代目)”)

Movies18

  • Movie7.2

    The Funeral

    お葬式

    1984 · 53 votes

  • Movie7.1

    The Mystery of Rampo

    RAMPO 奥山バージョン

    1994 · 7 votes

  • Movie4.7

    I'm All Yours

    みんなあげちゃう

    1985 · 3 votes

  • Movie

    Big Edo's 1,000 Ryo Festival

    大江戸千両祭

    1958

  • Movie

    Laugh-Filled Detective Story

    大笑い捕物帖

    1958

  • Movie5.4

    Dora-heita

    どら平太

    2000 · 11 votes

  • Movie

    Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman

    落語天国紳士録

    1960

  • Movie8.1

    The Izu Dancer

    伊豆の踊子

    1974 · 10 votes

  • Movie7.5

    Free and Easy

    釣りバカ日誌

    1988 · 4 votes

  • Movie8.0

    Sensei

    せんせい

    1989 · 1 votes

  • Movie

    The Rotten Wheelbarrow

    朽ちた手押し車

    2014

  • Movie9.0

    Onihei's Detective Records

    鬼平犯科帳

    1995 · 2 votes

  • Movie

    The Bride Is Waiting

    花嫁は待っている

    1957

  • Movie

    The Wandering of the Naked General: The Kiyoshi Yamashita Story

    裸の大将放浪記 山下清物語

    1981

  • Movie

    Tomo o okuru uta

    友を送る歌

    1966

  • Movie

    Journey to the North

    北国の旅情

    1967

  • Movie6.5

    Cats on Park Avenue

    公園通りの猫たち

    1989 · 2 votes

  • Movie6.5

    Enchanted Princess

    初春狸御殿

    1959 · 6 votes

Series1

  • TV7.8

    Onihei Hankachō

    鬼平犯科帳

    1989 · 8 votes