Kumiko Okae

Kumiko Okae (23 August 1956 – 23 April 2020) was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and television presenter whose career spanned nearly five decades and whose presence left an indelible mark on Japanese popular culture. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Okae entered the entertainment industry in 1975 after graduating from high school, quickly gaining recognition for her versatile acting style and charismatic screen presence, which allowed her to move fluidly between drama, variety, and voice‑over work. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s she appeared in a multitude of television dramas, becoming a familiar face on Japanese screens, and in 1982 she even ventured into music, releasing the album Yes, I Feel on the Casablanca label, showcasing a surprising yet well‑received vocal talent. Okae’s aptitude for engaging audiences extended beyond acting; she became a beloved host of several variety programs, most notably the NHK quiz show Rensō Game, where her quick wit and warmth made her a favorite among panelists and viewers alike. From 1996 until 2014 she anchored the morning lifestyle program Hanamaru Market on Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, a role that cemented her reputation as a trusted household name and demonstrated her skill at guiding viewers through daily news, cooking segments, and lifestyle tips. In her personal life, Okae married fellow actor Baku Ohwada in 1983 after their shared time on Rensō Game, and the couple welcomed a daughter, Miho Ohwada, who followed her mother’s path into acting. Health challenges emerged later in Okae’s life; after undergoing surgery for early‑stage breast cancer in late 2019, she faced additional complications from radiation therapy. In April 2020 she contracted COVID‑19, leading to severe pneumonia and her eventual death on 23 April 2020 at the age of 63. Her passing, alongside that of comedian Ken Shimura, marked one of Japan’s earliest high‑profile losses to the pandemic, underscoring both her cultural significance and the profound impact of the crisis on the nation’s entertainment community.