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December 21, 2006
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Tagged with: comedian • tadayuki nakashima • カンニング • 中島忠幸 • 竹山隆範
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35
Yesterday comedian Tadayuki Nakashima (中島忠幸), half of the comedy duo カンニング (Cunning), passed away from pneumonia. He was 35 years old.
He leaves behind his wife, young son and his comedy partner Takanori Takayama (竹山隆範).
In January 2005 it was announced that Nakashima-san had been diagnosed with leukemia. He was hospitalized, and unfortunately it was found that his leukemia advanced rapidly. He was excited a few months ago to finally be released from hospital to recuperate at home.
His partner Takayama continued on solo, but out of respect for his sick partner refused to drop the “Cunning” (sometimes spelled “Kanning” in romaji), from his name.
Although not well known outside of Japan, the pair had a hard fought and interesting rise to fame. The two met in primary school, and started doing stand up 13 years ago. Although they attended the well-known New Star Creation school (NSC - Japanese), their first attempts to enter the “o-warai” (comedy) world failed.
Nakashima actually had a high position as a restaurant manager, until packing it in when it finally looked as though they might have a chance. They burst onto the TV comedy scene in 2001 - quite late age-wise in this industry which usually favours the young.
Nakashima played the role of the “straight” man, Takayama was the volatile crazy one.
This video from the music program Utaban is a good example (worth watching just for the looks of amazement and confusion from a couple of Morning Musume girlies):
Takayama has undergone a transformation since his partner fell ill. He hasn’t been doing much stand up comedy, but rather has moved into doing more variety programs. He has also toned down his “anger”.
Examples (all in Japanese):
カンニング竹山の温泉ドッキリ (Cunning Takeyama’s Hot Spring Shock)
YouTube
竹山先生。 (Teacher Takeyama - there are several of these skits)
YouTube
Butterfly
YouTube
Further information:
Sun Music Profile (Japanese)
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Added spice....
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Great video and a sad loss. You’re right though - the looks on the Musume girls and the Smap guy’s face are half the laugh!
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Not only did he not drop the Cunning, he kept splitting his earnings. Takeyama (not Takayama) is a real class act in my book.