Monta Mino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monta Mino
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|---|---|
| みの もんた | |
 |
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| Born |
Norio Minorikawa
22 August 1944 |
| Died | 1 March 2025 (aged 80) Tokyo, Japan
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| Nationality | Japanese citizenship |
| Alma mater | Rikkyo University |
| Occupation | TV presenter |
| Years active | 1967 - 2020 |
| Spouse(s) |
Yasuko Minorikawa
(m. 1970; died 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
Monta Mino (みの もんた, Mino Monta), born Norio Minorikawa (御法川 法男, Minorikawa Norio), was a very famous Japanese television presenter. He was born on August 22, 1944, and passed away on March 1, 2025.
Monta Mino was so popular that he was recognized by the Guinness World Records. He held the record for being the TV host with the most hours of live TV appearances in a single week. In April 2008, he was on live television for an amazing 22 hours and 15 seconds! This beat his own record from 2006.
Monta Mino's TV Career
Monta Mino grew up in Setagaya in Tokyo, Japan. He went to Rikkyo High School and later to Rikkyo University. After finishing school, he started his career in radio. In 1967, he joined Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. There, he worked as a radio announcer. He would read the news, cover exciting baseball games, and host a popular late-night show called Sei! Young.
His famous name, Monta Mino, came from another radio show he hosted called "All Japan Pop 20." In 1979, he left the radio station to work for his father's company. However, he continued to read the news for Aichi Broadcasting as a contractor.
Popular TV Shows
Monta Mino became a household name in Japan because he hosted so many different television shows. He was known for his energetic and friendly style. Some of his most well-known programs included:
- Mino Monta no Asa Zuba! (みのもんたの朝ズバッ!): This was a morning news show.
- Quiz $ Millionaire: This was the Japanese version of the famous British quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
- Amazing Animals (どうぶつ奇想天外, Dōbutsukisōtengai): A fun show about animals.
- Omoikkiri TV (おもいっきりテレビ): This was a long-running afternoon show where he gave advice on health and lifestyle. This show ended in 2007.
Monta Mino was incredibly busy. He once said that he only needed about four hours of sleep each night. This was because he hosted many TV programs, including news shows, talk shows, wildlife shows, and quiz shows. He was on television almost every day of the week!
Personal Life and Later Years
Monta Mino was married to Yasuko Minorikawa. They got married in November 1970. Sadly, Yasuko passed away from cancer on May 22, 2012, when she was 65 years old.
In 2020, Monta Mino was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Because of this, he stopped appearing on television.
Monta Mino passed away on March 1, 2025, at the age of 80. He was at a restaurant in Minato, Tokyo when he choked and was taken to the hospital. He died in the early hours of that day.
