Tetsuko Kuroyanagi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
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| 黒柳 徹子 | |
Kuroyanagi in November 2015
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| Born | August 9, 1933 |
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| Years active | 1953–present |
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Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (born August 9, 1933) is a famous Japanese actress and TV star. She is also an advisor for the World Wide Fund for Nature and a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. This means she helps children around the world.
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi started her career in 1953. She was one of the first TV actresses for NHK, a big broadcasting company in Japan. In 1954, she became the main actress in a radio show called Yambō Nimbō Tombō.
In 1976, her own TV show, Tetsuko's Room, began airing. This show is very popular and has been on TV for a long time. In 2011, it was even recognized by Guinness World Records for having the most episodes hosted by the same person. As of 2023, the show has aired over 11,000 episodes!
Tetsuko also wrote a very famous book called Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window. It's about her own childhood. This book became a huge bestseller after World War II. Over 8 million copies were sold in Japan, and 25 million copies worldwide. It has also been made into a TV series twice.
She is well-known for her charity work. Many people see her as one of the first Japanese celebrities to become famous around the world. In 2006, a writer named Donald Richie called her "the most popular and admired woman in Japan."
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her father was a violinist, which means he played the violin in concerts. When she was a child, her nickname was Totto-chan. She wrote about this in her book, Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window.
Tetsuko studied at the Tokyo College of Music. She wanted to become an opera singer. But after she graduated, she became interested in acting and television. She joined a group called Tokyo Hoso Gekidan. Soon after, she became the first Japanese actress to work for the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).
A Star on Television
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi became very famous in 1975. This was when she started her afternoon TV show, Tetsuko's Room. It was the first talk show ever on Japanese television. The show was broadcast by TV Asahi. On the show, Tetsuko talked with many famous people. These guests came from TV, sports, and even politics.
Tetsuko's Room was a huge success. People in Japan started calling Tetsuko a "phenomenon." This was because she was different from other women on Japanese TV at the time. By the early 1990s, she had interviewed over two thousand guests from Japan and other countries. People say her warm personality and great talking skills helped the show last for so long. She also often appeared on a TV quiz show called "World Mysteries."
Her Famous Book
In 1981, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi published her children's book, Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window. In this book, she wrote about her childhood experiences. She shared how she learned at a special elementary school called Tomoe Gakuen during World War II. She also wrote about her teacher, Sosaku Kobayashi.
The book is like a memory book about her childhood. When it came out, it became the bestselling book in Japanese history. It was first translated into English in 1984. Since then, it has been published in more than 30 countries around the world.
Helping Others: Charity Work
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is known worldwide for her charity work and for raising money to help people. She started the Totto Foundation. This foundation is named after the main character in her book, Totto-chan. The Totto Foundation helps train deaf actors. Tetsuko wanted to bring theater to people who are deaf.
In 1984, Tetsuko was chosen to be a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She was the first person from Asia to have this important role. From the late 1980s to the 1990s, she visited many developing countries in Asia and Africa. She did charity work and goodwill missions. She helped children who had suffered from disasters and war. She also helped people around the world learn about the problems children faced in poor countries.
Her visit to Angola in 1989 was the first time a famous person from Japan visited that country. This was an important moment for the relationship between Japan and Angola. Tetsuko has raised over $20 million for UNICEF programs. She did this through TV fundraising campaigns. She also used the money she earned from her bestselling book, Totto-chan, to help UNICEF. Tetsuko also joined other celebrities in the international UNICEF ‘Say Yes for Children’ campaign.
In 1997, Tetsuko published another book called "Totto-chan's Children." This book was based on her experiences as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1984 to 1996. Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is also a director for the Japanese part of the World Wildlife Fund.
She has also brought America's National Theater of the Deaf to Japan twice. She even acted with them using sign language.
Awards and Recognition
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi has won many awards for her work in television. She received the Japanese Cultural Broadcasting Award, which is the highest TV honor in Japan. She has also been voted Japan’s favorite television personality 14 times for her show, Tetsuko’s Room.
In 2000, Tetsuko was the first person to receive the Global Leadership for Children Award. UNICEF created this award to celebrate 10 years since the 1990 World Summit for Children. In May 2003, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi received the Order of the Sacred Treasure. This award recognized her two decades of helping children around the world.
Film and Voice Work
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi has also worked in films and as a voice actor. Here are some of her roles:
- Thunderbirds (1965-1966) - She was the Japanese voice for Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward.
- Jack and the Witch (1967) - Voice actor.
- Breaking of Branches Is Forbidden (1968) - Voice actor.
- Summer Soldiers (1972)
- Anne no Nikki (The Diary of Anne Frank) (1995) - She was the voice for Mrs. Petronella Van Daan.
- The Book of the Dead (2005) - Voice actor.
See also
In Spanish: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi para niños
