In memory of actor Nishida Toshiyuki, who passed away on October 17th, the popular variety show "Detective! Night Scoop" (ABC TV, Friday 11:17pm) will air on November 1st, with Nishida, who served as the second director for nearly 19 years from January 2001 to November 2019, presenting three works that he himself selected as the "Director's Award". In addition, second secretary Okabe Mari and third secretary Matsuo Erika, who co-starred with Nishida, will talk about their experiences and memories.
A photo of Director Nishida with a gentle smile was displayed on the director's seat in the studio, and next to him were Okabe, Matsuo, the detectives, and current secretary Masuda Saori, lined up in mourning clothes.
Okabe, who worked with Nishida for about 10 years as the second secretary, began by looking back on when Nishida was appointed as the director, saying, "The first time Nishida was introduced as the director, he came to that seat. The director said his usual lines and the program started, but somehow the atmosphere was strange."
She continued, "When we went to the first VTR, when we were off, he said, 'Mari, are there no more rehearsals?' So I said, 'Director, there are no rehearsals for this program, and there are no meetings.' (laughs) Then, when the first VTR was on, he said, 'What?!' I felt sorry that I hadn't been considerate enough to know that. But then he said, 'It's interesting. Filming something like this at a live show.' Since then, he has been watching the live show, and it was very impressive to me that he was crying at the live show."
Matsuo, who had been in tears since the moment he entered the studio, said of Nishida, "He was the great conscience of the show. The client had requested Nishida in the first place, believing that 'Director Nishida would surely accept my feelings.' And just as he had, Director Nishida warmly embraced everyone. Everyone had requested him because they wanted to see Director Nishida cry. He supported us a lot."
When Nishida was Director, he didn't make it public, but at the annual end-of-year party with the detectives and staff, he would select the best video of the year as the "Director's Award." The show will air the following three selected videos. "My father and mother who haven't spoken to each other for over 10 years" (Detective Takeyama Takanori, aired April 5, 2013); "The 97-year-old magician" (Detective Katsura Saeda, aired December 19, 2003); "Letter from Leyte Island" (Detective Tamura Yutaka, aired January 7, 2011). The contents of each are as follows.
◇ "A father and mother who haven't spoken for over 10 years"
The request was from a man (18 years old at the time) in Nara Prefecture. My father hasn't spoken to my mother for over 10 years. I don't know why. He talks to us kids normally, but he refuses to say a word to my mother and remains silent. Because of this, I have never heard my parents talk since I was old enough to understand. My father was 59 years old (at the time) and close to retirement age. If things continue like this, they may end up getting divorced in their later years. I want to find out why my father doesn't talk, and if possible, I want to see the couple having a friendly conversation. The unexpected turn of events brought Director Nishida to tears, and all the detectives to tears, too, in this heartwarming masterpiece.
◇ "The 97-year-old magician"
The oldest active magician who has appeared on Night Scoop many times. This energetic old man, who appeared on "Super Energetic Old People" (broadcast on October 10, 2000) as the "oldest active magician" and showed off his brilliant skills (?), showed off a new skill on his second appearance, creating a masterpiece that moved and drew laughter.
◇"Letter from Leyte Island"
The request came from a man in Osaka Prefecture (65 years old at the time). My father was drafted five months after getting married and sent to Leyte Island in the Philippines, and it seems that he had already died in battle by the time I was born in January 1945. My mother, who raised me alone, had a very hard time, but she also passed away five years ago. While sorting through my mother's belongings, I found two letters from my father, who had gone to war. They were written in pencil and were quite worn down, probably because my mother had read them over and over again. I was able to read one of them, but the other one was almost unreadable.
However, I found a part in it that read, "You who are pregnant." Did my father know that my mother was pregnant with me? Or did he pass away without knowing? The request asks if he can somehow decipher my father's letter. Director Nishida is already in tears as soon as the request is read out loud. This is a moving and emotional story in which the director and the detectives stand by their client.
