Kenji Niinuma reveals his feelings for his late wife to his two grandchildren

Singer Kenji Niinuma (69) appeared on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's long-running talk show "Tetsuko's Room" (TV Asahi) broadcast on August 6th. He spoke about his feelings towards his wife who passed away 14 years ago and about an episode with his grandchild.

At the age of 20, Niinuma's song "Won't You Marry Me?" became a big hit. Ten years later, he married former badminton player Hiroe. "My grandmother told me, 'Don't let this woman (Hiroe) go.' She's eight years older than me, but I thought, if my grandmother said it was okay, then maybe it was," he recalled.

The wedding took place in Niinuma's hometown of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture. "I've been to a lot of weddings in the entertainment industry, and when I saw them, I thought I wanted to do it in the countryside. I don't really want to invite grandmas and other elderly people to the city, so I thought it would be quicker if I went (to my hometown)," he said.

The program showed photos taken in front of their home on the day of their wedding. "I never expected that such a big earthquake (the Great East Japan Earthquake) would occur and that this entire streetscape would be wiped out. But the memories of that time are still burned into my mind," he recalled.

Niinuma is now a grandfather to two grandchildren. "It's so cute, they call him 'Grandpa, Grandpa.' It's so cute when they try to come over," he said with a smile.

"I was also raised by my grandmother and family, who loved me and showered me with affection. I want to raise my grandchildren in the same way. If I had a wife now, I'm sure she would be so happy and would be able to do more for me than I have."