Kuroyanagi Tetsuko

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko has been in the entertainment world for 40 years. She was called "a zip" because she always spoke. Her father was a violinist. Also, he was a concertmaster. After she graduated from Tokyo Ongaku University in 1979, entered "NHK Hoso Gekidan". She was the first TV actress who belonged exclusively to NHK. In a few years, she made her debut with Kyoko Satomi and Michiko Yokoyama by "Senbo Ninbo Tonbo". and today she has been active in various fields as a chairwoman, writer, and a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund.

The most famous program which she appears in is "Tetsuko no Heya". This program is the first talk show program on TV in Japan. It has been broadcasted for more than 23 years. In this program, she talks with many guests about their view of life, careers, and hobbies.

Her skillful art of talking has made this program live long. She appeared on some American TV programs such as Tonight Show. She was introduced in foreign newspapers such as Time, New York Times, People and FIGARO as a Japanese representative.

In 1984, she published "Madogiwa no Totuto chan" whose title come from her nickname in her childhood. It became a best seller. The amount sold has come to 700 millions. It is a new record of Japanese books. This translated books have also published to 31 countries of all the world. She established "Totuto chan Fund" from the royalties on a book. She has been very active as a goodwill ambassador of UNICEF. Since 1987, she has visited many countries in Asia and Africa. Then, she has keep appealing to the public to raise funds and to help children suffering from war and disasters. Today, she is three chairman of the board of directors, "Totuto Fund","Ayumino Hako" and " World Protection of Natural Environments".

References: http://www.inv.co.jp/~tagawa/totto/profile.html

Reported by: Yuna Go
Data verified by: ?
Date of Report: December 1999
Back to the main page