Deceased Uganda Tora

Deceased Uganda Tora
07:57 June 1st 2008

From an article: ”One of the first oversized TV personalities deceased”

Uganda Tora, known as a former member of “Bee Gee Four” and one of the first oversized TV personalities, passed away at 5:30 in the morning of May 31st at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 55.

The cause of his death is unknown, yet he was known to have diabetes and another chronic complication on his liver. He was hospitalized for treatment repeatedly in April. He could barely walk by himself at that time.

He was introduced as an early-time oversized TV personality in the article. I personally remember seeing him quite often on TV.

According to a Wikipedia article “Uganda Tora,” he was from Roppongi area in Tokyo and it was believed that he was named after the former president of Republic of Uganda, Idi Amin, for his resemblance to Idi Amin.

He used to play drums in the music band “Bee Gee Four.”

He was recently running a yakitori restaurant “Uga-chan” in Okubo, Tokyo besides his TV personality business. “Curry is a beverage, not food” was a famous line of his.

I express my condolence to him.

Translated by Masaki Nakano