Toshio Sakata

Toshio Sakata (7 October 1941 29 December 2023) was a Japanese comedian, known as part of the Comedy No. 1 duo with Goro Maeda.

Early life Sakata was born in Minato-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture in October 1941. After graduating from Konohana Commercial High School (now Osaka Kaisei Gakuen High School), he worked several jobs before joining the comedy troupe Yoshimoto Shinkigeki in 1961 as a trainee, joining the troupe full-time in 1964. He would then form the Comedy No. 1 manzai duo with Goro Maeda in 1967.

Comedy career The Comedy No. 1 duo performed mainly at the Namba Kagetsu theater, where the pair's light-hearted banter won them the Newcomer Award at the 5th Kamigata Manzai Grand Prix in 1970. In 1971, the duo won the Outstanding Speech Award at the 1st NHK Kamigata Manzai Contest, also winning the Gold Award at the 1st Kamigata Comedy Grand Prix in 1972.

In 1972, Sakata released the hit record "Aho no Sakata".

An NHK program spoke with several people that he befriended at the cafe; they recall his love for children. He would often stop to talk with children and their parents. He was well known by local kindergarteners, as their bus would stop near the cafe. He enjoyed waving to them and talking with them as well.