Kiyoshi Nishikawa (西川きよし, Nishikawa Kiyoshi, born 2 July 1946) is a Japanese comedian, actor, and former politician.
Kiyoshi Nishikawa | |
---|---|
西川きよし | |
Member of the House of Councillors | |
In office 8 July 1986 – 25 July 2004 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 西川潔 2 July 1946 Kōchi, Kōchi |
Political party | Dainiin Club |
Occupation | Comedian, actor |
Same year/generation as: Kinichi Hagimoto Danshi Tatekawa | |
Nishikawa trained to be a comedian under Kin Ishii, and became a student at Yoshimoto Shinkigeki (a comedy troupe run by Yoshimoto Kogyo) in 1964.[1] In 1966, he formed a manzai duo with Yasushi Yokoyama, and rose to fame,[1] the pair eventually becoming one of the leaders of the manzai boom of the early 1980s.[2] The pair won the Kamigata Manzai Grand Prize three times in 1970, 1977, and 1980.[3]
Nishikawa served in Japan's House of Councillors for three terms between 1986 and 2004 as an independent, representing the Osaka district.[1] He came first all three times he stood for office, with more than one million votes.[4] Nishikawa resumed his entertainment career after 2004.
Nishikawa's wife is Helen Nishikawa. They married in 1967 when she was a top actress in Yoshimoto Shinkigeki and he still an up-and-coming comedian.[5]