Takeshi Ishida

Takeshi Ishida (March 1926 – April 15, 1989) was a former announcer for NHK, Japan's public broadcasting organization. Some sources list his place of birth as Sapporo, Hokkaido, but the precise location of his birth remains unknown.

Regarding his family background, his father, Takeichiro Ishida, was a journalist for the Chugai Commercial News (now The Nihon Keizai Shimbun) and was also involved in political activities. His father was born in 1890 and was from Hyo-kōri-chō, Ebara District, Tokyo (present-day Meguro Ward, Tokyo). He graduated from Waseda University’s School of Political Science and Economics in 1915 and reported from London during the London Naval Conference’s coverage. Later, he became the chairman of the Meguro Ward Assembly and aspired to become a member of the House of Representatives but was not elected. He died later from cirrhosis of the liver.

Little is known about his mother, but records indicate that she obtained a midwifery qualification to support raising three children.

His wife was his eldest daughter, Momoko (a musician, born 1950, deceased 2023), who was from Hiroshima. He had a son, Junichi (real name Taro, an actor, born 1954), and his grandchildren include actor and musician Issei Ishida (born 1974) and model Sumire (born 1990).

As for his education, Ishida graduated from Azabu Veterinary School and initially aspired to become a veterinarian. After World War II, he lived while taking care of livestock at U.S. military bases stationed in Japan, and later sought a career where he could utilize his English skills, which led him to apply for a reporting position at NHK.

His career began with NHK based in Hiroshima, where he was involved in radio commentary during the founding of the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. He also narrated various sports including baseball and sumo. From April 1963 to September 1964, he served as the host of NHK’s Tokyo Olympic preview program “Olympic Hour.” During the Tokyo Olympics, he covered track and field events and broadcast the race of Robert Hayes, who won the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters.

Additionally, Ishida was dispatched to Voice of America (VOA) in the United States, where he worked on Japanese-language broadcasts aimed at Japan. During this period, he reported on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and covered the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

In his personal life, he was known to have been strict at times; it is said that he would raise his voice when his children talked back. Regarding his health, he suffered a stroke while working at NHK and fought a long battle with its aftereffects, undergoing a prolonged period of illness. He died at the age of 63 on April 15, 1989.

His notable relatives include his father, Takeichiro Ishida, as well as his nephew Koji Watanabe of Yamaguchi Asahi Broadcasting (former TV Asahi reporter) and the writer and translator Jun Hoshikawa.

【References】

- “Waseda University Alumni Directory, Taisho 14 Year November Edition” (Waseda University Alumni Association, 1915-1925)