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A day to miss and remember Kobayashi Mao-san, former NEWS ZERO caster. Below are some highlighted information / coverage.
(1) 16.11.23 Kobayashi-san’s letter to BBC
(2) 17.06.23 Ichikawa Ebizo-san talked about Kobayashi-san’s last word [Press release, Oricon transcript]
(3) 17.06.23 NEW ZERO’s words [Oricon]
(4) 17.06.23 Murao Nobutaka-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
(5) 17.06.23 Sakurai Sho-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
* * *
(1) 16.11.23 Fighting against cancer, Kobayashi Mao-san’s letter to BBC “My colourful and rich life”
Two years ago, when I was 32 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, my daughter was three years old, my son was one year old.
“As long as I go through the treatment and the cancer is cured, I can go back to my normal self, it’ll be OK!” I thought.
However, that was not so simple.
Now too, my body is with cancer.
My work is to appear on television.
I felt “fearful” of holding an ill image or letting others see my weak appearance.
Because of this, at that time, I chose to hide the fact that I was ill.
I hid myself when going to hospital, I stopped communicating with people so as not to let my surrounding know my illness, I had such life that time.
One year and eight months, I lived like this everyday.
The words of the doctor of palliative care changed my mind.
“Don’t hide the dark side of cancer!”
I noticed.
While thinking about returning to my normal self,
I, towards the shadows more and more, became a person far from whom I hoped to be.
Although I do not get ill as a sort of punishment,
I blame myself, as for the fact that I am not able to go back to normal life as it has been,
I brand it as “failure”,
I keep hiding in the shadow of such misery.
Thus far, I have been uneasy of not doing everything myself,
I was obsessed with the concept that a mother was to do everything.
that was my ideal image of mother.
However,
when I got ill,
Anything, anything,
I was not able to do anything.
Finally, when I was hospitalised,
I was completely separated from my children.
When such obsession which tortured my soul and body is lost,
such sacrifice was not meaningful
I noticed.
And my family, even I do not cook for them, even I am not able to send and receive my children to and from kindergarten myself,
they accepted, trusted, and loved me as a wife, as a mother, just as before.
I, for this family, wanted to be a wife whom my husband would be proud of, be a strong mother.
I opened a blog documenting my fighting sickness,
I decided to come out towards the sunshine.
And then, resonated by many people,
they prayed for me.
And then, they shared with me various life experience to getting along with and getting through pain (through the comment column).
The world which I was afraid of is filled by tenderness and love.
Now, I have bond with over 1,000,000 readers.
When death visits us, whether because of illness or not,
is something we do not know.
For instance, if I die now,
what would people think.
“She is still so young, just 34 years old, what a pity”
“Such small children are left, what a pity”
Things like this?
I do not want to think like that.
Because the fact that I get ill
should not be a thing that represents my life.
My life is, I make my dreams come true, sometimes there are sufferings,
I meet my beloved ones,
I have two treasures, I am loved by my family,
my life is a life full of love, color, and richness.
Therefore,
I refuse the time that I am given just be dominated by the colour of illness.
I am who I want to be. In order to make my life more colourful and richer.
Because, we only live once.
* Part of this letter was read in 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO (Casters’ comments at https://goo.gl/5MFe2T)
Source: http://www.bbc.com/japanese/features-and-analysis-38073955
* * *
(2) 17.06.23 Ichikawa Ebizo-san talked about Kobayashi-san’s last word during press release [Oricon transcript]
Q: What is the last word of Kobayashi-san
Ichikawa-san: Though it’s difficult to imagine, I watched her last moment. At that time, really difficult to imagine, she said “I love you”… I cried. After saying that one word “I love you”, she really started her journey to the Heaven. The moment she started this journey she said that and then she started her journey, it was… what am I talking about, though I knew that I was loved so much, that I am loved up to her very last moment, I am wordless about this. From yesterday to today I was not able to prepare anything, at such place I showed my poor look [Ichikawa-san cried very hard when talking about this].
Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2092992/full/
* * *
(3) 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO’s words [Oricon]
Kobayashi Mao-san supported NEWS ZERO for three and a half years since it started in October 2006 until March 2010.
That Mao-san faced the news everyday earnestly and Mao-san’s smile are something that we staff would never forget. Mao-san, really thank you very much.
All Staff from NEWS ZERO
* * *
(4) 17.06.23 Murao Nobutaka-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
I feel the divine ruthlessness. With Ichikawa Ebizo-san as centre, when I think about her family I am wordless. Mao-san, you have worked very hard. In a young generation having an effort to change Japan, I am proud of having reported news together with Mao-san.
(Eng sub of comment in Minna no News at https://goo.gl/3nJz2B)
* * *
(5) 17.06.23 Sakurai Sho-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
Kobayashi Mao-san passed away. I would like to express my deepest condolences. I can only, I can only sum up my feeling as pity.
Kobayashi Mao-san, from the first episode of NEWS ZERO, about three and a half years, we have worked together. Since NEWS ZERO is a really warm programme, the casters and the staff call the programme “ZERO FAMILY”. Because of this, just this FAMILY… we completely feel like we lost a family member.
Starting from ZERO Caster Murao-san, all casters and all the staff had sent our handwriting message. Even a little, we were hoping that she would get better… It is really very sad… Please pardon me. This is the end of my comment.
(Eng sub of comment in Minna no News at https://goo.gl/3nJz2B)
Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2092990/full/
* * *
- KOKORO. – Kobayashi-san’s blog: https://ameblo.jp/maokobayashi0721/
- 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO - ZERO FAMILY on Kobayashi Mao-san: https://goo.gl/5MFe2T
- 17.06.23 Minna no news - Sakurai Sho-san and Murao Nobutaka-san on Kobayashi Mao-san: https://goo.gl/3nJz2B
* * *
My deepest condolences.
(1) 16.11.23 Kobayashi-san’s letter to BBC
(2) 17.06.23 Ichikawa Ebizo-san talked about Kobayashi-san’s last word [Press release, Oricon transcript]
(3) 17.06.23 NEW ZERO’s words [Oricon]
(4) 17.06.23 Murao Nobutaka-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
(5) 17.06.23 Sakurai Sho-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
* * *
(1) 16.11.23 Fighting against cancer, Kobayashi Mao-san’s letter to BBC “My colourful and rich life”
Two years ago, when I was 32 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, my daughter was three years old, my son was one year old.
“As long as I go through the treatment and the cancer is cured, I can go back to my normal self, it’ll be OK!” I thought.
However, that was not so simple.
Now too, my body is with cancer.
My work is to appear on television.
I felt “fearful” of holding an ill image or letting others see my weak appearance.
Because of this, at that time, I chose to hide the fact that I was ill.
I hid myself when going to hospital, I stopped communicating with people so as not to let my surrounding know my illness, I had such life that time.
One year and eight months, I lived like this everyday.
The words of the doctor of palliative care changed my mind.
“Don’t hide the dark side of cancer!”
I noticed.
While thinking about returning to my normal self,
I, towards the shadows more and more, became a person far from whom I hoped to be.
Although I do not get ill as a sort of punishment,
I blame myself, as for the fact that I am not able to go back to normal life as it has been,
I brand it as “failure”,
I keep hiding in the shadow of such misery.
Thus far, I have been uneasy of not doing everything myself,
I was obsessed with the concept that a mother was to do everything.
that was my ideal image of mother.
However,
when I got ill,
Anything, anything,
I was not able to do anything.
Finally, when I was hospitalised,
I was completely separated from my children.
When such obsession which tortured my soul and body is lost,
such sacrifice was not meaningful
I noticed.
And my family, even I do not cook for them, even I am not able to send and receive my children to and from kindergarten myself,
they accepted, trusted, and loved me as a wife, as a mother, just as before.
I, for this family, wanted to be a wife whom my husband would be proud of, be a strong mother.
I opened a blog documenting my fighting sickness,
I decided to come out towards the sunshine.
And then, resonated by many people,
they prayed for me.
And then, they shared with me various life experience to getting along with and getting through pain (through the comment column).
The world which I was afraid of is filled by tenderness and love.
Now, I have bond with over 1,000,000 readers.
When death visits us, whether because of illness or not,
is something we do not know.
For instance, if I die now,
what would people think.
“She is still so young, just 34 years old, what a pity”
“Such small children are left, what a pity”
Things like this?
I do not want to think like that.
Because the fact that I get ill
should not be a thing that represents my life.
My life is, I make my dreams come true, sometimes there are sufferings,
I meet my beloved ones,
I have two treasures, I am loved by my family,
my life is a life full of love, color, and richness.
Therefore,
I refuse the time that I am given just be dominated by the colour of illness.
I am who I want to be. In order to make my life more colourful and richer.
Because, we only live once.
* Part of this letter was read in 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO (Casters’ comments at https://goo.gl/5MFe2T)
Source: http://www.bbc.com/japanese/features-and-analysis-38073955
* * *
(2) 17.06.23 Ichikawa Ebizo-san talked about Kobayashi-san’s last word during press release [Oricon transcript]
Q: What is the last word of Kobayashi-san
Ichikawa-san: Though it’s difficult to imagine, I watched her last moment. At that time, really difficult to imagine, she said “I love you”… I cried. After saying that one word “I love you”, she really started her journey to the Heaven. The moment she started this journey she said that and then she started her journey, it was… what am I talking about, though I knew that I was loved so much, that I am loved up to her very last moment, I am wordless about this. From yesterday to today I was not able to prepare anything, at such place I showed my poor look [Ichikawa-san cried very hard when talking about this].
Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2092992/full/
* * *
(3) 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO’s words [Oricon]
Kobayashi Mao-san supported NEWS ZERO for three and a half years since it started in October 2006 until March 2010.
That Mao-san faced the news everyday earnestly and Mao-san’s smile are something that we staff would never forget. Mao-san, really thank you very much.
All Staff from NEWS ZERO
* * *
(4) 17.06.23 Murao Nobutaka-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
I feel the divine ruthlessness. With Ichikawa Ebizo-san as centre, when I think about her family I am wordless. Mao-san, you have worked very hard. In a young generation having an effort to change Japan, I am proud of having reported news together with Mao-san.
(Eng sub of comment in Minna no News at https://goo.gl/3nJz2B)
* * *
(5) 17.06.23 Sakurai Sho-san’s words [Oricon / TV]
Kobayashi Mao-san passed away. I would like to express my deepest condolences. I can only, I can only sum up my feeling as pity.
Kobayashi Mao-san, from the first episode of NEWS ZERO, about three and a half years, we have worked together. Since NEWS ZERO is a really warm programme, the casters and the staff call the programme “ZERO FAMILY”. Because of this, just this FAMILY… we completely feel like we lost a family member.
Starting from ZERO Caster Murao-san, all casters and all the staff had sent our handwriting message. Even a little, we were hoping that she would get better… It is really very sad… Please pardon me. This is the end of my comment.
(Eng sub of comment in Minna no News at https://goo.gl/3nJz2B)
Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2092990/full/
* * *
- KOKORO. – Kobayashi-san’s blog: https://ameblo.jp/maokobayashi0721/
- 17.06.23 NEWS ZERO - ZERO FAMILY on Kobayashi Mao-san: https://goo.gl/5MFe2T
- 17.06.23 Minna no news - Sakurai Sho-san and Murao Nobutaka-san on Kobayashi Mao-san: https://goo.gl/3nJz2B
* * *
My deepest condolences.