Yamase, who will celebrate her 40th anniversary in show business next year, won the Grand Prix at the “Horipro Scout Caravan” and made her show business debut as an idol singer in 1986 at the age of 16. Later, as the original “balladol,” she was also active in variety shows, and for 25 years from 1997, she appeared as an assistant on “Shinkkosan Irasshii! (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation) for 25 years from 1997. However, in March of this year, Yamase announced that she would be taking a leave of absence. A source in the entertainment industry tells the following story. Yamase revealed on her radio show after her return in October that she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer and had undergone surgery to remove the entire uterus in March. During the surgery, she suffered a stroke and was taken to the ICU (intensive care unit), where doctors told her family that she would ‘never speak a word. Initially, he was scheduled to return to work within two months of his leave, but it took longer because of the stroke.” After regaining consciousness following the surgery, Yamase worked hard on his rehabilitation and miraculously returned to work without physical paralysis. During those seven months, it was her husband, Nakagami, who continued to support his wife as she faced her illness.
We are closer than ever before.”
Since their marriage in 1999, Nakagami has appeared in movies and TV dramas, but her exposure has decreased since 2015. Perhaps because of this situation, there were rumors in the past of an alleged separation. A former entertainment industry insider said, “Ms. Yamase mainly appears on TV. Yamase has been active mainly on TV, while Nakagami has been active mainly on the stage. As Ms. Nakagami’s TV exposure decreased, the episodes about their marriage that Mr. Yamase used to talk about disappeared. Because of this, there were times when the media speculated that the two were not getting along. However, they are still happy, calling each other “Mami-chan” and “Masami-kun. Nakagami continued to confront Yamase as he battled his illness.
Nakagami frequently went to Yamase’s hospital room to encourage him and support his rehabilitation. After leaving the hospital, Nakagami cooked meals for Yamase until he recovered his strength and accompanied him to hospital visits. “Mr. Yamase, wearing a hat and mask, was walking slowly near the hospital, and Ms. Nakagami was with him. He was walking behind Ms. Yamase at an unobtrusive distance and seemed to be used to being chaperoned.” The couple, who had overcome a crisis in their lives and were slowly taking their steps together, had begun to walk forward – and they were beginning to look forward. In the sequel, we will report in detail on the “recent situation of the couple” as told by Nakagami, who had supported them during their battle with the disease. (Continue to Part 2)