The funeral service for actor Shigeru Araki (63), known for his role in Kamen Rider Stronger, was held on April 18.  He died of pneumonia on April 14.

At the end of the service, Araki’s wife Noriko (58) wept, saying, “Thank you, Papa.” She revealed to the 500 attendees that “(After his esophageal cancer operation in 2007) he told our daughter to stop wasting her life.  He had loved drinking and smoking but he quit those after the surgery.”  In the time he was in the hospital, he had lost the strength to smoke.

The coffin was covered with messages from fans as well as the blue jacket he had worn as a costume.  “Chiisana Nikki” by his band Four Saints played during the procession.  Sobs and cries of “Shigeru!” could be heard.

Yumi Shirakawa, wife of Araki’s Tokusou Saizensen costar Hideaki Nitani, also attended.  “I told Hideaki that Shigeru was on his way, so please don’t worry,” she told Noriko.  Actor Hiroshi Fujioka attended the service as well.

Source: Sports Houchi