Sanma Akashiya

Sanma Akashiya
Birth name	Takafumi Sugimoto (杉本 高文)
Native name	明石家 さんま
Born	July 1, 1955 Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan (raised in Nara)
Medium	Owarai Television
Nationality	Japanese
Years active	1974–Present
Employer	Yoshimoto Kogyo
Genres	Owarai
Spouse	Shinobu Otake (1988–1992)
Children	Imalu

Sanma Akashiya (明石家 さんま Akashiya Sanma, born July 1, 1955 in Kushimoto, Wakayama) is a Japanese TV comedian^[1] and actor simply known as Sanma. His real name is Takafumi Sugimoto (杉本 高文 Sugimoto Takafumi). His talent agency is Yoshimoto Kogyo.

Together with Beat Takeshi and Tamori, Sanma is said to be one of the "Big Three" tarento of Japan.^[2] He is known for his ability to endlessly carry a conversation. His protruding front teeth are often ridiculed even by himself.

Personal life

Akashiya was once married to actress Shinobu Otake.^[3] They had one daughter Imalu Otake, born in 1989.^[4]

TV programs

Present

• Koi no Karasawagi (恋のから騒ぎ (Much Ado About Love)) (Nippon TV)
• Odoru! Sanma Goten!! (踊る!さんま御殿!!) (Nippon TV)
• Sanma no Manma (さんまのまんま) (Kansai TV)
• Tūkai! Akashiya TV (痛快!明石家電視台) (MBS)
• Honmadekka!? TV (ホンマでっか!?TV) (Fuji TV)
• Sanma Inprovement Comittee (さんまのお笑い向上委員会) (Fuji TV)

Past

• Sanma-no Super Karakuri TV (さんまのSUPERからくりTV) (TBS)
• Hatachi no Koibito (ハタチの恋人) (TBS)
• Appare!! Sanma Daikyōju (あっぱれ!!さんま大教授) (Fuji TV)

Radio

• MBS Young Town Doyōbi (MBSヤングタウン 土曜日) (MBS Radio, with Haruna Iikubo and Haruka Kudo)

References

1. "Sakana-kun in Tohoku; Sanma x Okamura; CM of the week: Sukiya". The Japan Times. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
2. "Sanma, Tamori, Takeshi to co-host NTV comedy specials ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
3. Tanaka, Nobuko. "Romance at the edge of reason". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
4. "'The Cat Lawyer and the Invisible Man'; Imalu as a barista; CM of the week: Loto 7". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2014-12-05.