Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

TOKYO, Japan - Hitoshi Ueki, one of Japan's leading comedians in the 1960s, offer prayers at a wake for former Tokyo Governor Yukio Aoshima in December 2006. Ueki died of respiratory failure at a Tokyo hospital on March 27, aged 80. A native of Mie Prefecture, Ueki began his career as a member of the Crazy Cats, a comedy band led by Hana Hajime, in 1957. He hit it big in 1961 with ''Sudara Bushi'' a song whose lyrics were written by Aoshima, another comedian who later turned a Tokyo governor.

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

TOKYO, Japan - Hitoshi Ueki (in photo taken in April 1999), one of Japan's leading comedians in the 1960s, died of respiratory failure at a Tokyo hospital on March 27. He was 80. A native of Mie Prefecture, Ueki began his career as a member of the Crazy Cats, a comedy band led by Hana Hajime, in 1957. He hit it big in 1961 with ''Sudara Bushi'' a song whose lyrics were written by Yukio Aoshima, another comedian who later turned a governor of Tokyo.

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

TOKYO, Japan - Hitoshi Ueki, one of Japan's leading comedians in the 1960s, offer prayers at a wake for former Tokyo Governor Yukio Aoshima in December 2006. Ueki died of respiratory failure at a Tokyo hospital on March 27, aged 80. A native of Mie Prefecture, Ueki began his career as a member of the Crazy Cats, a comedy band led by Hana Hajime, in 1957. He hit it big in 1961 with ''Sudara Bushi'' a song whose lyrics were written by Aoshima, another comedian who later turned a Tokyo governor. (Kyodo)

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

Comedian, singer Hitoshi Ueki dies at 80

TOKYO, Japan - Hitoshi Ueki (in photo taken in April 1999), one of Japan's leading comedians in the 1960s, died of respiratory failure at a Tokyo hospital on March 27. He was 80. A native of Mie Prefecture, Ueki began his career as a member of the Crazy Cats, a comedy band led by Hana Hajime, in 1957. He hit it big in 1961 with ''Sudara Bushi'' a song whose lyrics were written by Yukio Aoshima, another comedian who later turned a governor of Tokyo. (Kyodo)