It was learned on the 17th that actor Toshiyuki Nishida passed away at his home in Tokyo. He was 76 years old and originally from Fukushima Prefecture.

His last public appearance was at the completion announcement press conference for the film "Doctor X: The Movie," held in Tokyo on the 8th of this month.

Nishida was born on November 4, 1947 in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. After graduating from junior high school, he moved to Tokyo and went on to Meiji University after graduating from Meiji University Nakano High School. He then dropped out and joined the Seinenza Theater Company in 1970. That same year, he made his stage debut in "Jochi." In 1971, he played the lead role in the play "Sharakuko."

He then branched out into television and film, appearing in a number of popular productions. In 1978, he gained popularity for his role as Zhu Bajie in the drama "Journey to the West." In 1980, he played his first leading role in the drama "Ikenaka Genta 80 Kilo," and the following year, in 1981, he played the supporting role of Hideyoshi Toyotomi in the historical drama "Onna Taikoki." As a singer, he also had a big hit with the theme song for "Ikenaka-," "Moshimo Piano ga Hikera Nara," and made his first appearance on the NHK The Kohaku Gassen.

The "Tsuribaka Nisshi" film series, which he starred in from 1988, was a hit that lasted for 22 years. He also won numerous awards, including the Japan Academy Award for Best Actor for "Dunhuang" in 1989, and the Blue Ribbon Award in 2003 for "Geroppa" and "Tsuribaka Nisshi 14."

He also played an active role in variety shows, including serving as the second chief of "Detective! Night Scoop" for 19 years.

He was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal in 2008 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2018.