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The story
Screenwriter Sō Kuramoto died of multiple organ failure on September 18 at age 91, and singer-songwriter Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (70) posted a tribute on Instagram on the 30th. Nagabuchi is known for “Kanpai” (“Cheers”), the theme song of the TV drama “Kita no Kuni Kara” (“From the Northern Country”), and reportedly had a bond with Kuramoto since both hailed from Kagoshima. On the thread, nostalgic comments recalling memories of “Kita no Kuni Kara” and quoting lyrics from Nagabuchi’s famous songs poured in, while talk of Nagabuchi’s past personal-life troubles and ideological leanings also flared up, splitting opinion.
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi: “That Night We Raged Against Society Together…” — Recalling Memories of Sō Kuramoto – Obituaries : Nikkan Sports
September 30, 2026, 3:22 PM
Singer-songwriter Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (70) updated his Instagram on the 30th, mourning screenwriter Sō Kuramoto (real name Kaoru Yamaya), who died on the 18th of multiple organ failure at age 91.
Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here
What people said
I forget which episode, but Goro sang the 'Old Man of West Shinjuku' song.
He was doted on by Kuramoto through their shared Kagoshima roots.
And the guy Nagabuchi in turn doted on was fellow Kagoshima native Shō Aikawa.
Shame — his wife was way more talented than him.
That alone basically sums him up lol
pee-pee, pipipipi-pee (humming a tune)
Crowd: "Kimigayo wa"
Nagabuchi: "SEI! SEI!"
Crowd: "Chiyo ni yachiyo ni"
Nagabuchi: "HA! SEIYAA!"
Crowd: "Sazare-ishi no"
Nagabuchi: "ORASSHO! SEI!"
Crowd: "Iwao to narite"
Nagabuchi: "SEI!" (jaka-jaka-jaka-jaka) *strums guitar* (call-and-response chanting the lyrics of Japan's national anthem, Kimigayo, concert-style)
Let's practice our penmanship, shall we (said in deliberately old-fashioned phrasing)
They aired it on SkyPerfecTV last year I think, on the Home Drama Channel.
hiding behind a stylish mask, spouting nagging complaints ripped off from somewhere.
Poor since childhood, and on top of that a down-to-earth hard worker —
it's actually all a lie, but boy can he act.
Flatter him as a genius or a prodigy and the monkey climbs right up the tree.
He's got an eye for money-making schemes and drugs, this 'Mr. Jerk.'
The streetcar keeps running, but his youth never comes back.
He said he wouldn't appear on TV —
yet he's burning to land the lead role in the drama.
Oh yeah, baby!
Coming from a guy who's a total worldly opportunist, what's he even talking about.
'I won't be fooled by the hit chart rankings' (quoting a Nagabuchi lyric)
8 months later
↓
'BLACK TRAIN' hit No. 1 on the Oricon daily chart!!!
Thanks to everyone who bought the album!!
Background and Key Points of This Topic
Sō Kuramoto was a screenwriter known for works like “Kita no Kuni Kara” (“From the Northern Country”) and “Kinou, Kanashikute” (“Yesterday, I Was Sad”); the former series is also well known for repeatedly using Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s “Kanpai” (“Cheers”) within the show. The two men shared a hometown connection, both hailing from Kagoshima, and posters on the thread noted that this tie was how Nagabuchi grew close to Kuramoto and the actors around him. Meanwhile, some posts brought up past troubles in Nagabuchi’s personal life, though many of these claims were poorly substantiated, so this article kept its focus narrow. There were also posts trying to pin a “right-wing” or “left-wing” label on Nagabuchi’s ideological stance, but opinions were split even among the replies themselves — it’s worth noting how difficult it is to pin down someone’s ideological position from just a fragment of their words or actions.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geisokuho+) thread “Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi: “That Night We Raged Against Society Together…” — Recalling Memories of Sō Kuramoto.”
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