Akira Kawashima discusses career evolution and health recovery

Comedian Akira Kawashima of the duo Kirin shared personal reflections on his career and health during an appearance on the program ‘Mimi no Ana Kappojitte Kike!’. Kawashima discussed his journey to becoming the host of the TBS morning variety show ‘Love it!’, noting that he initially hesitated to accept the role to avoid professional conflicts after previously leaving a news-focused program. He described ‘Love it!’ as a space between a theater and television, functioning as a “training ground for the entertainment industry.”

Kawashima also revealed a serious health scare involving his liver. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he consumed two to three liters of alcohol daily, leading to a medical diagnosis where he ranked first among veteran entertainers for poor liver health. Doctors warned him that his condition was “on the verge of exploding” and that he had only six months to change his lifestyle.

Kawashima credited the shift to his current lifestyle and morning hosting duties with improving his health, stating he now feels more energetic than he did in his 40s. He also reminisced about his early career, including an anecdote about spending eight hours performing comedy at an oden shop, which resulted in an unexpectedly high bill.