Hitoshi Matsumoto extends medical hiatus following intestinal surgery

Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto, of the duo Downtown, has announced an extension of his medical hiatus. Through the official X account for his streaming service, ‘DOWNTOWN+’, Matsumoto shared that while his recent surgery to restore his intestinal function went smoothly, he is struggling to return to his normal physical state.

He described the difficulty by stating, ‘I wonder if my intestines are on vacation... they aren't quite back to normal operation yet, and to be honest, I am struggling.’ He noted that he requires a bit more rest and asked for patience from his fans.

Earlier in July, his agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo, revealed that Matsumoto had undergone surgery to remove a tumor in his large intestine after discovering abnormalities earlier in the year. In a previous live stream, Matsumoto had disclosed the severity of the situation, mentioning he had undergone significant procedures and had dealt with the use of a stoma.