Japanese screenwriter So Kuramoto passes away at 91

Renowned Japanese screenwriter So Kuramoto has passed away at the age of 91. He was best known for his iconic television series ‘Kita no Kuni kara’ (From the Northern Country), which depicted the lives of a family living in Furano, Hokkaido, over a span of 21 years.

Born in Tokyo in 1935, Kuramoto moved to Furano in 1977. There, he established the ‘Furano Juku’ to train aspiring writers and actors. His works, including ‘Zenryaku Ofukuro-sama’ and ‘Kaze no Garden’, were celebrated for their deep exploration of human connections and the relationship between people and nature.

In his final years, Kuramoto contributed a long-running column to Zaikei magazine, which he wrote for approximately 31 years. His final piece, titled ‘Oiru’ (Aging), reflected on the physical challenges of growing older, including hearing loss, while maintaining his characteristic humor and insight into the human condition.