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Sazae-san's Ratings Rise After Voice Actor's Passing
posted on by Emma Hanashiro
According to data collected by Video Research Ltd., ratings for Fuji TV's Sazae-san anime rose during Sunday's broadcast. In the Kanto region, ratings increased 5.1 points from 16.7% the previous week to 21.8%. Just before the latest episode's ending, ratings peaked at 23.6%. In the Kansai region, ratings reached 18.2%.
The last time the show topped 20% was on November 11, 2012 with 21.3%.
This was the first time Fuji TV aired the show since the passing of Ichirô Nagai, the voice actor of Sazae-san's father Namihei, at age 82 on January 27. Nagai had already recorded episodes that will air until February 9. The Daily Sports newspaper reported that Nagai's role will now be filled by the show's staff. The first Sazae-san episode after Nagai's passing was recorded on January 30.
The anime of Machiko Hasegawa's Sazae-san manga began airing in 1969, and the show is celebrating its 45th anniversary. The anime has had over 2,250 episodes (with about 7,000 short stories) as of September 1, 2013, and constantly ranks high on the Japanese TV rankings.
Source: Sankei
