At 91 years old, Boo Takagi is a well-known figure in comedy and a prominent ukulele player. However, there was a time when he was the least recognized member of The Drifters, a hugely popular five-member comedy group whose TV show “Hachiji Dayo! Zenin Shugo” (It’s 8 o’clock! Everyone get together) achieved remarkable success, peaking with ratings over 50%.
Despite his journey, Takagi expresses a deep affection for The Drifters, describing the troupe as “my life itself.” The show aired on the TBS network from 1969 to 1985, captivating audiences every Saturday night.
Originally, The Drifters began as a band performing at U.S. military camps in Japan. In 1964, the group faced potential disbandment due to the departure of several members, leaving Chosuke Ikariya, Cha Kato, and a few others. It was during this challenging time that Ikariya noticed Takagi, who was 31 and playing with another band.
Takagi picked up the ukulele in high school and immersed himself in Hawaiian music during college, eventually becoming a professional musician after graduation. Ikariya’s invitation to join The Drifters stemmed not from admiration for Takagi’s musical talents, but rather because “he was fat,” making him an ideal fit for the band’s comedic direction.
Also joining the group were Chu Arai, described as “a short guy with a funny face,” and Koji Nakamoto, a musician friend of Takagi who was conveniently in touch with Ikariya.
When the five of them gathered at a yakitori restaurant in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, Ikariya announced, “Kato will be in the front,” indicating that Takagi would take on a supporting role.
“I thought I would be the one in the spotlight, so honestly, I felt a sense of rivalry with him,” Takagi admitted.
Hajime Hana, a well-known figure in entertainment at the time and a long-time member of The Drifters’ agency, assigned each of them stage names, marking the beginning of the revitalized Drifters’ rise to fame.
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