Go to contents

Sugako Hashida, author of Oshin, prepares her end

Posted October. 22, 2016 08:13,   

Updated October. 22, 2016 08:21

한국어
For Sugako Hashida (91), a famous Japanese scriptwriter, it was her moment of realization when her friends told her that she would become 90 years old the following year. It made her begin “Shukatsu” two years ago.

Known for her NHK hit drama “Oshin” released in 1983, which recorded an average rating of 52.6 percent and the peak rating of 62.9 percet, she has been one of the leading scriptwriters in Japan. Oshin was sold to 68 countries and aired overseas.

Her new book, a collection of her shukatsu experiences, is creating some buzz. Through her confession of shukatsu stories, she declared that she had abandoned 10 things in her life including funeral, success, work, friend, parent, relationship, husband, child and regret.

Since her husband passed away in 1989, she has lived alone in a big mansion in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. For her whole life, she had kept her things, instead of throwing them away. This time, however, it was different. She donated tons of books that had filled few of her rooms to a local library. She dumped her collection of newspapers that she thought she might use them as references for her writing. Hundreds of clothes she bought overseas were given away.

She established “Hashida Cultural Foundation” in 1992 to award commendations to people for making contribution to broadcasting and cultural sectors. Her mansion will be used as a “Hashida Memorial” after her death. She even asked her lawyer to be her adult guardian for nursing care and wealth management and disposal if time comes that she cannot make clear decision. She goes to a sport center three times a week as she wants to “walk around with her own feet until she dies.”

Hashida said the reason why she became interested in writing shukatsu was that she did not have any relatives or child and that she did not want to cause any inconvenience to someone else.

“My place has now become more spacious and I am enjoying my time. Having a cruise trip vacation after one drama is my big pleasure of life," said Hashida. "Housekeepers come by turns. I feel much better than asking relatives to take care of me. This could be my ideal life I dreamed of."



도쿄=서영아특파원 sya@donga.com