Ryousuke Sakamaoto burst onto the Cult Faction radar as Red One leader of Chodenshi Bioman but sadly the great TV hero is now facing a new battle against esophageal cancer.
Sakamaoto himself broke the news at a recent Red Festival event; the news was shared by cast mate Michiko Makino (Pink Five) who alongside her Chodenshi Bioman cast mates (Naoto Ota – Green Two; Akito Osuga – Blue Three; Sumiko Tanaka – Yellow Four) gathered onstage, did their signature pose as tribute to Sakamaoto.
Michiko Makino retold the story on her blog:
Our Red Has Cancer, part 1
When I was told by Sakamoto, Bioman’s Red 1
that he had cancer, it was such an unreal moment
that I thought “What is this man saying? Is he joking?”I did not want to believe it but it was true.
Days later.
After making a few calls, Ota, Green 2 and Oosuka, Blue 3 came to
see him with me at his first chemotherapy session.
On the second one I came with Yellow 4, Tanaka.Surgery is programmed for September.
He has esophagic cancer stage 3 with some spread to his lymph nodes.Thinking of the possibilities I got all flustered,
Pink is there because Red is there
We cannot not have Red.My heart just screamed that the 5 of us have to get old together.
Then
On August 27th, the Red Festival was coming.
(A yearly event that gathers actors that played Red)
And he told us that he would announce his illness.
And that he wanted us to be there.However, we had to tell him that we didn’t know, it was vague.
Afterwards, the organizer, Mishio Suzuki called me.
She told me that we should gather the whole team as a surprise for Sakamoto.A real surprise. We didn’t tell anyone until the day.
Sakamoto called me 3 times, insisting on me attending.
I had to swallow my tears and tell him that I had rehearsals for the play I am doing…The day for Red Festival came.
The four of us gathered at a nearby doughnut shop.The script did not have us featured.
We received our special secret script.Around the time he would make the announcement,
we were on standby in the background.Legendary suit actor Kazuo Niibori announced a present for Sakamoto.
Pink: Sakamoto-san, you are not by yourself in this battle!
Yellow: That’s right! We are all with you!
Green: Hang in there!
Blue: I can’t wait to celebrate your good health together with you!After our voices were heard, we joined Sakamoto on the stage.
He had no idea.
He just couldn’t contain his tears.
We just couldn’t either.However, I could feel, more than ever
the bond that the five of us shared after that year of our youth
in which we fought together.Bioman is eternal.
Red One is and will always will be our leader.It may be a little weird me saying it but,
Mishio Suzuki
The other Red Heroes
people who love tokusatsuThank you. That was a night I feel truly grateful for.
But that is not all…
Tokusatsu Network now launched the #GoRedOne campaign – encouraging fans from all over the world to tweet/post message on their social media and facebook page that will support Ryousuke Sakamoto in his upcoming surgery.
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Brett Summers
Founded Cult Faction in 2014. Some would describe him as a teacher, writer, dream weaver, and visionary... some would not...
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