Sonomanma Higashi (そのまんま東 literally "Higashi without change" or "simply Higashi"), born September 16, 1957 as Hideo Higashikokubaru (東国原 英夫 Higashikokubaru Hideo) in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is a former Japanese comedian who is most known for his role in the popular game show, Takeshi's Castle, and as the governor of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2007 to 2011. He was succeeded by Vice Governor Shunji Kono.
| Hideo Higashikokubaru | |
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| Former Governor of Miyazaki (2007–2011) |
After graduating from Senshu University, Higashikokubaru apprenticed to Takeshi Kitano and became a comedian in 1982.
He appeared on Takeshi's Castle, which was dubbed on Western television as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (MXC). On that show, he was dubbed as Kenny Blankenship.
On January 21, 2007, Higashi was elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, replacing former governor Tadahiro Ando, who resigned after being arrested for bid rigging. He uses his official name (Hideo Higashikokubaru) as governor of Miyazaki.[1]
In 2010, he decided not to run for re-election. He left office on January 20, 2011.
Higashikokubaru ran in the Tokyo gubernatorial election on April 10, 2011, in which he lost to incumbent governor Shintarō Ishihara.[2]
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Higashikokubaru graduated from Senshu University in the early 1980s. He entered Waseda University in 2000. At that time, he was belongs to School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II. He graduated it and re-entered majoring in local autonomy in March 2004, but dropped out in March 2006.
On December 9, 1986, Higashi was one of those who were arrested at the offices of Friday magazine, after he and other members of Takeshi Kitano's group attacked the magazine offices (among others spraying fire extinguishers) to protest against a critical article about Takeshi Kitano the magazine had written. All attackers were sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
On October 13, 1998, a manager of a so-called image club (a type of brothel) was arrested for employing underage girls. A 16-year-old employee pointed Higashi out as one of her customers. He was interrogated several times by the police, but was not indicted as he claimed he did not know the girl was under 18. His then-wife apologized on his behalf to the Japanese public via the media, and he himself took a five-month voluntary break from his work as an entertainer.
On November 22, 1999, at a year-end-party held for Takeshi Kitano office employees, he kicked another participant in the head, injuring him. He was prosecuted for this, and fined, after which he again took a voluntary leave from his entertainment activity.
| Legal offices | Governor of Miyazaki 2007–2011 |
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