Folk Song Master Han Zhenghao Passes Away, Wife Stands by Him Through Illness - Nakamura Masatoshi's Beloved Wife Junko Igarashi Passes Away Suddenly

Renowned as the "Master of the Folk Song Generation," veteran Taiwanese musician Han Zhenghao passed away on April 30. The fan page "Han Zhenghao & Zhong Shaolan's Music Diary" confirmed the news in a May 2 post but did not disclose his age. After the news broke, netizens flocked to leave messages of condolences.

Han Zhenghao created countless classic folk songs and, together with his wife Zhong Shaolan, was hailed as the "Divine Eagle Couple" of the folk scene. Along with Hu Defu, Chen Ping, Yang Xian, and others, they jointly initiated the campus folk song movement. His representative works include Lin Huiping's "Scar of Quitting" and Li Shuquan's "Return." The couple's deep affection and their duet performances of folk songs remain classic memories for many music fans.

In his later years, Han Zhenghao suffered from Alzheimer's disease and colorectal cancer, with his wife accompanying him in his battle for nearly 11 years. As his condition worsened, he was sent to a nursing facility upon strong recommendation from doctors. On December 13 last year, Zhong Shaolan shared a photo from a visit on social media. About four months later, she published the news of her husband's passing. Netizens have left messages of condolence: "Thank you, teacher, for leaving us such wonderful music!" "Teacher Zhong, thank you for all your effort. Please take care of yourself."

Nakamura Masatoshi Mourns the Loss of His Ageless Wife
On the other hand, veteran Japanese actress Junko Igarashi passed away suddenly from an illness on April 28, at the age of 73. Her husband, famous actor Masatoshi Nakamura, announced the obituary through his agency on May 2, stating with grief: "The greatest fortune of my life was meeting my wife. I never imagined I would lose her, and I still cannot accept this reality."

Masatoshi Nakamura was a famous singer and actor from the 1970s to the 1990s. Many of his songs were adapted into Cantonese classics by Roman Tam, Shirley Kwan, and Hugo Wong. In 1975, he became popular in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore with the youth drama "Bright Prospects."

Junko Igarashi was known by her classmates as "the most beautiful student since the school's founding" in high school. She debuted as a model, but due to school regulations, she dropped out and entered the entertainment industry. Her ageless beauty was widely recognized, and even in her 60s, she was a spokesperson for beauty products. In 1977, she married Masatoshi Nakamura while already five months pregnant, a marriage that faced strong opposition at the time. Nakamura's fan club lost 80% of its members due to the marriage, but the couple remained loving for decades and had one son and three daughters.

The agency's statement did not disclose the specific illness. In accordance with the family's wishes, the wake and farewell ceremony will be attended only by close relatives, and the public is asked not to visit the residence or disturb the family and friends. Nakamura Masatoshi said he would move forward step by step and hoped that everyone would offer quiet support.