Comedian Mikio Date Opens Up About Stroke, Heart Surgery and Hospital Food
Listen to the story
Date Mikio is a Japanese comedian. He is part of the comedy group Sandwichman.
Date had a stroke. A stroke is a sickness in the brain. He went to the hospital.
Date also had heart surgery. He said it was very painful.
At the hospital, Date did not eat the hospital food. He did not eat even one bite.
He said, "I really hate it." He asked why he could not eat, because his sickness was about his brain, not his stomach.
Date has now gone back to work. Some people worry his return was too fast.
Another comedian, Okubo Kayoko, said nice words about Date. She said his return gives courage to other sick people.
Many people hope Date gets better soon.
Vocabulary5 words
- stroke
- a sudden sickness in the brain
- hospital
- a place where sick people get help
- heart surgery
- a doctor operation on the heart
- return
- going back to work or a place
- courage
- feeling brave; not scared
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A stroke 2. Hospital food 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Date Mikio is a Japanese _____. He is part of the comedy group Sandwichman.
Date had a _____. A stroke is a sickness in the brain. He went to the _____.
Date also had heart _____. He said it was very painful.
At the hospital, Date did not eat the hospital _____. He did not eat even one bite.
He said, "I really hate it." He asked why he could not eat, because his sickness was about his _____, not his stomach.
Date has now gone back to _____. Some people worry his return was too fast.
Another comedian, Okubo Kayoko, said nice words about Date. She said his return gives _____ to other sick people.
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