Comedian Mikio Date Opens Up About Stroke, Heart Surgery and Hospital Food
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Mikio Date, a member of the popular Japanese comedy duo Sandwichman, has spoken about his recent health problems after suffering a stroke.
A stroke happens when blood cannot reach part of the brain properly, and it can be very serious. Date was admitted to hospital for treatment.
During his stay, he also had heart surgery, which he described as "extremely painful."
Date revealed that he did not eat a single bite of the hospital food during his time there. He said, "I really hate it," and asked why he could not eat normal food, since his illness affected his brain, not his digestive system.
After leaving hospital, Date has already returned to work. However, some people are worried that his comeback happened too quickly, especially with many year-end TV specials expected to need him during the busy holiday season.
Fellow comedian Kayoko Okubo praised Date's return, saying she has great respect for him. She added that his comeback could give encouragement to other people dealing with similar illnesses.
Date's case has drawn public attention to the seriousness of strokes and the importance of proper recovery time after major surgery.
Many fans are now watching closely to see how Date manages his health while continuing his busy entertainment schedule.
Vocabulary7 words
- stroke
- a sudden medical problem in the brain
- hospital
- a place where doctors treat sick people
- digestive system
- the body parts used for eating and food
- comeback
- returning to work after being away
- respect
- a strong positive feeling about someone
- encouragement
- words that help someone feel better or braver
- recovery
- getting healthy again after being sick
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A stroke 2. He said he hates it and questioned it since his illness was about his brain, not his stomach 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Mikio Date, a member of the popular Japanese comedy duo Sandwichman, has spoken about his recent health problems after suffering a _____.
A stroke happens when blood cannot reach part of the _____ properly, and it can be very serious.
During his stay, he also had heart _____, which he described as "extremely painful."
Date revealed that he did not eat a single _____ of the hospital food during his time there.
He said, "I really hate it," and asked why he could not eat normal food, since his illness affected his brain, not his _____.
After leaving hospital, Date has already returned to _____. However, some people are worried that his comeback happened too quickly.
Fellow comedian Kayoko Okubo praised Date's return, saying she has great _____ for him.
She added that his comeback could give _____ to other people dealing with similar illnesses.
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