Ken Shimura has become the first Japanese celebrity to die from coronavirus aged 70.
The funnyman died from pneumonia caused by Covid-19, according to his agents who announced the sad news today.
A representative for the star said: "I don’t think he imagined he would die a death like this.
"I am sure he was working hard with a sense of mission to deliver laughter to people."
Shimura was one of the country’s best-known comedians with a career dating back to the early 1970s.
He co-starred with Masashi Tashiro, Nobuyoshi Kuwano in the Japanese variety show Shimura Ken no Bakatono-sama.
He had been hospitalised in Tokyo and died on Sunday evening, NHK said.
The star - real name Yasunori Shimura - was admitted to hospital on March 20 after being struck down with a fever.
He was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and tested positive for Covid-19 on March 23.
Shimura was the first Japanese celebrity to be confirmed with the virus and he has sadly become the first famous face in the country to lose their life.
His close friend, Japanese singer Naoko Ken, was among the first to pay tribute last night, tweeting: "I cannot think anything now. I can no longer see Ken-chan. This is too sad.
“I was happy working with you. Thank you."
Shimura was a slapstick comedian and musician, being a member of rock band and comedy group The Drifters.
He joined the group in 1974, replacing Chu Arai, and found fame with the band and as part of their TV comedy show Hachijidayo Zeninshugo.
The group are best-remembered for opening for the Beatles when the Brits came to the country in 1966.
Shimura became popular for his comedy characters which he played on TV and he continued working right up until this year.
His latest TV project Tensai! Shimura Dobutsuen has been airing in Japan, and he had a movie titled The Name Above the Title due out in April.
