A Child of Television

I have received the news of Hiroshi Kume's passing. I have such a strong image of him being youthful and active that hearing he was 81 years old makes me think, 'Oh, was he already that age?'

Although I never had the honor of meeting him in person, being in the same television industry, I have heard this legendary anecdote about him.

In the studio, there is a system called a 'prompter.' It projects the script from the desk onto a half-mirror in front of the camera, and it is an excellent tool that allows one to 'read' the script while maintaining eye contact with the camera without having to look down.

However, it is said that Mr. Kume did not use it. Why?

When you look into a television camera, there is a lens 'ball' inside. When this appears large and close, you are being filmed in a close-up. Conversely, if the ball is small, it is a loose shot. In other words, Mr. Kume wanted to adjust his gestures based on the size of the shot he was being filmed in, so he reportedly rejected the prompter because it prevented him from recognizing that.

Amazing. He was truly a child of television on a different level.

As part of my work, I sometimes guide outsiders through news studios and control rooms. I introduce various features to show them 'how amazing it is,' but inside the studio, along with explaining the prompter's function, I always make sure to share this anecdote about Mr. Kume.

Rest in peace.
(Jan 14, '26)