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Japanese comedian Mikio Date asks radio listeners how to dispose of 4,300 paper cranes

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In brief

Sandwichman comedian Mikio Date, who is hospitalized after a stroke, had his partner Takeshi Tomizawa read a letter on air asking how to dispose of roughly 4,300 get-well paper cranes. Date framed it as a "general question" before revealing his own plan: untying each crane and leaving them at a shrine in northern Miyagi Prefecture.

Mikio Date, 52, of the Japanese comedy duo Sandwichman, prompted laughter on a Nippon Broadcasting radio show on October 24, 2026, after asking listeners for advice on disposing of thousands of paper cranes sent to him while he recovers from a stroke.

Date is currently hospitalized and undergoing rehabilitation. Because he could not appear in person, his comedy partner Takeshi Tomizawa, also 52, read aloud a letter from Date on "Sandwichman the Radio Show Saturday."

What Date's letter said

According to the letter, childhood friends from his hometown of Sendai sent Date roughly 3,300 paper cranes, and his alma mater, Sendai Commercial High School, was preparing to send more, bringing the expected total to about 4,300.

Date then raised the disposal question, prefacing it with a disclaimer: "This is absolutely not about me personally — it's a general question." He immediately followed that line with a detailed account of what he intended to do with his own cranes.

This is absolutely not about me personally, but a general question.

— Mikio Date, in a letter read on Nippon Broadcasting's radio show

Date wrote that he planned to take the cranes to a shrine he knows in northern Miyagi Prefecture, untie them one by one, and place them inside the shrine's main building as a gesture of gratitude.

Studio reaction

The studio broke into laughter at the gap between Date's claim that the question was "general" and his immediate, specific answer about his own plan. Comedian Hideyuki Kano, who was filling in as the show's host that day, pointed out that the shrine Date described was in fact his own family's shrine, Sakuradayama Shrine in Kurihara, a city in northern Miyagi.

Background: Date's stroke

Date's agency announced on August 28, 2026, that he had reported feeling unwell, undergone hospital testing, and been diagnosed with a cerebral infarction (stroke). The agency said prompt medical treatment meant the situation did not become serious, and that Date was receiving inpatient treatment and daily rehabilitation while taking leave from work. Sandwichman's scheduled live tour for October 2026 was cancelled as a result.

What is senbazuru

Sending a thousand folded paper cranes, known in Japanese as senbazuru, is a traditional gesture of well-wishing, often given to people who are ill or hospitalized, based on a belief that the effort of folding them carries a wish for recovery or good fortune.

The cultural practice means recipients like Date can end up with large numbers of cranes that are difficult to store, which is the practical problem behind his on-air question.

What is not known

The reports reviewed do not specify an exact date for the shrine visit, nor do they give a timeline for Date's return to regular broadcasting duties beyond the agency's August statement that this would be decided in consultation with his doctors.

Questions

Who is Mikio Date?
Mikio Date, 52, is one half of the Japanese comedy duo Sandwichman, alongside Takeshi Tomizawa. He is currently hospitalized and undergoing rehabilitation after being diagnosed with a stroke.
How many paper cranes did Date receive?
Childhood friends sent him about 3,300 paper cranes, and his former high school, Sendai Commercial High School, was expected to add more, bringing the total to roughly 4,300.
What did Date plan to do with the cranes?
According to the letter read on radio, he planned to take them to a shrine in northern Miyagi Prefecture, untie each crane individually, and place them at the shrine as a gesture of thanks.
Why did Date's comments cause laughter on air?
He introduced the disposal question as a hypothetical, "general" matter, then immediately described his own specific plan, which his co-host and a stand-in host called out as obviously about himself.
What is senbazuru and why do people send it?
Senbazuru is a traditional Japanese gift of 1,000 folded paper cranes, commonly given to people who are ill, as a gesture wishing them recovery or good fortune.

How the world is telling it

Sources

  1. Yahoo News Japan (via Nikkan Sports) — Sandwichman's Date asks about paper crane disposal, says 'this isn't about me specifically'
  2. Livedoor News — Date Mikio worried about how to dispose of 1,000 paper cranes, asks listeners
  3. Model Press — Sandwichman's Date Mikio announces leave of absence after stroke diagnosis, currently hospitalized

This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this

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