Japanese TV personality and fashion critic Peeco, the elder twin brother of the duo Osugi and Peeco, died of multiple organ failure due to sepsis on Sept. 3, it was learned Sunday. He was 79.
Peeco, whose real name was Katsuaki Sugiura, was born in Yokohama and began his career as a fashion designer. In 1975, he debuted alongside his twin brother as the TV duo.
Appearing in many TV programs such as “Morita Kazuyoshi Awa: Waratte Iitomo!,” loosely translated as “Morita Kazuyoshi Hour: It’s OK to Laugh,” the duo were known for their sharp-tongued personas. Together, the brothers pioneered twin TV personalities.
Peeco was known as a fashion critic and commentator on TV and radio programs. He was also a chanson singer.
He lost his left eye while battling cancer and had continued to work with a prosthetic replacement, according to an NHK report.
Peeco began exhibiting symptoms of dementia a few years ago and entered a nursing care facility in June last year, it said.
He died at a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture.
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