Actor Toshiyuki Nishida, who died last month at the age of 76, is much-loved by the people of Fukushima for his charming character and friendly way of speaking in a dialect from the prefecture.
The Fukushima Prefecture native — hailing from the city of Koriyama — contributed toward helping people hit by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and resultant tsunami and nuclear meltdown, and revitalizing disaster-hit areas by appearing in events and dramas filmed in the prefecture.
Many in Fukushima Prefecture say they miss him and wish they could see more of him performing.