Kazuko Hosoki

Kazuko Hosoki (細木数子, Hosoki Kazuko, 4 April 1938 – 8 November 2021^[1]) was a Japanese fortune teller and writer. She was an author of over 100 books. In addition to her regular celebrity appearances on Japanese television, she was known for her belief that ancestor worship is central to Japanese identity.^[2]

Biography

Hosoki began managing Tokyo clubs and coffee shops while still a teenager, eventually running up debts to Japanese organized crime members.^[3] In 1983, she married influential Japanese power broker Masahiro Yasuoka, who died that same year.^[3]

Celebrity

Hosoki appeared frequently on the original Iron Chef, where she served as one of the four celebrity judges that would determine the outcome of each match.^[4] She was often seen stating her opinions very strongly on Japanese TV shows.^[5]^[6] Some of her views may be taken as conservative.^[7] She had repeatedly made very traditionalist statements on women in the family, stating that a woman's main function should be to support her husband's career.^[7] She also endorsed Junichiro Koizumi's controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine.^{[citation needed]}

Hosoki's celebrity fans include sumo wrestling yokozuna (grand champion) Asashōryū.^[7] They appeared together on TV specials and Asashōryū once rented her white Rolls-Royce.^{[citation needed]} She maintained a residence in Arashiyama, Kyoto City.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ 占術家・細木数子さんが83歳で死去娘のかおりさんが「8日に永眠しました」と明かす (in Japanese)
^ Nelson, John (2008). "Household Altars in Contemporary Japan Rectifying Buddhist "Ancestor Worship" with Home Décor and Consumer Choice". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 35 (2): 305–330. JSTOR 30233835.
^ ^a ^b Dorman, Benjamin (1 December 2006). "Religion in the News: Tokyo's Dr. Phil". Trinity College. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
^ Maldanado, Juan. "Judges: Kazuko Hosoki". The Iron Chef Battle Database. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
^ "Hosoki Kazuko in TBS's "Zubari Iu Wa Yo! and more". The Japan Times. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
^ "Fortune-teller forecasts pop singer, conversations with the dead and psychic powers". The Japan Times. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dorman, Benjamin (3 September 2012). "Defining Religion in the Post-Aum Era". In Prohl, Inken; Nelson, John (eds.). Handbook of Contemporary Japanese Religions. Brill. pp. 509–528. ISBN 9789004234352.