Screenwriter Satoshi Kuramoto dies at the age of 91, author of numerous masterpieces including ``Kita no Kuni Kara'' and ``Zenryaku Ofukuro-sama.''

Screenwriter Satoshi Kuramoto (real name Kaoru Yamaya), who worked on many masterpiece dramas such as the ``Kita no Kuni Kara'' series and ``Zenyaku Ofukuro-sama,'' passed away on the 18th at his home in Furano City, Hokkaido due to multiple organ failure. He was 91 years old. Born in Tokyo. The funeral was attended by close relatives. A farewell party will be held on November 3rd at the Furano Theater Factory.

[Featured Photos] That drama written by me as a scriptwriter - Satoshi Kuramoto

In 1959, he graduated from the Faculty of Letters at the University of Tokyo and joined Nippon Broadcasting Corporation. After leaving the company in 1963, he became a freelance screenwriter. The youth drama ``Saeryaku Ofukuro-sama'', set in a restaurant in downtown Tokyo, was well received and won the 1976 Minister of Education Award for Art Encouragement.

In 1977, moved to Furano City. The TV drama series ``From the North Country'' (1981-1982), which was set in the same city and depicts a family living in the midst of nature, received a great response. Eight special dramas were also produced, and it became a popular series that continued until 2002.

Other representative works include ``Yesterday, Sad farewell'', ``Gentle time'', ``Garden of the wind'', and ``Our Honkan''. Since 1984, he has invested his own money to run Furano Juku, a place to train screenwriters and actors. After the school closed in 2010, he focused his efforts on nurturing the next generation, including directing the theater troupe ``Furano GROUP'', which is made up mainly of alumni.

In recent years, ``Yasuragi no Sato'', which comically depicts various problems faced by the elderly, and its sequel ``Yasuragi no Toki ~ Michi'' have attracted attention.

He also wrote the scripts for the films ``Winter Flowers'' and ``STATION,'' directed by Yasuo Furuhata.

He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2000 and the Order of the Rising Sun with Small Ribbon in 2010.