| Sanma Akashiya | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Takafumi Sugimoto (杉本 髙文) |
| Native name | 明石家 さんま |
| Born | July 1, 1955 Koza, Wakayama, Japan (raised in Nara, Japan) |
| Medium | Television |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Years active | 1974-present |
| Employer | Yoshimoto Kogyo |
| Genres | Owarai |
| Spouse | Shinobu Otake (1988 - 1992) |
| Children | Imalu |
Sanma Akashiya (明石家 さんま, Akashiya Sanma, born July 1, 1955) is a Japanese comedian,[1] TV presenter, radio personality and actor most commonly known as Sanma-san. His real name is Takafumi Sugimoto (杉本 髙文, Sugimoto Takafumi).[2] His talent agency is Yoshimoto Kogyo and his shishô (master) back when he studied rakugo is Shōfukutei Matsunosuke.
Together with Beat Takeshi and Tamori, Sanma is said to be one of the "Big Three" television comedians of Japan.[3] He is known for his ability to endlessly carry a conversation. His protruding front teeth are often ridiculed, even by himself.
Akashiya married actress Shinobu Otake in September 1988.[4] They met on the set of the drama series Danjo Shichinin Natsumonogatari. At the time, Otake had one son from her previous marriage with her husband who had died. The marriage lasted 4 years as they divorced in September 1992. The two remained friends after and are sometimes seen on variety television programs together. They have one daughter, Imalu Otake, born in 1989.[5] Imalu went on to become a tarento in 2009 under the name IMALU.