Yoshio Kou

Background

Yoshio Kou was born in 1937 in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Chinese father. Despite being discriminated against due to his mixed blood, Kou's forcefulness and sinister gaze ensured that he was never bullied. Growing up during the war, Kou was conflicted about Japan's position in the conflict, and even more so regarding the shift in its culture after the war.↗

In 1955, in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kou was confronted by the Korean yakuza, who controlled the area at the time. They demanded Kou and his friend to pay a fee to use the road. Instead of running away like his friend did, Kou struck a deal with them to collect the fees himself and gave the yakuza a third of the profits in exchange for leaving him and his friend be. He later managed their finances and set up a food delivery business to local Chinese people.↗

Kou would go on to promote all types of events. In 1958, Kou organized a jazz concert at the auditorium of Tokyo University, refuting the tradition of only classical music being played there on the grounds of musical discrimination. That same year, he produced lectures for Shintaro Ishihara, Tarō Okamoto, Tōru Takemitsu, and Shuntarō Tanikawa, among others.↗

Showman of the Century Who Launched Oliver: Yoshio Kou

In 1976, Yoshio Kou organizes Oliver's visit to Japan. At the Miami airport Kou demands for Oliver, a chimpanzee at the time presumed to be human, to board the plane like a person, threatening to sue the company for discrimination. Having successfully received first class tickets, he flies to Japan with Oliver sitting next to him.↗

Kou notices Oliver reading an erotic magazine and gets an idea. Kou proposes letting Oliver mate with a live human female live on camera. Though members of the media doubt that any woman would be willing to do so, Kou introduces a 19-year-old unknown talent who is more than willing to bear Oliver's child. As the woman makes a contract with the media, Kou watches on and savors the attention his bizarre idea will elicit.↗

Kou and Oliver arrive at a hotel and book a suite by threatening to sue the hotel for failing to recognize Oliver as human. Oliver extends his hand to the receptionist, offering a handshake. Kou assures him that Oliver wants to greet him. The receptionist complies and gets his hand crushed by Oliver's inhumanly strong grip.↗

In the hotel, Oliver's arms and legs are tied, and the broadcast begins. As cameras film her from behind, the woman takes off her clothes and prepares to mount Oliver. Suddenly, Kou bursts into the room and orders the event to be terminated, as tests have concluded that Oliver has 48 chromosomes and is thus a chimpanzee. Oliver breaks free of his arm restraints as the woman is dragged out of the room, despite her pleas to be allowed to continue.↗

The following day, July 23, 1976, saw the front pages of every newspaper in Japan filled with the revelation of Oliver's true identity. Of course, this had all been Kou's plan from the beginning. Though he would feign disgust at the bizarre experiment in public, Kou privately relished the spectacle of a mere chimpanzee being the single biggest story in the country.↗

Kou continued attempting to produce public spectacles for some time, with limited results. In 1979, Kou was slated to oversee a boxing match between Antonio Inoki and Ugandan president Idi Amin, which was canceled after Amin was forced out of power by a coup d'état. Four years later, Kou attempted to organize a search for Noah's Ark, but the project was quickly interrupted by the ongoing Iran-Iraq War.↗

By 2002, Kou's role has mostly been superseded by specialized advertising companies, to his irritation. When asked about the profit he has turned from his various ventures in an interview, Kou dismisses the question, stating that money is nothing compared to the thrills it can give birth to.↗↗

Profile details

Status Status based on their final appearance in the part(s) they are featured in: Alive↗