Makoto Kimura

## Makoto Kimura (木村真)

GoAnimate picture of Makoto Kimura, at age 75. (2019-2020)

**Makoto Kimura** (*Kimura Makoto*, 木村真; マコト・キムラ in Katakana) (January 16, 1926 - May 20, 2018) was a writer, actor, and composer from Fukushima Prefecture. He was the husband of *Miyuki Kimura* (Kimura Miyuki; 木村御幸) until her death on June 10, 2017. His grandson, ***Patrick Makoto Kimura Buttram Cummings VI*** (born December 25, 1971 in Quincy, Florida) carries on to Makoto's roots while his son, ***Hironobu Kimura*** (Kimura Hironobu; 木村広信, born April 28, 1949) continues to take part in the Kimura family.

## Early Life

Makoto Kimura was born on January 16, 1926 in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, to ***Shoichi Kimura*** (Kimura Shoichi; 木村省一, May 18, 1878 - April 26, 1964) and ***Kaori Kimura*** (Kimura Kaori; 木村 薫里, September 14, 1878 - June 30, 1965). Shoichi's cousin, ***Tomoyasu Kimura*** (Kimura Tomoyasu; 木村 智康, December 24, 1915 - February 15, 1962), got hit by a truck at age 46, eventually dying by a heatstroke. At his early age, Makoto brought his first *Winnie the Pooh* book at age 10. He recently gave him a typewriter for his own versions of A. A. Milne's classical Winnie the Pooh children's books -- in Japanese format. Since in his high school days, Makoto was finished setting his cover for his book, which in terms of Shoichi's authorization, he named it: *The Little Fish that Became Winnie the Pooh* (くまのプーさんになって小魚).

He never got in touch with Miyuki Kimura until he went to college to study genres of classical children's books written by A. A. Milne.

In his college play, Makoto Kimura played a role as *Kuma no Pooh-san* (or Winnie the Pooh) at age 19.

Makoto Kimura was fluent in English while studying his lines for the recital of the play. He had a rather wispy voice most likely compared to Disney's *Winnie the Pooh* character, his colleagues called him "***Pooh Bear***" despite of his vocal cords. Makoto Kimura was treated at the hospital at age 18, where the doctors took care of Kimura's glossitis under his larynx. He was discovered with a minor tumor and inferred on the doctors to stay at the hospital for 1 year until he was officially released. On May 3, 1946, he was released from the Junior College of Aizu with a ***Bachelor of Arts*** college degree.

## Career

Makoto Kimura was interested in stage play, so he went to business in acting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Toshima, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. His first performance was Quasimodo in the Hunchback of Notre Dame, on June 23, 1950. This started his relationship with *Miyuki Kimura*, who played Esmeralda in the theater play. On May 14, 1954, he studied American English at the University of Tokyo in Bunkyo City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. At age 36, he was transferred to the Kawakita General Hospital near Shinjuku City, in Suginami City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan, when doctors ordered him a permanent voice change. 2 years later, he was finally released from the general hospital. Makoto Kimura had a brand new change under his vocal cords, making it even wispier than he was in college. He became a composer on August‎ ‎21‎, ‎1970, for the new Seiji Ozawa Orchestra. His first orchestral performance was in Suntory Hall, Minato City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. He was awarded with a *Seiji Ozawa Decree of Orchestration* (小澤征爾指揮者令, ***Ozawa Seiji shiki-sha-rei***) for the first time in 10 years. However, his orchestra was moved to the United States by the time he arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii on ‎July‎ ‎23‎, ‎1973. He was 47 years old and Miyuki was age 45. On his 50th birthday, January 16, 1976, he toured across the United States, starting in Los Angeles, California at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The tour ended at the Apopka Community Center in Apopka, Florida, on May‎ ‎21‎, ‎1982. This originally set the Seiji Ozawa Orchestra to dissipate. Around the same time, at his house in Bainbridge, Georgia, he set a composer sheet for his new orchestral music.

## Personal Life

Makoto Kimura and Miyuki Kimura became partners on May 14, 1954. They each got married in Pensacola, Florida on December 4, 1969. Makoto fathered one son: Patrick Makoto Kimura Buttram Cummings VI. While Makoto was 38 years old, his father died unnaturally. However, his mother died when Makoto was aged 39. After his tour ended in Apopka, Florida, he and Miyuki had set apart on October 10, 1983.

Sometimes, Makoto was busy on catering and others. He started a job at a KFC restaurant near Miramichi, New Brunswick on July 12, 1985.

### **Reunion with Miyuki Kimura and start of Disney career**

On May 3, 1989, in Sanford, Florida, Makoto Kimura and Miyuki Kimura were reunited once again.

This also marked the start of his Disney career. Makoto Kimura appeared in cameos of almost all of the Disney Renaissance movies, from 1992 to 2001. Makoto went up to the stage at the Disney D23 expo with his wife, on August‎ ‎14‎, ‎2004. He quoted, in a wispy ***Pooh Bear-like*** voice:

> *"Disney has changed my life to become who I am. Surely some people don't recognize my voice -- but my family proves it that I'm just as cuddly as any other. I have been a fan of Disney at age 13. As the story goes, I'm proud to say that I'm an honorary member of the Disney family."*
>
>

## Rehabilitation and death

Makoto Kimura was transferred to the Lake Mary Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lake Mary, Florida on March‎ ‎13‎, ‎2007. He was 81 years old.

Makoto was diagnosed with *stage 4 lung cancer* resulting into a malignant tumor under his vocal cords. The nurses and maids treated him to eating healthy food and snacks so that he could come back alive again. On January‎ ‎16‎, ‎2016, Makoto Kimura was celebrating his 90th birthday. The housekeeping guests baked a special cake for him.

### **The death of his wife**

Tears spread through Makoto's eyes when he found out that Miyuki Kimura passed away on June 10, 2017. She was 89 years old. His daughter, *Eri Kimura* (Kimura Eri; 木村 枝里, born March 14, 1954) prepared Miyuki's funeral at Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory in Winter Springs, Florida.

### **Last note before death**

On April‎ ‎24‎, ‎2018, Makoto Kimura wrote his last note before his death. He wrote:

> *To Whom It May Concern:*
>
>

> *I am doing pretty well. 92 years old, and still in perfect shape. If you need anything, send a message to me, or call me so I know where you are.*
>
>

> *Best regards, Makoto Kimura (木村真)*
>
>

Makoto Kimura died at age 92 on May 20, 2018 in Sanford, Florida. His funeral took place at Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory in Winter Springs, Florida on May 28, 2018. His body was then buried at All Faiths Memorial Park in Casselberry, Florida.

Millions of people reacted to Makoto Kimura's passing on May 20, 2018. Patrick Cummings quoted:

> *"Makoto Kimura was one of the cuddliest in our family. He was my grandfather. But above all --- Makoto Kimura was, and always will be my **Winnie the Pooh Bear.*** *May his legacy and his career continue to rise in Heaven as we hear his wispy voice one last time. Rest in paradise, cuddly Winnie the Pooh Bear."*
>
>

Ashes and flowers were given to Makoto Kimura, even his colleagues from the Junior College of Aizu, Japan.

## New Disney movie as homage to Makoto Kimura

A new upcoming Disney animated movie was released to Disney+ in North America and Japan on September 20, 2020 as a paid homage to Makoto Kimura, who recently passed away on May 20, 2018. The new movie, ***Makoto Kimura: The Legend of Winnie the Pooh*** (木村真：くまのプーさんの話; *Kimura Makoto: Kuma no Pooh-san no Hanashi*) was streamed on Disney+ for the first time. It was never released to theaters on May 20, 2020 due to the ongoing *COVID-19 pandemic* which struck movie theaters across the United States, Japan and other countries. **Patrick Cummings** provides the voice of Winnie the Pooh.