Keiko Utsumi, a pioneering comedian who rose to fame as one half of a female stand-up duo, died of multiple organ failure last weekend, her office said Friday. She was 97.Appearing on stage in kimono and carrying a traditional shamisen three-stringed instrument, Utsumi and partner Yoshie Utsumi debuted in 1950 and became extremely popular with their fast-paced dialogue strewn with jokes about current affairs.The native of Choshi in Chiba Prefecture died at a Tokyo hospital Saturday night, according to her office.Growing up in Tokyo's famous Asakusa entertainment district, Utsumi, whose real…READ FULL ARTICLE
