Keizo Takahashi, a former popular announcer at NHK and ex-member of the House of Councilors, died Thursday night of kidney failure at a hospital in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, his family said Friday. He was 83.

Takahashi, a native of Iwate Prefecture, joined NHK in 1942 and later gained popularity by hosting the radio program "Watashi Wa Dare Desho" ("Who am I?") and the TV show "Watashi No Himitsu" ("My Secret").

After serving as a host of NHK's popular music show "NHK Kohaku Utagassen" ("Kohaku Song Contest") from 1953 to 1961, Takahashi quit NHK and became a freelance announcer.