When he appeared as a judge in "The NHK Kohaku Utagassen" (NHK Year-end Grand Song Festival) in 1994 in which he was selected for Bunkakorosha (Person of Cultural Merits), Ichikawa scratched his head, being advised from Ichiro FURUTACHI serving as the host 'Your understanding for non-smoking in this hall is appreciated.'
文化功労者に選出された1994年（平成6年）には『NHK紅白歌合戦』に審査員として出演したが、司会の古舘伊知郎から「場内は禁煙でございますので」と忠告され頭をかいていた。