Katsu Ryuzaki (竜崎 勝, Ryūzaki Masaru; March 25, 1940 – December 18, 1984) was a Japanese actor. His real name and former…Katsu Ryuzaki (竜崎 勝, Ryūzaki Masaru; March 25, 1940 – December 18, 1984) was a Japanese actor. His real name and former stage name is Fumiaki Takashima (Japanese: 高島 史旭; たかしま ふみあき). His eldest son is former actor Go Takashima, his eldest daughter is freelance announcer Aya Takashima, and his son-in-law is Yujin Kitagawa.
Tsunehiko Kamijō (上條 恒彦, Kamijō Tsunehiko; March 7, 1940 – July 22, 2025) was a Japanese singer, actor and voice actor.…Tsunehiko Kamijō (上條 恒彦, Kamijō Tsunehiko; March 7, 1940 – July 22, 2025) was a Japanese singer, actor and voice actor. Kamijō died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 85.
Yoshio Harada (原田 芳雄, Harada Yoshio; 29 February 1940 – 19 July 2011) was a Japanese actor and singer, known for his…Yoshio Harada (原田 芳雄, Harada Yoshio; 29 February 1940 – 19 July 2011) was a Japanese actor and singer, known for his portrayals of rugged and complex antiheroes. He received a variety of accolades, including a Japan Academy Film Prize, two Blue Ribbon Awards, two Hochi Film Awards, and five Kinema Junpo Awards. Harada also was a blues musician, releasing a number of records throughout his career.
Atsuo Nakamura (中村 敦夫, Nakamura Atsuo; born 18 February 1940) is a Japanese actor and politician. He has appeared in…Atsuo Nakamura (中村 敦夫, Nakamura Atsuo; born 18 February 1940) is a Japanese actor and politician. He has appeared in more than 50 films since 1964. His younger brother Katsuyuki Nakamura is a writer.
Jūrō Kara (唐十郎, Kara Jūrō; born Ōtsuru Yoshihide (大靏 義英); 11 February 1940 – 4 May 2024) was a Japanese avant-garde…Jūrō Kara (唐十郎, Kara Jūrō; born Ōtsuru Yoshihide (大靏 義英); 11 February 1940 – 4 May 2024) was a Japanese avant-garde playwright, theatre director, author, actor, and songwriter. He was at the forefront of the Angura ("underground") theatre movement in Japan.
Raita Ryu (竜 雷太, Ryū Raita; born January 21, 1940 in Osaka as Tatsuo Hasegawa (長谷川 龍男, Hasegawa Tatsuo)) is a Japanese…Raita Ryu (竜 雷太, Ryū Raita; born January 21, 1940 in Osaka as Tatsuo Hasegawa (長谷川 龍男, Hasegawa Tatsuo)) is a Japanese actor. He is well known for his role as Gorisan (Detective Ishizuka) in Taiyō ni Hoero!. He has a son Yōhei Hasegawa (長谷川 陽平, Hasegawa Yōhei), who is a musician and guitarist. Once, he belonged to Toshiro Mifune's production company.
Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦, Tsugawa Masahiko), born Masahiko Katō (加藤 雅彦 Katō Masahiko; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018)…Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦, Tsugawa Masahiko), born Masahiko Katō (加藤 雅彦 Katō Masahiko; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018) was a Japanese actor and director.
Isao Natsuyagi (夏八木 勲, Natsuyagi Isao; 25 December 1939 – 11 May 2013) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more…Isao Natsuyagi (夏八木 勲, Natsuyagi Isao; 25 December 1939 – 11 May 2013) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1963 to 2013.
Masahiko Kinoshi (喜熨斗 政彦, Kinoshi Masahiko; December 9, 1939 – September 13, 2023), better known by his stage name…Masahiko Kinoshi (喜熨斗 政彦, Kinoshi Masahiko; December 9, 1939 – September 13, 2023), better known by his stage name Ichikawa Ennosuke III (三代目 市川 猿之助, Sandaime Ichikawa Ennosuke; Japanese pronunciation: [i.tɕi̥.kaꜜ.wa (|) en.no.sɯ̥.ke]), was a Japanese kabuki actor, famous for his love of keren (stage tricks). He was considered the king of chūnori; he flew out over the audience, held aloft on strings, over 5000 times.
Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu) (born Takashi Yoshimoto (吉本 隆志, Yoshimoto Takashi); 22 October 1939) is a…Susumu Kurobe (黒部 進, Kurobe Susumu) (born Takashi Yoshimoto (吉本 隆志, Yoshimoto Takashi); 22 October 1939) is a television, film and stage actor from Kurobe, Toyama, Japan, widely known for his portrayal of Shin Hayata, the first Ultraman in the titular television series, a role he has played since 1966 and many other times during the franchise. In 2005, he played chief Kenzo Tomioka in Ultraman Max. He made his film debut with Akatsukino Gasho in 1963. After appearing in Ultraman, he turned into a villain actor and appeared in many jidaigeki dramas. His daughter, Takami Yoshimoto, is also an actress, who portrayed Rena Yanase in Ultraman Tiga (1996).
Yoshisada Sakaguchi (坂口 芳貞, Sakaguchi Yoshisada; 2 October 1939 – 13 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice…Yoshisada Sakaguchi (坂口 芳貞, Sakaguchi Yoshisada; 2 October 1939 – 13 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He was a professor at J. F. Oberlin University, and was affiliated with Bungakuza. He was best known for dubbing over Morgan Freeman and Chief Inspector Japp (in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot).
Toku Nishio (西尾 徳, Nishio Toku; September 12, 1939 – July 19, 2005) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Gifu…Toku Nishio (西尾 徳, Nishio Toku; September 12, 1939 – July 19, 2005) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. He was represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. He was most known for the roles of Kanichi Nishi (Ashita no Joe), Musashi Tomoe (Getter Robo), and Mr. Popo (Dragon Ball).
Masao Adachi (足立 正生 Adachi Masao, born May 13, 1939) is a Japanese screenwriter, director, actor and former Japanese…Masao Adachi (足立 正生 Adachi Masao, born May 13, 1939) is a Japanese screenwriter, director, actor and former Japanese Red Army member who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Keiichirō Akagi (赤木 圭一郎, Akagi Keiichirō), born Chikahiro Akatsuka (赤塚 親弘, Akatsuka Chikahiro) was a Japanese actor.…Keiichirō Akagi (赤木 圭一郎, Akagi Keiichirō), born Chikahiro Akatsuka (赤塚 親弘, Akatsuka Chikahiro) was a Japanese actor. Akagi appeared in over 26 films in his short three-year career. Kenju burai-chō series and The Call of the Foghorn are Akagi's notable films. Akagi was one of the box office hitter of Nikkatsu company alongside Yujiro Ishihara and Akira Kobayashi.
Taichirō Hirokawa (広川 太一郎, Hirokawa Taichirō; February 15, 1939 – March 3, 2008) was a Japanese voice actor and…Taichirō Hirokawa (広川 太一郎, Hirokawa Taichirō; February 15, 1939 – March 3, 2008) was a Japanese voice actor and narrator. He was born in Tokyo on February 15, 1939, and died on March 3, 2008, in Shibuya from cancer. His death was announced at the beginning of the 2nd Seiyu Awards.
Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi; born Sadaho Maeda; 22 January 1939 – 19 August 2021) IPA…Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi; born Sadaho Maeda; 22 January 1939 – 19 August 2021) IPA: [tɕiꜜba ɕiɰ̃itɕi], known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later to an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82.
Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu (かまやつひろし, Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu; 12 January 1939 – 1 March 2017) was a Japanese…Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu (かまやつひろし, Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu; 12 January 1939 – 1 March 2017) was a Japanese singer and guitarist born in Tokyo. He composed the music for Download, a direct-to-video anime release based on PC Engine games.
Shingo Yamashiro (山城 新伍, Yamashiro Shingo; November 10, 1938 – August 12, 2009) was a Japanese television and film…Shingo Yamashiro (山城 新伍, Yamashiro Shingo; November 10, 1938 – August 12, 2009) was a Japanese television and film actor.
Akira Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 旭, Hepburn: Kobayashi Akira; born November 3, 1938) is a Japanese actor and singer. His…Akira Kobayashi (Japanese: 小林 旭, Hepburn: Kobayashi Akira; born November 3, 1938) is a Japanese actor and singer. His nickname is "Mighty Guy" (マイトガイ, Maito Gai).
Tamio Kawachi (Japanese: 川地 民夫, Hepburn: Kawachi Tamio; 21 July 1938 – 10 February 2018; sometimes transliterated as…Tamio Kawachi (Japanese: 川地 民夫, Hepburn: Kawachi Tamio; 21 July 1938 – 10 February 2018; sometimes transliterated as Tamio Kawaji) was a Japanese actor.
Nobuyuki Katsube (勝部 演之, Katsube Nobuyuki; born May 23, 1938) is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He graduated from…Nobuyuki Katsube (勝部 演之, Katsube Nobuyuki; born May 23, 1938) is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He graduated from Keio University.and the Faculty of Economics.
Tatsuo Umemiya (梅宮 辰夫, Umemiya Tatsuo; 11 March 1938 – 12 December 2019) was a Japanese actor, tarento, and…Tatsuo Umemiya (梅宮 辰夫, Umemiya Tatsuo; 11 March 1938 – 12 December 2019) was a Japanese actor, tarento, and businessman. He was represented by the agency Pickles. His daughter is model and tarento Anna Umemiya. The son of a doctor, Umemiya gave up a medical career to debut as a Toei New Face at the Toei Studios. As an actor, he appeared in films and television dramas and also in restaurant variety shows. Umemiya died of kidney failure on 12 December 2019. He was 81 years old.
Joh Mizuki (水木 襄, Mizuki Jō; 11 March 1938 – 1991) was a Japanese actor. His birth name was Ishikawa Yoshiaki. He was…Joh Mizuki (水木 襄, Mizuki Jō; 11 March 1938 – 1991) was a Japanese actor. His birth name was Ishikawa Yoshiaki. He was born in Tokyo. Mizuki made his acting debut in 1958, in Futeki naru hanko which was directed by Makino Masahiro. He played a number of juvenile delinquent-type roles in TV series in the late fifties and early sixties. In 1964, he appeared in the internationally released Fuji TV action television series Ninja butai gekkô, known as Phantom Agents in the English language release. Joh Mizuki played the lead role of Phantar, who was the leader of a band of ninja-skilled government agents. Phantom Agents was shown in Australia, Venezuela, Brazil and other countries, including a limited airing in America in the New York area.
Kojiro Hongo (本郷功次郎, Hongō Kōjirō; 15 February 1938 – 14 February 2013) was a Japanese actor. Hongo won an Elan d'or…Kojiro Hongo (本郷功次郎, Hongō Kōjirō; 15 February 1938 – 14 February 2013) was a Japanese actor. Hongo won an Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year in 1959. His notable international performances were in the Daiei Studios Gamera films.
Gō Katō (加藤剛, Katō Gō; 4 February 1938 – 18 June 2018) was a Japanese entertainer and actor. Katō starred in the…Gō Katō (加藤剛, Katō Gō; 4 February 1938 – 18 June 2018) was a Japanese entertainer and actor. Katō starred in the long-running TV series Ōoka Echizen (1970~2006).
Hideo Murota (室田 日出男, Murota Hideo; 7 October 1937 – 15 June 2002) was a Japanese actor who specialized in playing…Hideo Murota (室田 日出男, Murota Hideo; 7 October 1937 – 15 June 2002) was a Japanese actor who specialized in playing villains and tough guys. In 1957, he signed a contract with Toei Studio and appeared in over 1000 films. He won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Yokohama Film Festival for his role in Shinde mo ii.
Akinobu Ogata (緒形 明伸, Ogata Akinobu; 20 July 1937 – 5 October 2008), better known by his stage name Ken Ogata (緒形 拳…Akinobu Ogata (緒形 明伸, Ogata Akinobu; 20 July 1937 – 5 October 2008), better known by his stage name Ken Ogata (緒形 拳, Ogata Ken), was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 50 movies and 25 television series. For his merits and contribution to arts in 2000 received Japan's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon. Among many movie awards and nominations, he received three times Japan Academy Film Prize award for Best Actor for The Demon (1978), The Ballad of Narayama (1983) and House on Fire (1986), and in addition Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for The Catch and Okinawan Boys (1983). Other notable roles were in Shohei Imamura's Vengeance Is Mine (1979), Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book (1996).
Atsushi Yamatoya (大和屋 竺, Yamatoya Atsushi; 19 June 1937 – 16 January 1993) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter…Atsushi Yamatoya (大和屋 竺, Yamatoya Atsushi; 19 June 1937 – 16 January 1993) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter and actor. His son is a fellow screenwriter and race horse owner Akatsuki Yamatoya (大和屋 暁, Yamatoya Akatsuki).
Eiji Gō (郷 鍈治, Gō Eiji; 29 May 1937 – 11 September 1992) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than sixty films…Eiji Gō (郷 鍈治, Gō Eiji; 29 May 1937 – 11 September 1992) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than sixty films from 1960 to 1982.
Asahi Kurizuka (Japanese: 栗塚 旭, Hepburn: Kurizuka Asahi; May 9, 1937 – September 9, 2025) was a Japanese actor. He made…Asahi Kurizuka (Japanese: 栗塚 旭, Hepburn: Kurizuka Asahi; May 9, 1937 – September 9, 2025) was a Japanese actor. He made his film debut in Satsuo Yamamoto's The War Without Weapons (1960). In 1966, he received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. Specializing in jidaigeki, Kurizuka was known for portraying Hijikata Toshizō, a role he played multiple times throughout his career. On September 12, 2025, news outlets reported that Kurizuka had died at his home in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto on September 9. He had been scheduled to appear on Mitsuya Seizaemon Zanjitsuroku, a jidaigeki for BS Fuji, but could not be contacted prior to the start of production. When he did not show up on his scheduled filming day, the police were asked to perform a wellness check, where they confirmed his death.
Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝, Shibata Hidekatsu; born March 25, 1937) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from…Hidekatsu Shibata (柴田 秀勝, Shibata Hidekatsu; born March 25, 1937) is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Asakusa, Tokyo who is affiliated with Aoni Production. He was a classmate of former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda at Azabu High School. Shibata is married to fellow voice actor Akiko Sekine. He is most known for his roles in Mazinger Z (as Baron Ashura), Great Mazinger (as Kenzo Kabuto), Galaxy Express 999 (as Count Mecha), Kamen Rider Stronger (as General Shadow), and Seijuu Sentai Gingaman (as Captain Zahab). He is also mostly known for giving his voice to some iconic powerful old characters such as in One Piece (as Monkey D. Dragon), Naruto (as Hiruzen Sarutobi), Fullmetal Alchemist (as Führer King Bradley) and Fairy Tail (as Igneel and the narrator).
Keisuke Sagawa (砂川 啓介, Sagawa Keisuke; February 12, 1937 – July 11, 2017) was a Japanese actor and tarento. He is…Keisuke Sagawa (砂川 啓介, Sagawa Keisuke; February 12, 1937 – July 11, 2017) was a Japanese actor and tarento. He is notable for being the first actor of the Taisō no Onīsan in the Uta no Ehon program on the long-running television program Okaasan to Issho. His wife was actress, television personality, and voice actress Nobuyo Ōyama.
Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō; January 22, 1937 – February 17, 2021) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from…Tetsurō Sagawa (瑳川 哲朗, Sagawa Tetsurō; January 22, 1937 – February 17, 2021) was a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tateyama, Chiba. He was a graduate of Waseda University.
Tsutomu Yamazaki (山崎 努, Yamazaki Tsutomu) is a Japanese actor. He won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor in 1984 for…Tsutomu Yamazaki (山崎 努, Yamazaki Tsutomu) is a Japanese actor. He won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor in 1984 for The Funeral and Farewell to the Ark. Yamazaki is known for his roles as Goro in Tampopo (1985) and Nenbutsu no Tetsu on the television jidaigeki Hissatsu Shiokinin and Shin Hissatsu Shiokinin.
Akira Kubo (久保 明, Kubo Akira; born Yasunori Yamauchi; December 1, 1936) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in over 70…Akira Kubo (久保 明, Kubo Akira; born Yasunori Yamauchi; December 1, 1936) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in over 70 films since 1952. He starred in the film Arashi, which was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.
Kōtarō Satomi (里見浩太朗, Satomi Kōtarō; real name Kunitoshi Sano 佐野邦俊) (born 28 November 1936) is a Japanese actor from…Kōtarō Satomi (里見浩太朗, Satomi Kōtarō; real name Kunitoshi Sano 佐野邦俊) (born 28 November 1936) is a Japanese actor from the city of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. In 1956, he signed with Toei film company. He appears in both contemporary roles and in the historical dramas known as jidaigeki.
Sumiko Sakamoto (坂本スミ子, Sakamoto Sumiko; 25 November 1936 – 23 January 2021) was a Japanese singer and award-winning…Sumiko Sakamoto (坂本スミ子, Sakamoto Sumiko; 25 November 1936 – 23 January 2021) was a Japanese singer and award-winning actress, born in Osaka, whose heartfelt performances made her a favorite of the late film director Shohei Imamura. Imamura cast her in three of his films: The Pornographers, Warm Water Under a Red Bridge, and The Ballad of Narayama, winner of the Palme d'Or at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival. She won the award for Japanese Best Actress from Nihon Academy for her performance in The Ballad of Narayama, as well as a kiss from Orson Welles. She died of a stroke.
Hisashi Igawa (井川比佐志; born 17 November 1936) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's…Hisashi Igawa (井川比佐志; born 17 November 1936) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Dodesukaden, Ran and Madadayo. He starred in Abe Kōbō's production of The Man Who Turned Into A Stick, a surrealist play, in 1969.
Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Japanese: 川口 浩, romanized: Kawaguchi Hiroshi, 22 August 1936 – 17 November 1987) was a Japanese film…Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Japanese: 川口 浩, romanized: Kawaguchi Hiroshi, 22 August 1936 – 17 November 1987) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1956 and 1986. He was born in Tokyo, Japan. Kawaguchi's father, writer Matsutarō Kawaguchi, was an executive at Daiei Film, where Kawaguchi acted. In 1960 he married Daiei actress Hitomi Nozoe.
Kyosuke Machida (待田 京介, Machida Kyosuke; born 22 June 1936) is a retired Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 150…Kyosuke Machida (待田 京介, Machida Kyosuke; born 22 June 1936) is a retired Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 150 films, including many yakuza films produced by Toei. When he was a child, he became Mas Oyama's pupil. He is currently an advisor to the International Karate Organization Kyokushin-kaikan.
Sandayū Dokumamushi (毒蝮 三太夫, Dokumamushi Sandayū) born Iyoshi Ishii (石井 伊吉, Ishii Iyoshi) on 31 March 1936 in Osaka…Sandayū Dokumamushi (毒蝮 三太夫, Dokumamushi Sandayū) born Iyoshi Ishii (石井 伊吉, Ishii Iyoshi) on 31 March 1936 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese actor. He portrayed the role of Daisuke Arashi in the original Ultraman series (1966-1967) and Shigeru Furuhashi in Ultra Seven. He has been a radio personality on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) since 1969. His radio program is famous for vulgar language and is popular with an older audience.
Yosuke Natsuki (Japanese: 夏木陽介, Hepburn: Natsuki Yōsuke; February 27, 1936 – January 14, 2018) was a Japanese actor. He…Yosuke Natsuki (Japanese: 夏木陽介, Hepburn: Natsuki Yōsuke; February 27, 1936 – January 14, 2018) was a Japanese actor. He participated twice in the Dakar Rally as a racing driver. He did a lot of work for the Toho Company and made his debut in the film The H-Man. He appeared in Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo in 1961. In the same year, he received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. In the 1970s, he left Toho and joined Toshiro Mifune's production company. He was famous for his role in the police TV drama G-Men '75 as well as Toho Studios monster movies.
Yukio Ninagawa (蜷川 幸雄, Ninagawa Yukio; October 15, 1935 – May 12, 2016) was a Japanese theatre director, actor and film…Yukio Ninagawa (蜷川 幸雄, Ninagawa Yukio; October 15, 1935 – May 12, 2016) was a Japanese theatre director, actor and film director, particularly known for his Japanese language productions of the Greek tragedies as well as Shakespeare—he directed eight distinct renditions of Hamlet. Ninagawa was also emeritus of the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music. Although most famous abroad for his touring productions of European classics, Ninagawa also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima (which toured to New York's Lincoln Center in early summer 2005) and several other plays by Japanese dramatists, including Shūji Terayama and Kunio Shimizu. His production of Titus Andronicus was performed in England in June 2006, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. In 2007 his company participated in the Barbican International Theatre Event (BITE) series at the Barbican Arts Centre in London, with their production of Coriolanus.
