Japanese movie stars born in 1901
Here are 8 famous actors from Japan were born in 1901:
Tsumasaburō Bandō
Tsumasaburō Bandō (December 13, 1901 Nihonbashi-July 7, 1953 Kyoto) also known as Denkichi Tamura, Bantsuma, Bandō Tsumasaburō, Chôjirô Hayashi, Tsumasaburō “Bantsuma” Bandō, Tamura Denkichi, Shuntaro Okayama or Okayama Shuntaro was a Japanese actor and entrepreneur. He had five children, Takahiro Tamura, Ryō Tamura, Masakazu Tamura, Toshima Tamura and Yasuhiro Minakami.
Tsumasaburō Bandō was born in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo and began his acting career as a teenager in the early 1920s in Tokyo theaters. He became a leading kabuki actor and was known for his skillful performances of aragoto-style roles. In the 1930s, he began acting in films, and by the 1940s, he was one of the most popular actors in Japanese cinema.
During World War II, Bandō was involved in the government's propaganda efforts and appeared in several films promoting the war effort, including the highly controversial The Battle of Okinawa, which was accused of whitewashing Japan's war crimes. After the war, Bandō continued to act in films and became a successful producer, founding his own production company, Bantsuma Productions.
In addition to his career in entertainment, Bandō was also a successful businessman, owning several restaurants and shops in Tokyo and Kyoto. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle, and his love of gambling and fast cars.
Bandō's legacy as an actor and entrepreneur has continued long after his death, with his sons and grandchildren also becoming successful actors and performers. Today, he is remembered as one of Japan's greatest actors and a cultural icon of the 20th century.
Koji Shima
Koji Shima (February 16, 1901 Nagasaki-September 10, 1986) a.k.a. Ma Shan Shih, Shih Ma Shan, Kôji Shima, Shi Ma Shan, Takehiko Kagoshima, Shima Koji or Kagoshima Takehiko was a Japanese screenwriter, film director and actor. He had one child, Akihiko Katayama.
Koji Shima is best known for directing the influential Japanese science fiction film, "Warning from Space" (1956). He began his career in the film industry in the 1920s as a screenwriter and actor, but eventually shifted his focus to directing. In addition to directing "Warning from Space", Shima also directed other films in various genres, such as drama, comedy, and action. He continued to work in the film industry until his retirement in the 1970s. Shima's contributions to Japanese cinema have been recognized by the industry, and he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in 1983.
Mitsusaburô Ramon
Mitsusaburô Ramon (October 10, 1901 Osaka-) also known as Mitsusaburō Ramon is a Japanese actor.
Mitsusaburō Ramon appeared in over 80 films during his acting career, which spanned several decades from the 1920s to the 1950s. He was trained in western-style acting and often played romantic leads. Ramon was also known for his artistic talents in calligraphy and was a member of the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japan Print Association). Later in his career, he became a mentor to many up-and-coming actors in Japan. Despite his success in film, Ramon remained a humble and reserved person off-screen.
Sadao Maruyama
Sadao Maruyama (May 31, 1901 Ehime Prefecture-August 16, 1945 Hiroshima) was a Japanese actor.
Maruyama began his acting career in the 1920s and became one of the leading actors of the Japanese film industry. He starred in many films, including "Enoken no Chakkiri Kinta," "Shukujo to Hige," and "Chichi Aru Keno Yoru." Maruyama was known for his versatility as an actor, playing a wide range of roles from comedic to dramatic.
During World War II, Maruyama was drafted into the Japanese military and worked as a laborer in Hiroshima. Unfortunately, he was one of the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 and died shortly after. Despite his short life and career, Maruyama's contributions to Japanese cinema were significant, and he remains a beloved figure in the industry.
Kan'emon Nakamura
Kan'emon Nakamura (February 2, 1901 Tokyo-September 21, 1982) a.k.a. Kan'emon Nakamura, Umenosuke Nakamura, Ganemon Nakamura, Kinjiro Mitsui, Mitsui Kinjiro, Nakamura Kanemon or Kanemon Nakamura was a Japanese actor. He had one child, Umenosuke Nakamura.
Kan'emon Nakamura was born into a family with a long history in the world of Kabuki theatre. His father and grandfather were both Kabuki actors, and Kan'emon would follow in their footsteps, making his stage debut at the age of 6. He was known for his versatility and range as an actor, and he appeared in a vast array of roles throughout his long and illustrious career, both on stage and on screen. Kan'emon Nakamura was particularly known for his mastery of the tachiyaku role, which is traditionally played by male actors in Kabuki theatre. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards and accolades, and he remained a beloved figure in the world of Japanese entertainment until his death in 1982 at the age of 81.
Kingorō Yanagiya
Kingorō Yanagiya (March 13, 1901 Shiba, Minato, Tokyo-October 22, 1972 Tokyo) otherwise known as Keinosuke Yamashita was a Japanese actor.
He was one of Japan's most famous and widely recognized comedians, with a career spanning over four decades. Yanagiya's signature style of comedy was called "rakugo," which is a traditional form of Japanese storytelling that involves a lone performer sitting on a cushion, using only a fan and a hand towel as props. Yanagiya mastered the art of rakugo and became known for his hilarious and dynamic performances. He also appeared in several films during his career, including "Seven Samurai" (1954) and "Yojimbo" (1961) directed by Akira Kurosawa. Yanagiya's legacy continues to inspire younger generations of comedians and performers, and his influence can be seen in contemporary Japanese entertainment.
Michiyoshi Tamura
Michiyoshi Tamura (August 4, 1901 Tokyo City-) also known as 田村 道美, たむら みちよし or Tamura Michiyoshi is a Japanese film producer and actor. His child is called Wakaba Irie.
Tamura Michiyoshi began his career in the film industry in the early 1920s as an actor, appearing in several films throughout the decade. In the 1930s, he transitioned to producing films and quickly became one of Japan's leading producers, working on numerous successful projects throughout the decade.
During World War II, Tamura served as the chief of the film division of the Ministry of Information and Communications, overseeing the production of propaganda films for the Japanese government. After the war, he faced criticism for his role in producing propaganda, but continued to work in the film industry and produced several successful films in the post-war years.
Tamura also played a key role in the early years of the Tokyo International Film Festival, serving as its first chairman in 1985. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, a prestigious honor from the Japanese government, in 1988 for his contributions to the film industry.
Tokuji Kobayashi
Tokuji Kobayashi (March 10, 1901 Okayama Prefecture-June 11, 1964) a.k.a. Kobayashi Tokuji was a Japanese actor.
He started his acting career in 1927 and appeared in over 150 films throughout his career. Kobayashi worked in several genres, including historical dramas, comedies, and war films. He was known for his versatility and ability to bring depth to his roles. One of his most significant works was the film adaptation of the novel "A Book of Human Skin" by Fumiko Enchi, which won several awards. Not only an actor, but Kobayashi also served as a mentor for many established Japanese actors, including Toshirō Mifune. He co-founded the Kabuki-za theater in Tokyo, where he performed in several stage productions. Kobayashi passed away at the age of 63 due to liver cancer.