Japanese movie stars born in 1933
Here are 12 famous actors from Japan were born in 1933:
Juzo Itami
Juzo Itami (May 15, 1933 Ukyō-ku, Kyoto-December 20, 1997 Azabudai, Minato, Tokyo) a.k.a. Itami Juzo, Ikeuchi Yoshihiro, Ichizô Itami, Itami Ichizô, Yoshihiro Ikeuchi, Jûzô Itami, Ichizo Atami, Ichizo Itami or Itami Jūzō was a Japanese film director, actor, screenwriter and film producer. He had two children, Mansaku Ikeuchi and Ikeuchi Mampei.
Juzo Itami began his career as an actor in the 1960s, appearing in numerous films and television dramas. He later transitioned to directing, and his first film as a director, "The Funeral" (1984), quickly gained critical acclaim both in Japan and internationally. He went on to direct several other successful films, including "Tampopo" (1985), a "ramen western" that has become a cult classic, and "A Taxing Woman" (1987), which won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Itami was known for his satirical and often comical films that tackled social issues in Japan, particularly corruption and bureaucracy. His work earned him numerous awards and recognition, including the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest honors, in 1995.
Tragically, in 1997, Itami committed suicide by jumping from the roof of his office building in Tokyo. His death shocked the Japanese film industry and fans around the world. Despite his untimely death, his legacy as a groundbreaking director and social commentator continues to live on through his films.
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Shōzō Iizuka
Shōzō Iizuka (May 23, 1933 Iwaki-) also known as Shozo Iizuka, Iizuka Shōzō, Iizuka Syozo, Shouzou Iizuka, Shozo Izuka, Syozo Iizuka, Shôzô Iizuka or Syouzou Iizuka is a Japanese voice actor, actor and narrator.
He began his career as a stage actor in the early 1950s, but later transitioned to voice acting in the 1960s. He has lent his voice to numerous anime series, movies, and video games and is known for his distinctive deep voice, often portraying mature or elderly characters. Some of his notable roles include Vassalord as Johnny Rayflo, Mobile Suit Gundam as Degwin Sodo Zabi, and Dragon Ball Z as King Cold. In addition to his voice acting work, Iizuka has also appeared in various Japanese TV dramas and films. Throughout his career, he has won several awards for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including the Merit Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards in 2010.
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Mako Iwamatsu
Mako Iwamatsu (December 10, 1933 Kobe-July 21, 2006 Somis) otherwise known as Makoto Iwamatsu, Mako Wakamatsu, Iwamatsu Mako, 岩松 マコ or Mako was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He had two children, Sala Iwamatsu and Mimosa Iwamatsu.
Mako had over 100 film, television and stage credits to his name throughout his career. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the films "The Sand Pebbles" (1966), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and "Rising Sun" (1993). He also lent his voice to a number of animated films and TV series, including the character Aku in the animated series "Samurai Jack." Mako was also an accomplished theater actor, founding the East West Players in Los Angeles in 1965. He was a trailblazer for Asian American actors, paving the way for greater representation and opportunities in the entertainment industry. Mako passed away in 2006 at the age of 72 due to esophageal cancer.
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Bunta Sugawara
Bunta Sugawara (August 16, 1933 Sendai-) also known as すがわら ぶんた, 菅原 文太 or Sugawara Bunta is a Japanese actor, voice actor, radio personality, farmer and model. His child is called Kaoru Sugawara.
Sugawara is often referred to as a legend of the Japanese film industry, having acted in more than 200 films throughout his career. He is most well-known for his role as Detective Kaoru Otaki in the long-running "Battles without Honor and Humanity" series. Sugawara has also appeared in many other popular Japanese films, such as "Street Mobster" and "Cops vs. Thugs."
Aside from acting, Sugawara has also lent his voice to various anime and video game characters, including roles in "One Piece," "Dragon Ball Z," and "Metal Gear Solid 3." In addition, Sugawara was a regular host of his own radio show, "Sugawara Bunta no All Night Nippon," for several years.
Sugawara was also an active farmer later in his life, and frequently spoke about the importance of agriculture and the environment in the media. He passed away on November 28, 2014, at the age of 81, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the Japanese entertainment industry.
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Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Kiyoshi Kobayashi (January 11, 1933 Tokyo Prefecture-) also known as Kobayashi Kiyoshi is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator.
Kobayashi began his career in the entertainment industry in the mid-1950s and has since appeared in numerous movies and television dramas. He is perhaps most well-known for his work as a voice actor, voicing characters in popular anime series such as "GeGeGe no Kitaro", "Astro Boy", and "Lupin III". Kobayashi is also highly regarded as a narrator, lending his voice to a wide variety of documentaries and educational programs. In 2019, he was awarded the Achievement Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards, recognizing his contributions to the voice acting industry. Outside of his entertainment work, Kobayashi is also known for his love of classic cars and has been an avid collector and enthusiast for many years.
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Toshiya Ueda
Toshiya Ueda (February 24, 1933 Sapporo-) also known as Ueda Toshiya is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He graduated from Hokkaido University with a degree in economics before pursuing a career in acting. Ueda began his acting career in theater before transitioning to television and film. He is known for his distinctive voice, and has lent his talents to numerous anime, video games, and Japanese-dubbed films.
Some of Ueda's most recognizable roles include Doctor Yashiro in "Neon Genesis Evangelion," Doctor Kaneda in "Akira," and Zangetsu in "Bleach." He has also played supporting roles in live-action films such as "Castle of Sand" and "The Sun's Burial."
In addition to his work in entertainment, Ueda has also been involved in education. He has taught at several universities and was a lecturer at Hokkaido University for 15 years.
Ueda has received numerous accolades for his work in voice acting, including the Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2nd Seiyu Awards. He continues to be an active performer and is a highly regarded figure in the Japanese entertainment industry.
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Makoto Fujita
Makoto Fujita (April 13, 1933 Ikebukuro-February 17, 2010 Suita) a.k.a. Makoto Harada, 藤田 まこと, はらだ まこと, ふじた まこと, Fujita Makoto, 原田 眞, Harada Makoto, Haguretei Umanosuke or はぐれ亭馬之助 was a Japanese actor, comedian and singer. He had one child, Emiko Fujita.
Makoto Fujita became a household name in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was a popular television personality and comedian. He was known for his quick wit and his ability to make people laugh, and he appeared in numerous variety shows, TV dramas, and movies.
Fujita was also a talented singer and released several hit songs throughout his career, including "Kimi Koishi" and "Ai no Blues."
In addition to his work in entertainment, Fujita was also active in politics. He ran for office several times, beginning in 1968 when he ran for a seat in the Japanese House of Councillors. Despite his popularity, he was never successful in winning an election.
Fujita continued to work in the entertainment industry until his death in 2010, at the age of 76. He was remembered fondly by fans and fellow performers alike for his humor, talent, and contributions to Japanese popular culture.
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Michio Hazama
Michio Hazama (October 7, 1933 Tokyo-) also known as Hazama Michio or Michio Hasama is a Japanese voice actor, actor, entrepreneur and narrator.
He is known for his work on popular anime shows such as Mobile Suit Gundam, Space Battleship Yamato, and Lupin III. Hazama started his career in acting and voice acting in 1957 and has since lent his voice to over 200 different characters in anime, video games, and drama CDs. Aside from his work in entertainment, Hazama is also an entrepreneur and has founded several successful businesses in Japan. He has also been a narrator for various documentaries and educational programs. Hazama received the prestigious Merit Award from the Japan Actor's Association in 2003 for his contributions to the industry.
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Shun Yashiro
Shun Yashiro (February 19, 1933 Tsuyama-June 25, 2003 Sumida, Tokyo) a.k.a. Motohiro Suzuki was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He began his career as an actor in 1957, and later transitioned to voice acting in 1970. He was known for his deep and distinct voice, and lent his talents to a wide range of anime, video games, and dubbing work for foreign films and TV shows. Some of his notable roles include Captain Hook in the Japanese dub of Disney's "Peter Pan," Fujimoto in the Japanese version of "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea," and Aokiji in "One Piece." Yashiro was also a prolific narrator, providing his voice for many documentaries and commercials. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
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Hideo Tanaka
Hideo Tanaka (November 24, 1933 Japan-July 9, 2011 Sayama) also known as Tanaka Hideo was a Japanese television director, film producer, screenwriter and actor.
He started his career in the Japanese entertainment industry in the 1950s and worked for various television stations before forming his own production company, Tanaka Promotion, in the 1970s. Some of his notable works include the television series "Kamen Rider," "Super Sentai," and "Ultraman."
As a film producer, Tanaka was responsible for the production of some of the most iconic Japanese monster movies like "Godzilla vs. Biollante" and "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah." He also directed several films such as "Disco Tengoku" and "Onna no Dairugger XV."
Tanaka made occasional appearances on screen as an actor, with his most notable role being the character of Dr. Iwamoto in the original "Godzilla" movie in 1954. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contributions to the arts in 2009.
Tanaka passed away at the age of 77 due to complications from pneumonia in 2011.
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Susumu Ishikawa
Susumu Ishikawa (July 13, 1933 Ashikaga-October 29, 2012) was a Japanese voice actor, singer, actor and presenter.
He began his career as a voice actor in the 1950s, and quickly gained popularity for his role as the first Japanese voice of Disney's Mickey Mouse. He went on to lend his voice to many popular anime series such as "Astro Boy," "Dragon Ball," and "Voltron." He also appeared in numerous films and television dramas as an actor. In addition to his career in entertainment, Ishikawa was actively involved in social causes and served as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for four terms. He was also recognized for his contributions to the arts and was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2001.
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David Toguri
David Toguri (October 25, 1933 Vancouver-November 15, 1997 Toronto) was a Japanese actor, theatre director and choreographer.
He grew up in Vancouver and attended the University of British Columbia before beginning his career in the arts. Toguri appeared in numerous plays and films throughout his career, including the 1980s television series "Night Heat" and the film "Cameron's Closet."
In addition to his work as an actor, Toguri was a renowned theatre director and choreographer. He founded an arts company called Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto and worked with numerous other theatre companies throughout his career. He received critical acclaim for his direction and choreography of various plays and musicals, including "The Threepenny Opera" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Toguri also worked to promote and support Asian Canadian artists throughout his career. He was a co-founder of the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society, which organizes events and activities to celebrate Asian heritage and culture in Canada.
After a long battle with liver disease, Toguri passed away in 1997 at the age of 64. His contributions to the arts and his advocacy for marginalized communities continue to inspire and impact generations of artists and activists.
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