Here are 7 famous actors from Japan died at 71:
Seiji Miyaguchi (November 15, 1913 Tokyo City-April 12, 1985 Meguro) also known as Miyaguchi Seiji was a Japanese actor.
He died as a result of lung cancer.
Miyaguchi started his career as a theatre actor and later transitioned to the film industry, working with prominent directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi. He is best known for his role as the sword-fighting master, Shimura Kingo, in Kurosawa's classic film "Seven Samurai."
Aside from acting, Miyaguchi was also a skilled dancer, specializing in Japanese traditional dance. He incorporated his dancing skills into his acting performances, adding grace and fluidity to his fight scenes.
Miyaguchi received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government. His legacy as an actor and a dancer continues to inspire generations of Japanese artists.
Read more about Seiji Miyaguchi on Wikipedia »
Ken Ogata (July 20, 1937 Ushigome-October 5, 2008 Mibu) a.k.a. Akinobu Ogata, Ogata Akinobu or Ogata Ken was a Japanese actor. His children are called Naoto Ogata and Kanta Ogata.
He died caused by liver cancer.
Ken Ogata was a prolific actor, known for his outstanding performances in Japanese cinema and television dramas. Born and raised in Ushigome, Tokyo, he began his acting career in the early 1960s, and was known for his versatility, range and intensity on screen. He garnered critical acclaim for his performances in films like "The Ballad of Narayama" (1983), "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" (1985) and "Vengeance is Mine" (1979), all of which earned him numerous awards for best actor.
Ogata's talents were not confined to just the big screen, as he was equally adept at performing in stage plays and television dramas. His most notable TV role was in the 1998 NHK Taiga drama "Tokugawa Yoshinobu", where he played the titular shogun.
Despite his untimely death in 2008 due to liver cancer, Ken Ogata's legacy as one of Japan's finest actors continues to live on.
Read more about Ken Ogata on Wikipedia »
Yoshio Harada (February 29, 1940 Adachi-July 19, 2011 Tokyo) also known as Harada Yoshio was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Mayu Harada and Kenta Harada.
He died in pneumonia.
Harada was best known for his work in Japanese cinema, where he appeared in over 140 films. He began his acting career in the 1960s, appearing in a number of yakuza films before transitioning into more dramatic roles in the 1980s. Harada was known for his intense and complex portrayals of characters, and was highly respected by critics and audiences alike for his craft. He won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Best Actor award at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in “The Twilight Samurai” in 2002. In addition to his film work, Harada also appeared in several television dramas and stage productions. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation in Japan.
Read more about Yoshio Harada on Wikipedia »
Nobuo Kaneko (March 27, 1923 Taitō-January 20, 1995 Chiyoda, Tokyo) also known as Kaneko Nobuo was a Japanese actor.
Kaneko Nobuo started his career in theatres during the World War II but later found his passion in acting in the film industry. He made his film debut in 1947 with "Utamaro and His Five Women". Throughout his career, he appeared in more than 130 films and TV dramas. He was known for his versatility and played a wide range of roles from villains to comedic characters. Kaneko Nobuo also worked as a voice actor and dubber in a number of foreign films that were released in Japan. In 1969, he won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Kiga Kaikyo". He continued to act until his death in 1995 due to lung cancer.
Read more about Nobuo Kaneko on Wikipedia »
Ichirō Arishima (March 1, 1916 Nagoya-July 20, 1987) a.k.a. Ichiro Arishima, Tadao Oshima, The Japanese Chaplin, Arishima Ichirō or Oshima Tadao was a Japanese comedian and actor.
He died as a result of heart failure.
Ichirō Arishima began his career in the entertainment industry as a stage comedian in the 1940s. He gained popularity for his physical comedy, which often drew comparisons to Charlie Chaplin. He later transitioned to film, where he appeared in over 300 movies and TV dramas.
Arishima's acting career spanned several decades, and he was known for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. Some of his most notable works include "The Human Condition," "Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island," and "The Insect Woman."
In addition to acting, Arishima was also a prolific writer, penning several books and scripts for TV dramas. He was also a frequent guest on various talk shows and variety programs.
Arishima's legacy continues to influence Japanese comedy and entertainment to this day. He is remembered as one of the most iconic and beloved figures in the industry.
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Matsumoto Hakuō I (July 7, 1910 Tokyo-January 11, 1982 Tokyo) also known as Junjirō Fujima, Hakuō Matsumoto, Matsumoto Koshiro VIII, Kôshirô Matsumoto, Fujima Junjirō, Hachidaime Matsumoto Kōshirō, Nidaime Matsumoto Junzō or Godaime Ichikawa Somegorō was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Matsumoto Kōshirō IX and Nakamura Kichiemon II.
He died caused by heart failure.
Matsumoto Hakuō I was primarily known for his work in Kabuki theatre, where he was one of the top leading actors of his time. He was renowned for his portrayal of both male and female roles, and was particularly known for his dramatic performances. Matsumoto Hakuō I was also involved in the Japanese film industry and appeared in several movies throughout his career. In 1954, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Culture by the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts. After his death, his legacy continued through his sons, both of whom followed in his footsteps and became successful actors in their own right.
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Shinsuke Mikimoto (May 22, 1931 Kanazawa-August 5, 2002 Setagaya) a.k.a. Mikimoto Shinsuke was a Japanese actor.
He died in lung cancer.
Shinsuke Mikimoto began his acting career in the early 1950s and appeared in over 200 films and television dramas throughout his career. He was known for his versatility and ability to portray a wide range of characters, from serious dramas to comedy. Mikimoto was particularly popular in the 1960s and 70s, when he starred in many of Japan's biggest film and television productions. In addition to his acting work, Mikimoto was also a prolific voice actor, dubbing foreign films and television shows into Japanese. His legacy lives on as one of the most iconic actors in Japan's rich entertainment history.
Read more about Shinsuke Mikimoto on Wikipedia »