Here are 8 famous actors from Japan died at 73:
Yatarō Kurokawa (November 15, 1910 Yokohama-June 23, 1984) also known as Hirotarô Kurokawa, 黒川 弥太郎 or Kurokawa Yatarō was a Japanese actor.
Yatarō Kurokawa began his acting career in the 1930s, appearing in numerous movies throughout Japan's golden age of cinema. He was known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters, from serious dramatic roles to lighthearted comedic ones. Kurokawa's popularity grew throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and he became a household name in Japan. In addition to his acting work, he was also a skilled martial artist and trained in the martial art of Kendo. Later in his career, Kurokawa also worked as a producer and director in the film industry. He continued to act until his death in 1984, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most beloved actors of all time.
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Shin Saburi (February 12, 1909 Utashinai-September 22, 1982 Itabashi) also known as Shimazu Gen, Gen Shimazu, Ishizaki Yoshio, Yoshio Ishizaki or Saburi Shin was a Japanese actor and film director. His child is Jiro Ishizaki.
He died as a result of liver cancer.
Shin Saburi was best known for his collaboration with legendary filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu, having appeared in 21 of his films, including the iconic Tokyo Story. He often played patriarchal and authority figures with a gentle yet stern demeanor. Saburi also had a successful career as a film director, having directed five feature films in the 1950s. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a singer and a stage performer. Saburi was a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest honors, in 1977 for his contributions to the arts.
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Taiji Tonoyama (October 17, 1915 Kobe-April 30, 1989) a.k.a. 殿山 泰司, Tonoyama Taiji, とのやま たいじ, 殿山 泰爾 or 夏目銅一 was a Japanese actor, essayist and character actor.
He was well known for his roles in classic Japanese films such as "Tokyo Twilight" and "Twenty-Four Eyes". Tonoyama was also a prolific writer and published several collections of essays during his lifetime. He was particularly known for his love of nature and the outdoors, and often wrote about his experiences hiking and exploring the Japanese countryside. In addition to his acting and writing, Tonoyama was also a talented painter, and his work was exhibited in galleries throughout Japan. Despite his many talents, Tonoyama was known for his modesty and humility, and was admired by many for his compassionate and gentle nature.
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Jukichi Uno (September 27, 1914 Asuwa District, Fukui-January 9, 1988) also known as Nobuo Terao was a Japanese actor, theatre director and film director. His child is Akira Terao.
Uno's career began in 1935 when he joined the Bungakuza Theatre Company in Tokyo. He quickly became one of Japan's most prominent stage actors, known for his versatility and expressive performances. In addition to his work on stage, Uno also appeared in over 100 films and television dramas throughout his career.
Uno's directorial debut came in 1955 with the film "Ainu Mosir," which told the story of Japan's indigenous Ainu people. He went on to direct several more films, including "The Unfettered," which won the Best Picture award at the 1961 Asia Pacific Film Festival.
Throughout his life, Uno remained committed to promoting the arts in Japan. He served as the president of the Japan Actors Union from 1964 to 1984 and was a vocal advocate for actor's rights. He was posthumously awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to Japanese culture.
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Ryūtarō Ōtomo (June 5, 1912 Hiroshima-September 27, 1985 Minato) a.k.a. Ryutaro Otomo was a Japanese actor. His child is .
He died as a result of suicide.
Ryūtarō Ōtomo was a veteran actor in Japanese cinema who appeared in over 100 films in his career. He gained widespread recognition for his performances in classic films such as "Shichinin no samurai" (1954), "Gojira" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "Tsubaki Sanjuro" (1962).
In addition to his acting career, Ōtomo was also a talented writer and director. He co-wrote and directed the film "The End of Summer" (1961), which was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ōtomo's son, Hiroshi Ōtomo, followed in his father's footsteps and became an actor as well.
Despite his success in the film industry, Ōtomo struggled with depression and ultimately died by suicide in 1985 at the age of 73.
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Ryūko Seihō (January 9, 1941 Ōta, Tokyo-August 29, 2014 Kakegawa) also known as 龍虎 勢朋, Kazukiyo Suzuki, りゅうこ せいほう, 龍虎 孝宗, Suzuki Kazukiyo, すずき かずきよ, 龍虎, 放駒 清一, Hanamusasi, Suzukiyama, はなむさし, 龍虎 昇, 若神山, 鈴木山, 花武蔵, すずきやま, 鈴木 忠清, Tadakiyo Suzuki, Suzuki Tadakiyo, すずき ただきよ, Ryūko, はなれごま かずきよ, Kazukiyo Hanaregoma or Hanaregoma Kazukiyo was a Japanese sumo wrestler and actor.
He died caused by myocardial infarction.
Ryūko Seihō was born as Kazukiyo Suzuki in Ōta, Tokyo in 1941. He began his sumo wrestling career in 1956 at the age of 15 under the shikona (ring name) of Hanaregoma Kazukiyo. He quickly climbed up the sumo ranks and achieved the rank of ōzeki, the second highest rank in sumo, in 1965.
After retiring from sumo wrestling in 1971, Seihō transitioned to acting where he starred in numerous films and television dramas. He was known for his tough guy roles and frequently played yakuza or police detective characters. Seihō also appeared in stage productions and was a well-known voice actor in Japan.
Throughout his career, Seihō was credited under various names such as Ryūko Seihō, Hanaregoma Kazukiyo, and Suzuki Kazukiyo. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 73 from a myocardial infarction.
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Isao Natsuyagi (December 25, 1939 Adachi-May 11, 2013 Kamakura) a.k.a. Isao Natsuki, Natsuyagi Isao or Natsuki Isao was a Japanese actor, singer and voice actor.
He died in pancreatic cancer.
Natsuyagi began his acting career in the early 1960s and over the years, he appeared in more than 150 films and television shows. He was known for his roles in films such as "The Ramen Girl," "The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go," and "Sanbiki no Samurai." In addition to his acting career, Natsuyagi was also a popular singer and released several albums throughout his life. He was particularly known for his cover of The Beatles' hit song, "Let it Be" which gained widespread popularity in Japan. Natsuyagi was also a voice actor and lent his voice to several anime series including "Hunter x Hunter" and "Detective Conan." Despite his success, Natsuyagi remained a humble and down-to-earth person throughout his life and was loved by fans and colleagues alike.
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Junzaburo Ban (January 10, 1908 Yonezawa-October 26, 1981 Tokyo) was a Japanese actor. He had one child, .
His career began in the 1930s, and he became known for his roles in samurai films. Ban also appeared in several war films, such as “Burma Convoy” (1941) and “The Last Kamikaze” (1956). He worked with some of the biggest directors in Japanese cinema, including Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Yasujirō Ozu. Ban also acted in television dramas and had a successful career as a narrator. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class in 1975 for his contributions to Japanese cinema.
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