Japanese movie stars died at 75
Here are 10 famous actors from Japan died at 75:
Tetsuji Takechi
Tetsuji Takechi (December 10, 1912 Osaka-July 26, 1988) was a Japanese film director, actor, author, writer and theatre director.
He died as a result of pancreatic cancer.
Takechi began his career in the film industry as a scriptwriter and assistant director in the 1930s. He directed his first film, The Personal Vendetta, in 1949. He was known for his controversial works, which often explored taboo themes such as sexuality and violence. His film, Daydream, was banned in Japan for a decade due to its graphic depictions of sexual fantasies.
In addition to his work in film, Takechi was also a prolific writer and theatre director. He wrote novels, essays, and plays, and his works often dealt with themes similar to those in his films. He founded two theatre companies, the Theatre of the Contemporary Era and the Theatre of the Japanese People, and staged both traditional Japanese plays and contemporary works.
Despite his controversial reputation, Takechi was considered by some to be a pioneer in Japanese cinema and theatre. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in 1987, and his legacy continues to influence Japanese filmmakers and playwrights to this day.
Read more about Tetsuji Takechi on Wikipedia »
Kenji Utsumi
Kenji Utsumi (August 26, 1937 Kitakyushu-June 13, 2013 Shinjuku) also known as Utsumi Kenji, Takaji Uchimi or 内海 賢二 was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. He had one child, Kentaro Utsumi.
He died as a result of peritonitis.
Utsumi began his career in 1958 as a stage actor and made his film debut in 1961. He gained popularity for his roles in Japanese television dramas and variety shows. Utsumi was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to many popular anime characters including Raoh in "Fist of the North Star," Senbei Norimaki in "Dr. Slump," and Suneo Honekawa in "Doraemon." He was known for his deep and distinctive voice, which earned him the nickname "The Voice of Japan." In addition to his voice work, Utsumi was also a narrator for nature documentaries and commercials. He was posthumously awarded the Merit Award at the 8th Seiyu Awards in 2014 for his contributions to the voice acting industry.
Read more about Kenji Utsumi on Wikipedia »
Yoshi Katō
Yoshi Katō (January 12, 1913 Tokyo Prefecture-March 1, 1988) also known as Katô Yoshi, Tadashi Kato, Yoshi Katô, Kato Tadashi, Yoshi Katō or Yoshi Kato was a Japanese actor. He had one child, Chiyo Kato.
Yoshi Katō was a prolific actor who appeared in over 160 films portraying a wide range of characters such as samurais, detectives, and politicians. He was also a stage actor who performed in many theatrical productions including Shakespeare plays.
Katō began his acting career in 1935 in the film "Yoru no onnatachi" and went on to work with acclaimed directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, and Kenji Mizoguchi. He achieved international recognition for his role in the 1959 film "Floating Weeds" directed by Ozu.
Aside from acting, Katō was also a writer and a director. He wrote several plays and screenplays such as "Hana no Mori no Ishimatsu" and "Nora inu." He also directed a handful of films including "Neko to Shozo to futari no onna" in 1956.
Katō passed away on March 1, 1988, at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most esteemed actors.
Read more about Yoshi Katō on Wikipedia »
Takeshi Aono
Takeshi Aono (June 19, 1936 Asahikawa-April 9, 2012 Hachioji) also known as Aono Takeshi or Takesi Aono was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He died in cerebral infarction.
Takeshi Aono began his career in the entertainment industry in the late 1950s as a theater actor before transitioning to voice acting in the 1960s. He was known for voicing a variety of characters in popular anime series, including Piccolo in "Dragon Ball Z," Dr. Mephisto in "Ghost Sweeper Mikami," and Kogoro Mouri in "Detective Conan." Aono also voiced characters in video games such as "Kingdom Hearts" and "Sonic the Hedgehog." Throughout his career, he won numerous awards for his work in voice acting, including the "Kei Tomiyama Memorial Award" in 2001. In addition to his voice acting work, Aono also appeared in live-action films and TV dramas.
Read more about Takeshi Aono on Wikipedia »
Eiji Okada
Eiji Okada (June 13, 1920 Choshi-September 14, 1995 Tokyo) a.k.a. Okada Eiji was a Japanese actor.
He died caused by heart failure.
Eiji Okada made a significant mark in the Japanese film industry during the post-war era, particularly in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He began his career as a stage actor, but his breakthrough role in the 1959 film "Hiroshima Mon Amour" directed by Alain Resnais shot him to international fame. He followed this up with several other critically acclaimed roles in Japanese and international films, including "The Woman in the Dunes" and "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence."
In addition to his prolific acting career, Eiji Okada also served as a member of the House of Councillors (the upper house of the Japanese Diet) for six years from 1977 to 1983. Okada was also known for his love of literature, and he wrote several books during his lifetime, including an autobiography titled "Vagabonding."
Eiji Okada's contributions to the film industry were recognized posthumously when he was awarded a posthumous Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1996.
Read more about Eiji Okada on Wikipedia »
Kaku Takashina
Kaku Takashina (February 22, 1919 Iioka-March 11, 1994 Ōta, Tokyo) otherwise known as Naokichi Kôgo, Kôgo Naokichi or Takashina Kaku was a Japanese actor.
He died in myocardial infarction.
Kaku Takashina is best known for his roles in Japanese classic films such as "Mothra vs. Godzilla" (1964), "King Kong Escapes" (1967), and "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla" (1974). He began his acting career in the early 1940s, mostly playing supporting roles in Japanese films. Takashina was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to numerous Japanese anime series, including "Speed Racer" and "Astro Boy." In addition to his acting work, Takashina was also a noted Sumo wrestler in his youth, competing under the name of Kôgo Naokichi. He later became a Sumo coach and was known for training several successful Sumo wrestlers.
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Masaaki Tsukada
Masaaki Tsukada (December 16, 1938 Kawasaki-January 27, 2014 Yokohama) a.k.a. Tsukada Masaaki or Masa'aki Tsukada was a Japanese actor and voice acting in japan.
He died caused by disease.
Masaaki Tsukada is best known for his voice-over work in anime series and video games. He lent his voice to many iconic characters such as Captain Hook in "Peter Pan no Bouken," Doctor Eggman in "Sonic the Hedgehog" series, and Admiral Ackbar in the Japanese dub of "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi." Aside from his voice acting career, Tsukada also had a successful stage and screen acting career. He appeared in numerous TV dramas, films, and theater productions. He was also a member of the Japan Actors Union and served as the union's vice-president for many years. Tsukada's contribution to the Japanese entertainment industry is widely recognized and he is deeply missed by his fans and colleagues.
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Kōichi Kitamura
Kōichi Kitamura (December 18, 1931 Osaka Prefecture-October 2, 2007 Shinjuku) a.k.a. Koichi Kitamura, Kôichi Kitamura, 木村 一, Hajimu Kimura, 北村 弘一, Kimura Hajimu, Kitamura Kōichi or Kouichi Kitamura was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He died as a result of pneumonia.
Kitamura was a prolific voice actor and actor, who worked in the entertainment industry for over five decades. He began his career in the early 1950s and gained fame for his voice acting in numerous anime series and films. He voiced memorable characters such as Dr. Hell in "Mazinger Z", Duke Togo in "Golgo 13", and the Narrator in "Doraemon".
Aside from his work as a voice actor, Kitamura also acted in live-action films and TV dramas throughout his career. Some of his notable roles include Inspector Takeda in the film "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970), and as the protagonist in the TV drama "Ningen no Shoumei" (1977).
Kitamura was highly respected by his peers and fans for his versatility and range as an actor. He was posthumously awarded the Merit Award at the 2nd Seiyu Awards in 2008, in recognition of his contributions to the voice acting industry.
Read more about Kōichi Kitamura on Wikipedia »
Reizō Nomoto
Reizō Nomoto (September 17, 1930 Tokyo-July 7, 2006) also known as Nomoto Reizo, Reijiro Nomoto, Nomoto Reijiro, Reizou Nomoto or Reijirou Nomoto was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
Nomoto began his acting career in the 1950s, appearing on stage and in films such as "The Human Condition" trilogy (1959-1961) directed by Masaki Kobayashi. He later transitioned to voice acting, lending his distinctive voice to many iconic characters in anime and video games. Some of his notable roles include Esidisi in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", Watanabe in "Golgo 13", and Doctor Kureha in "One Piece". Nomoto also contributed to the dubbing of foreign films, providing the voice of Colonel Kilgore in the Japanese version of "Apocalypse Now" (1979). In addition to his voice work, Nomoto was also a prolific narrator, lending his voice to documentaries and educational programs. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 75.
Read more about Reizō Nomoto on Wikipedia »
Takeshi Miura
Takeshi Miura (April 2, 1938-December 9, 2013) was a Japanese actor.
He was best known for his roles in Japanese television dramas and movies, and was considered one of the most prominent actors of his generation. Miura began his career in the entertainment industry in the early 1960s, and quickly gained popularity for his exceptional acting skills and commanding screen presence. Throughout his career, he starred in over 100 films and television series, earning numerous awards and critical acclaim. Some of his most notable works include "The Yakuza," "Shogun's Samurai," and "The Gate of Youth." In addition to acting, Miura was also a very accomplished stage actor, and was highly respected by his peers in the theater industry. He passed away at the age of 75 after a long battle with lung cancer.
Read more about Takeshi Miura on Wikipedia »