Japanese movie stars died in 2003
Here are 7 famous actors from Japan died in 2003:
Kinji Fukasaku
Kinji Fukasaku (July 3, 1930 Mito-January 12, 2003 Tokyo) also known as Fukasaku Kinji was a Japanese screenwriter, film director and actor. His child is called Kenta Fukasaku.
Fukasaku was born in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in the film industry at the age of 22, working as an assistant director for Toei Studios. He made his directorial debut in 1961 with the film "Wandering Detective: Black Wind in the Harbor."
Fukasaku is best known for his work in the yakuza film genre, notably with the "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" series from the 1970s. He also directed international hits such as "Battle Royale" in 2000. In addition to his work in film, Fukasaku also directed a number of television dramas.
Throughout his career, Fukasaku received several awards and honors for his contributions to the film industry, including the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 1997. He passed away in 2003 in Tokyo at the age of 72.
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Masato Yamanouchi
Masato Yamanouchi (April 3, 1929 Tokyo-April 7, 2003) a.k.a. Masato Yamanôchi, Mikio Yamauchi, Yamanouchi Masato or 山内 雅人 was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He began his career in radio dramas before moving on to voice acting for animated television shows and films. He was known for his deep and distinctive voice and his ability to bring a wide range of characters to life. Some of his most notable roles include Inspector Zenigata in the Lupin III series, Dr. Eggman in the Japanese version of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, and Professor Moriarty in the Sherlock Hound series. In addition to his voice acting work, Yamanouchi also appeared in several films and television shows throughout his career. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 74.
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Hideyo Amamoto
Hideyo Amamoto (January 2, 1926 Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyūshū-March 23, 2003 Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyūshū) a.k.a. Eisei Amamoto or Amamoto Hideyo was a Japanese actor.
He began his career as a stage actor, but later became a prominent figure in Japanese cinema, appearing in over 300 films throughout his career. Amamoto was best known for his work in the kaiju film genre, having appeared in numerous entries in the Godzilla and Gamera franchises. In addition to his film work, he also appeared in a number of Japanese television dramas. Despite his success on screen, Amamoto remained known for his humility and dedication to his craft throughout his life.
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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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Yūji Aoki
Yūji Aoki (June 9, 1945 Tokyo-September 5, 2003 Kobe) a.k.a. Aoki Yuuji or Yuuji Aoki was a Japanese author, mangaka, actor and voice actor.
Aoki began his career in the entertainment industry in the 1960s as a member of the theater troupe, Bungakuza. He quickly gained recognition for his acting talent and innovative writing style. Aoki later transitioned to the world of manga, where he created several popular titles such as "Kuso Miso Technique" and "Tonde Burin". He was known for his humorous approach to storytelling and his colorful and energetic character designs.
In addition to his work in manga, Aoki also worked extensively as a voice actor. He was best known for his role as Lolo in the anime series, "The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee". He also lent his voice to several other anime and video game projects throughout his career.
Despite his success as an author and actor, Aoki faced personal struggles throughout his life. He battled depression and substance abuse, which ultimately led to his untimely death in 2003. Nonetheless, his contributions to the entertainment industry and the legacy of his work continue to inspire and entertain audiences today.
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Masato Furuoya
Masato Furuoya (May 14, 1957 Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-March 25, 2003 Bunkyō) a.k.a. Yasuo Furuoya, Yasumasa Furuoya, Furuoya Yasumasa or Furuoya Masato was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Hayato Takato and Rei Mizuno.
Furuoya began his acting career in the early 1970s and quickly gained popularity due to his good looks and on-screen charisma. He appeared in several notable films and TV dramas, including the popular TV series "Abarenbo Shogun" and the award-winning film "The Gate of Youth." Furuoya was also a talented musician, and performed the theme song for the film "To Trap a Kidnapper." Sadly, Furuoya passed away in 2003 at the young age of 45 due to complications from liver cancer. His legacy continues to live on through his work in the entertainment industry.
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Masato Sako
Masato Sako (November 9, 1946 Iwakuni-January 11, 2003) was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He started his career in acting in the 1970s and became known for his roles in popular Japanese TV dramas and movies. One of his most notable performances was in the 1983 TV drama "Oshin," where he played the character of Asaoka. Sako was also a talented voice actor, and provided the voice for numerous anime characters, including Jiraiya in "Naruto" and Kempachi Zaraki in "Bleach." Alongside his acting career, Sako was also involved in the teaching of acting and voice acting, sharing his knowledge and experience with younger actors. He sadly passed away in 2003 at the age of 56 due to acute heart failure.
Read more about Masato Sako on Wikipedia »