Japanese movie stars died in 2008
Here are 3 famous actors from Japan died in 2008:
Ken Ogata
Ken Ogata (July 20, 1937 Ushigome, Tokyo-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.
Throughout his career, Ken Ogata appeared in over 100 films and television dramas. He gained international recognition for his role in the film "The Ballad of Narayama" (1983) directed by Shohei Imamura, for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also nominated for a Japanese Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film "Enrai" (1981).
In addition to his work in film, Ogata was also a prolific stage actor, starring in numerous productions throughout Japan. He was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2005 for his contributions to the arts.
Outside of acting, Ogata was known for his passion for painting and studied under the famous Japanese painter Tatsuo Okada. He also authored a book on painting called "Painting is Living" (Shikisai wa ikiru) in 2007.
Ken Ogata passed away in 2008 at the age of 71 due to liver failure.
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Hiroaki Aoki
Hiroaki Aoki (October 9, 1938 Tokyo-July 10, 2008 New York City) also known as Rocky Aoki was a Japanese actor. His children are called Devon Aoki, Steve Aoki, Kyle N. Aoki, Kana Grace Nootenboom, Kevin Y. Aoki, Echo V. Aoki and Jenifer Crumb.
Hiroaki Aoki was not only an actor, but also a successful businessman and the founder of the popular Japanese restaurant chain Benihana. After immigrating to the United States in the 1950s, he initially worked as a wrestler before opening the first Benihana restaurant in New York City in 1964. Aoki's unique concept of an interactive dining experience where diners could watch their meals being prepared on a teppanyaki grill by a chef has since become a popular trend in Japanese cuisine and an international franchise. In addition to his business venture, Aoki was a philanthropist and dedicated much of his time and resources to various charities and non-profit organizations.
Read more about Hiroaki Aoki on Wikipedia »
Taichirō Hirokawa
Taichirō Hirokawa (February 15, 1939 Tokyo Prefecture-March 3, 2008 Shibuya) otherwise known as Shinjirou Hirokawa was a Japanese voice actor, actor, presenter, disc jockey and narrator.
He started his career as a voice actor in the early 1970s and became well-known for his roles in popular anime series such as "Saint Seiya," "Dragon Ball," and "Mobile Suit Gundam." In addition to his voice acting work, Hirokawa was also a popular disc jockey for a Japanese radio show called "All Night Nippon" and served as a presenter for various television programs. He was also known for his work as a narrator, providing voiceovers for documentaries and commercials. Despite his successful career, Hirokawa was known for being very humble and down-to-earth. He remained active in the entertainment industry until his sudden passing in 2008 at the age of 69. Hirokawa is remembered as a talented performer and an important figure in the world of Japanese entertainment.
Read more about Taichirō Hirokawa on Wikipedia »