Pathetic Facts

Japanese movie stars died in 2013

Here are 10 famous actors from Japan died in 2013:

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.

Utsumi began his career in acting in the 1960s and became well-known in Japan for his roles in both television dramas and films. However, he was most recognized for his work as a voice actor in anime and video games. He provided the voice for several iconic characters, including Raoh in "Fist of the North Star," Nibori in "Nintama Rantaro," and Senbei Norimaki in "Dr. Slump." Utsumi was also known for his deep, commanding voice and frequently narrated documentaries and commercials. In 2013, he passed away from cancer at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most beloved actors and voice actors.

Read more about Kenji Utsumi on Wikipedia »

Gorō Naya

Gorō Naya (November 17, 1929 Hakodate-March 5, 2013 Chiba) also known as Gorou Naya, Gorô Naya or Naya Gorô was a Japanese actor, theatre director and voice actor.

He was born in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan and graduated from Hokkaido University. Naya was known for his deep, distinct voice and iconic roles in Japanese anime and television dramas. He voiced many popular characters such as Inspector Zenigata in Lupin III, Shiro Sanada in Space Battleship Yamato, and Captain Hook in Peter Pan no Boken. Naya also acted in films including Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha and television dramas such as Abarenbo Shogun and Hissatsu Shiokinin. In addition to his acting career, Naya also worked as a theatre director and was a founding member of the theatrical company, Bungakuza.

Read more about Gorō Naya on Wikipedia »

Taro Ishida

Taro Ishida (March 16, 1944 Kyoto-September 21, 2013 Sagamihara) also known as Gentarō Ishida, Ishida Tarō or Tarô Ishida was a Japanese actor and voice actor.

He began his acting career in the 1960s and gained national recognition for his performances in popular Japanese television dramas and films. Throughout his career, he appeared in over 200 films and television dramas, earning numerous awards and accolades for his acting.

In addition to his work in live-action films and dramas, Ishida was also a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to many popular anime and video game characters. Some of his most notable voice acting roles includes Kojiro Hyuga in the anime series Captain Tsubasa and Victor Frankenstein in the game Persona 3.

Ishida was also a skilled narrator, providing voiceovers for a variety of documentaries and programs. Despite struggles with illness later in life, he continued to work and remain active in the entertainment industry until his passing in 2013 at the age of 69.

Read more about Taro Ishida on Wikipedia »

Rentarō Mikuni

Rentarō Mikuni (January 20, 1923 Ota-April 14, 2013 Inagi) a.k.a. Masao Sato, Rentarô Mikuni, Mikuni Rentarō or Sato Masao was a Japanese actor. He had one child, Kōichi Satō.

Mikuni was born as Masao Sato in Ota, Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from high school, he pursued a career in acting and made his debut on stage in 1940. He began his film career in 1951 and quickly became a prolific and renowned actor in Japan. He starred in over 160 films throughout his career, including several films directed by acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa. In addition to his film work, Mikuni also appeared on television and in stage productions. Mikuni was a recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest honor given by the Japanese government to individuals who have made significant cultural contributions to Japan. He passed away on April 14, 2013, at the age of 90, in Inagi, Tokyo, Japan.

Read more about Rentarō Mikuni on Wikipedia »

Sukekiyo Kameyama

Sukekiyo Kameyama (November 9, 1954 Ishinomaki-January 26, 2013 Saitama Prefecture) was a Japanese voice actor and actor.

He was affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce and was best known for his roles in popular anime series like "Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple", "Detective Conan", and "One Piece". In addition to his voice acting career, Kameyama also appeared in a number of live-action television dramas, including "Kamen Rider Kuuga". Kameyama was highly respected in the voice acting industry and was known for his versatile range as a performer. He unfortunately passed away in 2013 at the age of 58 due to an untreated heart condition.

Read more about Sukekiyo Kameyama on Wikipedia »

Tomoyuki Dan

Tomoyuki Dan (August 6, 1963 Osaka Prefecture-October 10, 2013 Japan) also known as Dan Tomoyuki was a Japanese actor and voice actor.

Dan Tomoyuki started his acting career in the 1980s as a member of the theatrical company Gekidan Shinkansen before transitioning to voice acting. He was best known for his roles as Kisame Hoshigaki in the anime series Naruto and Envy in Fullmetal Alchemist. He was also recognized for his work as the Japanese voice dubbing artist for several Hollywood movies, including Brad Pitt's character in the Ocean's Eleven franchise and Mickey Rourke's character in The Wrestler. In addition to his voice acting work, Dan Tomoyuki appeared in several live-action films and TV dramas. His sudden death in 2013 from a heart attack shocked and saddened the Japanese entertainment industry.

Read more about Tomoyuki Dan on Wikipedia »

Takkō Ishimori

Takkō Ishimori (January 11, 1932 Hashima Island-June 5, 2013 Japan) also known as Takkou Ishimori, Takko Ishimori, Takkô Ishimori or Tatsuyuki Ishimori was a Japanese voice actor and actor.

He began his acting career in the 1950s performing in stage plays, but transitioned to voice acting in the 1960s. He is best known for his roles as Raoh in the anime series Fist of the North Star and as Professor Ochanomizu in the Astro Boy series. In addition to his voice work, Ishimori also appeared in various Japanese films and television dramas. He was known for his deep and powerful voice, often playing strong and authoritative characters. Ishimori passed away at the age of 81 due to pneumonia.

Read more about Takkō Ishimori on Wikipedia »

Kei Suma

Kei Suma (September 4, 1935 Hokkaido-December 7, 2013 Tokyo) also known as Suma kei, すまけい or 須磨啓 was a Japanese actor.

He began his acting career in 1959 in the film "The Human Condition." Throughout his career, he appeared in over 200 films, including "The Sword of Doom," "High and Low," and "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo." Suma was known for his versatility as an actor, playing roles in a variety of genres including samurai films, dramas, and comedies. He won the Best Actor award at the Blue Ribbon Awards in 1984 for his role in "The Catch." Suma also worked extensively in television, appearing in many dramas and variety shows. In addition to acting, he was a trained calligrapher and taught calligraphy in his later years. Suma passed away in 2013 from heart failure at the age of 78.

Read more about Kei Suma on Wikipedia »

Ichikawa Danjūrō XII

Ichikawa Danjūrō XII (August 6, 1946 Tokyo-February 3, 2013 Tokyo) a.k.a. Ichikawa Danjuro XII, Natsuo Horikoshi, Narita-ya, Ichikawa Ebizō X, Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI, Danjūrō XII, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ichikawa Ebizō, いちかわだんじゅうろう, はくえん, 十二代目市川團十郎, 堀越夏雄, 柏莚, 市川團十郎 (12代目), ほりこしなつお, Horikoshi Natsuo, じゅうにだいめいちかわだんじゅうろう, 六代目市川新之助, 三升屋白治, 十代目市川海老蔵 or みますやはくじ was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Ichikawa Ebizō XI and Ichikawa Botan III.

Ichikawa Danjūrō XII was born Natsuo Horikoshi into a family of Kabuki actors on August 6, 1946, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the eldest son of the famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō XI. As a child, he was trained in Kabuki acting techniques and made his stage debut at the age of five. He adopted the stage name Ichikawa Ebizō X in 1969 and then Ichikawa Danjūrō XII in 1985 after the death of his father.

Danjūrō XII was known for his dynamic performances and his ability to play a wide range of roles, from heroic warriors to comic characters. He was particularly famous for his portrayal of the character Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa in the Kabuki play Shibaraku. His performances earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Order of Culture in 2000.

In addition to his acting career, Danjūrō XII was also active in promoting and preserving the art of Kabuki. He served as the chairman of the Kabuki Preservation Foundation and was involved in various initiatives to introduce Kabuki to new audiences both in Japan and abroad.

Danjūrō XII had two children, Ichikawa Ebizō XI (also a prominent Kabuki actor) and Ichikawa Botan III. He passed away on February 3, 2013, in Tokyo at the age of 66. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the world of Kabuki to this day.

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 »