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- Actor
Japanese character actor Takashi Shimura was one of the finest film actors of the 20th century and a leading member of the "stock company" of master director Akira Kurosawa. A native of southern Japan, Shimura was a descendant of the samurai warrior class. Following university training, he founded a theatre company, Shichigatsu-za ("July Theatre"). In 1930 he joined a professional company, Kindai-za ("Modern Theatre"). Four years later he signed with the Kinema Shinko film studio. He found a niche playing samurai roles for various studios, then signed a long-term contract with Toho Studios in 1943. He appeared in an average of six films a year for Toho over the next four decades. His greatest critical acclaim came in more than 20 roles for Kurosawa, though he is almost as well recognized outside Japan for his kindly doctor role in the original "Godzilla" (Godzilla (1954)). Shimura's triumph was his unforgettable performance as a dying bureaucrat in Kurosawa's Ikiru (1952). He continued to act steadily, in good films and bad, almost until his death, culminating with Kurosawa's Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980). He is often described as filling the spot for Kurosawa that Ward Bond filled for John Ford--an ever-present and reliable character player who consistently supplied a solidity and strength to whatever film he appeared in. Shimura was definitely a finer actor than Bond, of the most versatile "chameleons" in the world cinema, a great artist with enormous range in sublime interpretations, from Ikiru (1952)'s diffident clerk to the leader of the Seven Samurai in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954). He died in 1982, a reluctant icon of Japanese cinema.- Actor
Tarô Yamamoto was born on 24 November 1974 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Battle Royale (2000), Moon Child (2003) and Get Up! (2003). He was previously married to Julie Warisaya.- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Hitoshi Matsumoto and his childhood friend Masatoshi Hamada teamed up as comedy duo Downtown. When they had their own TV shows in late 80s, they became phenomenal pop culture among young Japanese people. Unlike other comedy duos in Japan, they are still together, and they dominate prime time TV shows in Japan. They are most notably famous for their yearly "batsu" TV special aired on New Years Eve from 18:30 - 00:00 that has been running for 10 consecutive years which gained a large following internationally via YouTube.- Actor
- Executive
- Soundtrack
Tetsuya Watari was born on 28 December 1941 in Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor and executive, known for Yakuza Graveyard (1976), Waga kokoro no ginga tetsudo: Miyazawa Kenji monogatari (1996) and Yukai (1997). He died on 10 August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.- Actor
Arata Furuta was born on 3 December 1965 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for 13 Assassins (2010), Harlock: Space Pirate (2013) and Shin Godzilla (2016). He is married to Yayoi Nishihaa. They have one child.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Nobushige Suematsu was born on 30 January 1983 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Babel (2006), Old days (2019) and Haru and Low (2015).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Minako Kotobuki was born on 17 September 1991 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger (2016), Gekijôban Dôbutsu Sentai Jûôjâ Tai Ninninjâ Mirai kara no Messêji Furomu Sûpâ Sentai (2017) and Guilty Crown (2011).- Actor
- Additional Crew
Kichijirô Ueda was born on 10 March 1904 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was an actor, known for Rashomon (1950), The Hidden Fortress (1958) and Seven Samurai (1954). He died on 3 November 1972 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.- Actor
Katsuhisa Namase was born on 13 October 1960 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Yattâman (2009), Trick (2000) and Kamen Rider Zi-O (2018).- Actor
Kokuten Kôdô was born on 29 January 1887 in Takasago, Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor, known for Seven Samurai (1954), Godzilla (1954) and Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956). He died on 22 January 1960.
