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Akiji Kobayashi

Acting Born Sep 6, 1930 Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan 24 credits

Biography

Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952.

He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.

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Known for

Kamen Rider

as Tobei Tachibana

Ultraman

as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
Film

Harakiri

1962
Film

Kwaidan

as (segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)

Full filmography

  • Kamen Rider (1971) as Tobei Tachibana
  • Ultraman (1966) as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
  • Tales of the Bizarre (1990)
  • Professional Killers (1972)
  • Kojika Monogatari (1983) as ペニー
  • Harakiri (1962)
  • The 47 Ronins of Ako (1979) as Hara Soemon
  • Attack, Jun (1979)
  • Kamen Rider X (1974) as Tobei Tachibana
  • Kamen Rider Amazon (1974) as Tobei Tachibana
  • Kamen Rider V3 (1973) as Tobei Tachibana
  • Kamen Rider Stronger (1975) as Tobei Tachibana
  • Kwaidan (1965) as (segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
  • 宇宙少年ソラン (1965) as ワイラー
  • Ie Naki Ko (1994)
  • Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
  • Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories (1968)
  • Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
  • Afternoon When Flowers Fell (1989)
  • Fushoku no kōzō (1977) as Detective Okawa
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972) as Ozunu Kurokuwa
  • The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) as Nonaka Shôi
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972) as Narrator
  • Shogun Assassin (1980) as Lord Kurogawa