, sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the

Haiyuza Theatre Company The is a Japanese theatre company based in Tokyo, Japan. Along with the Mingei Theatre Company and Bungakuza it is considered one of the "Big Three" among Shingeki theatre troupes. Former Members *Eijirō Tōno *Koreya Senda *Eitaro Ozawa ...

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 ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...

''.Yoshimaru, Satoko (November 1996). "Captain Mura Dies at Age 65". ''Kaiju-Fan'' Vol. 1, No. 4. p.5. From 1983-84, he appeared in popular television detective series ''

Seibu Keisatsu is a television drama series produced by and broadcast on TV Asahi. Plot The series portrays the Western Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division's Sergeant Keisuke Daimon, played by Tetsuya Watari and his subordinates, dubbed the ...

''. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the ''

Kamen Rider The , also known as ''Masked Rider Series'' (until Decade), is a Japanese superhero media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, manga, and anime, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. ''Kamen Rider'' media generall ...

'' franchise. He was one of the

Kon Ichikawa was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His work displays a vast range in genre and style, from the anti-war films '' The Burmese Harp'' (1956) and '' Fires on the Plain'' (1959), to the documentary ''Tokyo Olympiad'' (1965), which won t ...

's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa's 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 Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

and

Richard Crenna Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American film, television and radio actor. Crenna starred in such motion pictures as ''The Sand Pebbles'', ''Wait Until Dark'', ''Un Flic'', ''Body Heat'', the first three ' ...

. Kobayashi died of

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of To ...

on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.

Partial filmography

Films

*1952: ''Satsujin Yôgisha'' *1962: ''

Foundry Town is a 1962 Japanese drama film directed by Kirio Urayama. It was entered into the 1962 Cannes Film Festival and won the Blue Ribbon Awards in 1962. Cast * Sayuri Yoshinaga as Jun * Mitsuo Hamada as Tsukamoto, Katsumi * Eijirō Tōno as Ishigur ...

'' as Heisan *1962: ''

The Human Condition ''The Human Condition'', first published in 1958, is Hannah Arendt's account of how "human activities" should be and have been understood throughout Western history. Arendt is interested in the ''vita activa'' (active life) as contrasted with ...

'' as Nonaka Shôi *1962: ''Kyûpora no aru machi'' as Hei-san *1962: ''

Harakiri , sometimes referred to as hara-kiri (, , a native Japanese kun reading), is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. It was originally reserved for samurai in their code of honour but was also practised by other Japanese people ...

'' (''Seppuku'') *1963: ''

Youth of the Beast is a 1963 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki. Much of the film is set in Tokyo, Japan. Synopsis Joji Mizuno (Joe Shishido), a former Kobe Metropolitan Police Department detective fired after being convicted of embezzlement, is releas ...

'' (''Yaju no seishun'') as Tatsuo Nomoto *1964: ''

Kwaidan is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 (''kai'') meaning "strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching apparition" and 談 (''dan'') meaning "talk" or "recited narrative". Overall meaning and usage In its broadest sense, ''kaidan'' refers ...

'' (segment "Chawan no naka") *1965: '' Ninpō-chushingura'' *1966: ''

The Pornographers is a 1966 satiric Japanese film directed by Shōhei Imamura. It is based on the novel ''Erogotoshitachi'' by Akiyuki Nosaka. Plot ''The Pornographers'' tells the story of porn filmmaker Mr. Subuyan Ogata, whose business is under threat from thie ...

'' *1968: ''

Ultra Seven is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the third installment in the Ultra Series and was produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 1, 19 ...

'' *1969: ''The Oiwa Phantom'' as Naosuke * 1969 ''

Chōkōsō no Akebono ''Chōkōsō no Akebono'' ( ja, 超高層のあけぼの, , Dawn of the Skyscraper) is a 1969 Japanese film about the construction of the Kasumigaseki Building, the first high-rise building in Japan. Kajima Construction, the builder of the Kasumi ...

'' as Komori *1970: ''

Buraikan is a 1970 Japanese film directed by Masahiro Shinoda. It was Japan's submission to the 43rd Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. Screen play by Shuji Terayama. Cast *Tatsuya Na ...

'' *1970: '' Mujo'' *1971: ''Kamen Raidâ tai Shokkâ'' as Tobei Tachibana *1971: ''

The Return of Ultraman is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The fourth entry in the Ultra series, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 2, 1971, to March 31, 1972. It became successful eno ...

'' *1972: ''

Ultraman Ace is the 5th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from April 8, 1972, to March 30, 1973, with a total of 52 episodes. Starting from this show, the Ultra Series begins to shift f ...

'' *1972: '' Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx'' as Ozunu Kurokuwa *1972: ''Kamen Raidâ tai jigoku taishi'' as Tobei Tachibana *1972: ''

Hanzo the Razor is a fictional character featured in the trilogy of Japanese ''chanbara'' films of the same name. The films star Shintaro Katsu as the title character. He also produced the trilogy through his own Katsu Productions. After the decline of Daiei at ...

'' *1972: '' Daigoro vs. Goliath'' *1973: ''Kamen Rider V3 the Movie'' as Tobei Tachibana *1973: ''Kamen Raidaa Bui Surii tai Desutoron Kaijin'' as Tobei Tachibana *1974: ''

Karei-naru Ichizoku is a 1973 novel by Toyoko Yamasaki. It has been adapted into a film in 1974 and then three times as a television series in 1974, 2007, and 2021. Plot Set in the post-World War II climate of the 1960s in Kobe, the show explores the struggle for po ...

'' (1974) *1974: ''Kamen Rider X the Movie'' as Tobei Tachibana *1974: ''Kamen Raidâ X: Go-Nin Raidâ tai kingu Dâku'' as Tobei Tachibana *1974: ''Hanuman pob Har Aimoddaeng'' *1974: ''Kamen Rider Amazon: The Movie'' as Tôbei Tachibana *1975: ''Kamen Rider Stronger the Movie'' as Tôbei Tachibana *1976: ''

The Inugami Family is a 1976 Japanese film directed by Kon Ichikawa. The film is the first in Kon Ichikawa's and Kōji Ishizaka's Kindaichi Series. Ichikawa remade the film in 2006 as '' The Inugamis''. The soundtrack is composed by Yuji Ohno. Murders take place ...

'' as Kôkichi Inugami *1977: ''Akuma no temari-uta'' as Hisakabe - Chi'e's Manager *1977: ''Gokumon-to'' as Takezô - Chief Fisherman / Narration *1978: ''

Rhyme of Vengeance ''Rhyme of Vengeance'' ( ja, 女王蜂) is a 1978 Japanese film, directed by Kon Ichikawa. It is based on Seishi Yokomizo's novel of the same title. It is 4th in Kon Ichikawa and Koji Ishizaka`s Kindaichi film series. Plot In the Daidoji fami ...

'' as Detective Kogure *1978: '' Hi no Tori'' as Yamatai *1979: ''

Byoinzaka no Kubikukuri no Ie ''Byoinzaka no Kubikukuri no Ie'' ( ja, 病院坂の首縊りの家), also known as ''The House of Hanging on Hospital Slope'', is a 1979 Japanese film, directed by Kon Ichikawa. It is based on Seishi Yokomizo's novel of the same name, and is th ...

'' *1979: '' Moero Attack'' *1979: '' Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle'' as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu *1979: ''

Sanada Yukimura no Bōryaku is a 1979 Japanese film directed by Sadao Nakajima. The film deals Sanada Yukimura and Siege of Osaka. Cast *Hiroki Matsukata as Sanada Yukimura *Chiezō Kataoka as Sanada Masayuki *Tatsuo Umemiya as Sanada Nobuyuki *Teruhiko Aoi as Sanada Ten B ...

'' as Honda Masazumi *1979: ''

'' as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu *1979: ''Immortal Kamen Rider Special'' as Tobei Tachibana *1979: ''

Nichiren Nichiren (16 February 1222 – 13 October 1282) was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. Nichiren declared that the Lotus Sutra alone contains the highest truth of Buddhist teachings suited for the Third Age of B ...

'' *1980: ''

Shogun Assassin ''Shogun Assassin'' is a 1980 ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Robert Houston. ''Shogun Assassin'' was edited and compiled from the first two films in the ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' series, using 12 minutes of the first film, '' Lone Wolf and Cub: Sw ...

'' as Lord Kurogawa *1980: ''

Koto Koto may refer to: * Koto (band), an Italian synth pop group * Koto (instrument), a Japanese musical instrument * Koto (kana), a ligature of two Japanese katakana * Koto (traditional clothing), a traditional dress made by Afro-Surinamese women * K ...

'' *1981: '' Kofuku'' *1981: ''Yuki'' *1982: ''Keiji monogatari'' as Todo *1982: ''

Suspicion Suspicion is a feeling of mistrust. Suspicion(s), The Suspicion, or Suspicious may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''Suspicion'' (1918 film), an American silent film directed by John M. Stahl * ''Suspicion'' (1941 film), an American ...

'' as Chief of Police, Ishihara *1982: ''Kaikyô'' *1983: ''

The Makioka Sisters is a novel by Japanese writer Jun'ichirō Tanizaki that was serialized from 1943 to 1948. It follows the lives of the wealthy Makioka family of Osaka from the autumn of 1936 to April 1941, focusing on the family's attempts to find a husband fo ...

'' *1985: ''Shokutaku no nai ie'' *1986: ''Bakumatsu seishun graffiti: Ronin Sakamoto Ryoma'' as Hanazuki *1986: ''Kizudarake no kunshô'' as Inoue *1986: ''Jittemai'' *1988: '' Kamen Norida'' *1989: '' Black Rain'' as Katayama *1989: ''

Shaso is a 1989 Japanese film directed by Toshio Masuda. Cast *Ken Ogata * Yukiyo Toake * Kōichi Satō *Mariko Fuji * Miyuki Imori *Hideko Yoshida * Yōko Nogiwa *Issey Ogata *Eiichiro Funakoshi *Jun Negami *Hōsei Komatsu *Kazuo Kitamura * Takeshi K ...

'' as Takashi Kuriyama *1989: ''

Hana no Furu Gogo ''Hana no Furu Gogo'' (Japanese: 花の降る午後, ''Afternoon When Flowers Fell'') is a 1988 Japanese novel by Teru Miyamoto published by Kadokawa Shoten. A TV drama adaption was made in 1989 that was directed by Hiroyuki Eguchi and starred S ...

'' *1990: ''

Best Guy is a 1990 Japanese action film directed by Tōru Murakawa, and produced by Toei Company in association with Mitsui & Co. and Tohokushinsha Film. The screenplay was written by Murakawa with Makoto Takada. The film stars Yūji Oda, Naomi Zaizen, ...

'' *1990: ''Kumo no yôni, kaze no yôni'' as Konton (voice) *1990: ''Urutora Q za mûbi: Hoshi no densetsu'' *1991: ''Tenkawa densetsu satsujin jiken'' as Chief Police *1991: ''Satsujin ga ippai'' *1991: ''

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is a 1991 Japanese ''kaiju'' film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori and produced by Shōgo Tomiyama. The film, produced and distributed by Toho Studios, is the 18th film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and is the third film in the franchise ...

'' as Yuzo Tsuchiashi *1992: ''

Hashire Melos! is the title of two Japanese animated films. The first was directed by Tomoharu Katsumata and released on Japanese television on February 7, 1981. It was 68 minutes long, and its official title did not include the exclamation mark on the en ...

'' as Dionysius II (voice) *1992: '' Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth'' as Yuzo Tsuchiashi *1993: '' Kaettekita Kogarashi Monjirō'' *1994: ''Shijûshichinin no shikaku'' as Kurobei Ôno *1994: ''

Getting Any? is a 1995 Japanese film, written, directed, edited, and starring Takeshi Kitano. ''Yatteru'' (やってる) is the colloquial form for ''yatteiru'' (やっている), ''yatteru'' coming from the Japanese verb ''yaru'', which is an informal word m ...

'' as Chief of World Defence Force *1995: ''Ie naki ko 2'' *1996: ''

Ultraman Zearth is a fictional character from the Ultra Series of tokusatsu and the name of a 1996 movie in the series. Premise Ultraman Zearth is a parody of Ultraman. He hails from the Land of Pikari in Nebula Z95. He has a big red face and dislikes dirt, and ...

'' as Fisherman (cameo) *1996: '' Gamera 2: Attack of Legion'' as Soldier (cameo) *1996: ''Yatsuhaka-mura'' as Head of a factory (final film role)

Television

*1966: ''

Ultra Q is a tokusatsu science fiction kaiju series made in the tradition of Toho's many tokusatsu sci-fi/horror films. Produced in black and white by Tsuburaya Productions, this is actually the first of the long-running Ultra Series, and was broadcast ...

'' (TV series) as Lieutenant Colonel Amano *1966-1967: ''

'' (TV series) as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu *1968-1969: '' Operation : Mystery '' (TV Series) as Taizō Machida *1971: ''

Daichūshingura (Dai Chushingura) is a Japanese television dramatization of the events of the Forty-seven Ronin. The first episode aired on January 5, 1971, and the 52nd and final episode appeared on December 28 of the same year. The NET network broadcast it in th ...

'' as Terasaka Kichiemon *1971-1973: ''

'' (TV series) as Tōbei Tachibana *1972: '' Shin Heike Monogatari'' ( Taiga drama) *1973: ''

Kunitori Monogatari is a 1973 Japanese television series. It is the eleventh NHK ''taiga'' drama. Plot The series is set in the Sengoku period. Based on Ryōtarō Shiba`s novel of the same name. The story chronicles the lives of Dosan Saito and Nobunaga Oda. Pro ...

'' ( Taiga drama) *1973: ''

Kamen Rider V3 is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It is the second installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series, and the direct sequel to the original ''Kamen Rider''. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and was shown o ...

'' (TV series) as Tōbei Tachibana *1974: ''

Kamen Rider X is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It was broadcast in 1974 on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET, now known as TV Asahi. It is the third entry in the Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It starred Ryo Hayami in the ...

'' (TV series) as Tōbei Tachibana *1974: ''

Kamen Rider Amazon is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. The fourth installment to be produced as part of the Kamen Rider Series, the series aired in Japan from late 1974 to early 1975 on the NET and Mainichi Broadcasting System. It was the shortest ''Kamen R ...

'' (TV series) as Tōbei Tachibana *1975: ''

Kamen Rider Stronger is a Japanese Tokusatsu television show. It is the fifth entry in the Kamen Rider Series, the show was broadcast on TBS and MBS from April 5, 1975 to December 27, 1975. ''Stronger'' is a co-production between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, an ...

'' (TV series) as Tōbei Tachibana *1976: '' The Kagestar'' as Inspector Tonda *1979: '' Akō Rōshi'' (TV series) as Hara Sōemon *1983-84: ''

'' (TV series) as Detective Minami Chōtarō *1994: ''

Furuhata Ninzaburō is a Japanese television series that ran periodically on Fuji Television from 1994 until its final episodes (specials) in 2006. It was written by Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani and is often referred to as the Japanese version of ''Columbo'' ...

'' (TV series) (ep.5)

Dubbing

**''

Stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

'' — Henry the Ringo Kid **''

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon ''She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'' is a 1949 American Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. It is the second film in Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy", along with '' Fort Apache'' (1948) and ''Rio Grande'' (1950). With a budg ...

'' — Captain Nathan Brittles **''

3 Godfathers ''3 Godfathers'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and filmed (although not set) primarily in Death Valley, California. The screenplay, written by Frank S. Nugent and Laurence Stallings, is based on the 1913 novelette '' Th ...

'' — Robert Marmaduke Hightower **''

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas-Native American wars, and stars John Wa ...

'' — Ethan Edwards **'' Rio Bravo'' — John T. Chance **''

True Grit True Grit may refer to: Fiction * ''True Grit'' (novel), a 1968 novel by Charles Portis ** ''True Grit'' (1969 film), a film adaptation by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne ** ''True Grit'' (2010 film), a film adaptation by the Coen Brothers, ...

'' — Rooster Cogburn **''

Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the titular role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War." The supporting cast featu ...

'' — John Chisum **''

The Cowboys ''The Cowboys'' is a 1972 American Western film starring John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Bruce Dern, and featuring Colleen Dewhurst and Slim Pickens. It was the feature film debut of Robert Carradine. Based on the 1971 novel of the same name ...

'' — Wil Andersen **'' Rooster Cogburn'' — Rooster Cogburn **''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name.Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. It is John Wayne's final film ro ...

'' — John Bernard Books **''

North to Alaska ''North to Alaska'' is a 1960 comedic Western/Northern film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne (uncredited). The picture stars Wayne along with Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, and Capucine. The script is based on the 1939 play ' ...

'', Sam McCord *''

First Blood ''First Blood'' (also known as ''Rambo: First Blood'') is a 1982 American action film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. It co-stars Richard Crenna as Rambo's mentor ...

'' (1990 TBS edition), Colonel Sam Trautman (

)

Notes

Bibliography

Oyassan: Tachibana, Tobei
fansite * * Yoshimaru, Satoko (November 1996). "Captain Mura Dies at Age 65". ''Kaiju-Fan'' Vol. 1, No. 4. p. 5. 1930 births 1996 deaths Deaths from lung cancer Male actors from Tokyo Japanese male voice actors 20th-century Japanese male actors {{Japan-actor-stub