, born Minoru Tanaka, was a Japanese actor best known for his various roles in kaiju films produced by

Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer an ...

, often portraying scientists or military personnel.

Career

Tanaka began his career as a traveling stage actor in the 1930s, performing under both his birth name and various stage names. In 1950, he changed his name to Jun Tazaki when he appeared in

Shintoho was a Japanese movie studio. It was one of the big six film studios (which also included Daiei, Nikkatsu, Shochiku, Toei Company, and Toho) during the Golden Age of Japanese cinema. It was founded by defectors from the original Toho company fol ...

's film ''

Sasameyuki 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 f ...

''. After initially holding only small film roles, Tazaki gradually gained popularity and began playing larger roles in films produced by

in the 1960s.

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dyna ...

frequently cast Tazaki in his films, but

Ishirō Honda was a Japanese filmmaker who directed 44 feature films in a career spanning 59 years. The most internationally successful Japanese filmmaker prior to Hayao Miyazaki, his films have had a significant influence on the film industry. Honda enter ...

also considered him a favorite. Toho's science fiction films, particularly those directed by Honda, featured him throughout the 1960s as an authority figure with a moustache. As well as playing stern but benevolent father figures, Tazaki played villains with a ruthless streak. His defining role came in Honda's ''

Atragon is a 1963 Japanese tokusatsu science fiction film produced and distributed by Toho. It is based on ''The Undersea Warship: A Fantastic Tale of Island Adventure'' by Shunrō Oshikawa and ''The Undersea Kingdom'' by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. The film ...

'', in which he portrayed the embittered

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

veteran Hachiro Jinguji, forced to engage the submarine Gotengo, to combat an invasion by the underwater-dwelling Muans. In the 1970s, Tazaki stopped taking science fiction roles, but he continued to act until 1985, when he died of lung cancer.

Selected filmography

Film

* 1948: ''Nikutai no mon'' * 1949: ''Enoken no kentokyo ichidai ki'' * 1950: ''Sasameyuki'' – Yonekichi Itakura, the photographer * 1950: ''Kimi to yuku America kôro'' * 1950: ''Banana musume'' * 1950: ''Akatsuki no tsuiseki'' * 1950: ''Yoru no hibotan'' – Yoshioka * 1950: ''Mittsu no kekkon'' * 1950: ''

Tokyo File 212 ''Tokyo File 212'' (Japanese: ) is a 1951 spy film directed by and . George Breakston wrote the film's script and co-produced it with Dorrell McGowan jointly under the banner of their newly formed Breakston–McGowan Productions and Japanese ...

'' * 1951: ''Wakasama samurai torimonochô: noroi no ningyôshi'' * 1951: ''Kaizoku-sen'' * 1951: ''Takaharu no eki yo sayônara'' * 1951: ''Bungawan soro'' * 1951: ''Kanketsu Sasaki Kojirô: Ganryû-jima kettô'' – Matabê Takada * 1952: ''Okuni to Gohei'' – Iori, Okuni's husband * 1952: ''Ukigumo nikki'' * 1952: ''Rikon'' – Kensaku – Tazaki * 1952: ''Shimizu no Jirocho den'' * 1952: ''Geisha warutsu'' * 1952: ''Jirochô sangokushi: nagurikomi kôjinyama'' * 1953: ''Chinsetsu Chûshingura'' * 1953: ''Jirochô sangokushi: Jirochô hatsutabi'' * 1953: ''Oyabaka hanagassen'' * 1953: ''Koibito-tachi no iru machi'' – Michita Kuraishi * 1953: ''Kinsei mei shôbu monogatari: Hana no Kôdôkan'' – Ryûkichi Kimura * 1953: ''Haresugata: Izu no Satarô'' * 1953: ''Jirochô sangokushi: Jirochô to Ishimatsu'' * 1953: ''Daibosatsu Tôge - Dai-san-bu: Ryûjin no maki; Ai no yama no maki'' – Yonetomo * 1953: * 1953: ''Hakucho no kishi'' * 1953: '' Gate of Hell'' – Kogenta * 1953: ''Jirochô sangokushi: nagurikomi kôshûji'' * 1954: ''Jirochô sangokushi: hatsu iwai Shimizu Minato'' * 1954: ''Koina no Ginpei'' – Tsumeki no Unokichi * 1954: ''Jirochô sangokushi: kaitô-ichi no abarenbô'' * 1954: ''Jirochô sangokushi: Kôjinyama zenzen'' * 1954: ''Konomura Daikichi'' – Genzaburo * 1954: ''Banchô sara yashiki: Okiku to Harima'' * 1955: ''Meiji ichidai onna'' – Minokichi * 1955: ''Mekura neko'' * 1955: ''Gerô no kubi'' – Nohei, vassal * 1955: ''Gyakushu orochimaru'' * 1955: ''Akagi no chi matsuri'' * 1956: ''Abare andon'' * 1956: ''Shachô santôhei'' * 1956: ''Tekketsu no tamashii'' * 1956: ''Shujinsen'' * 1956: ''Kage ni ita otoko'' – Hachigorô * 1956: ''Toyamâ kin-san torimonô-cho-kage ni ita otoko'' * 1956: ''Gunshin Yamamoto gensui to Rengô kantai'' * 1957: ''Arashi no naka no otoko'' – Karate expert * 1957: ''Onna dake no machi'' * 1957: ''Fûun kyû nari Ôsaka jô: Sanada jûyûshi sô shingun'' – Yukimura Sanada * 1957: ''Kyôfu no dankon'' * 1957: ''Kaidan iro zange: Kyôren onna shishô'' – Nizô * 1957: ''Shukujo yokawa o wataru'' * 1957: ''Ippon-gatana dohyô iri'' – Yahachi * 1957: ''Shizukanaru otoko'' * 1957: ''Yoru no kamome'' * 1958: ''Ohtori-jo no hanayome'' – Higaki * 1958: ''Ankoru watto monogatari utsukushiki aishu'' – Rickshaw * 1958: ''

The Loyal 47 Ronin ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' – Ikkaku Shimizu * 1958: ''Tabi wa kimagure kaze makase'' * 1958: ''Okon no hatsukoi hanayome nanahenge'' * 1958: ''Nora neko'' * 1958: ''Onna-za murai tadaima sanjô'' * 1959: ''Hitohada botan'' * 1959: ''Kagerô-gasa'' – Tajima Sakamoto * 1959: ''Onna to kaizoku'' - Yasu * 1959: ''Kogan no misshi'' * 1959: ''Moro no Ichimatsu yûrei dochu'' * 1959: ''Bôfûken'' – Kawakami * 1959: ''

The Three Treasures is a 1959 Japanese film directed by Hiroshi Inagaki. The film is based on the legends ''Kojiki'' and '' Nihon Shoki'' and the origins of ''Shinto''. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1959 for Toho and the second highest grossing domestic ...

'' – Ootomo's Kurohiko * 1959: ''Edo no akutaro'' – Heisuke * 1959: ''Koi yamabiko'' * 1959: ''Kêisatsû-kan to bôryôku-dan'' * 1960: ''The Last Gunfight'' – Otokichi Kozuka * 1960: ''Hawai Middowei daikaikûsen: Taiheiyô no arashi'' – Captain * 1960: ''

The Demon of Mount Oe is a 1960 Japanese horror film directed by Tokuzō Tanaka and produced by Daiei Film Daiei Film Co. Ltd. ( Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ''Daiei Eiga Kabushiki Kaisha'') was a Japanese film studio. Founded in 1942 as Dai Nippon Film Co., Ltd., i ...

'' * 1960: ''Aoi yaju'' – Ogawa * 1960: ''Man Against Man'' – Boss Tsukamoto * 1960: ''Ôzora no yarôdomo'' * 1960: Akasaka no shimai' yori: yoru no hada'' – Jôji Akui * 1961: ''

The Story of Osaka Castle is a 1961 Japanese drama film directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film is based on historical events taking place in Japan during the beginning of the 17th century. Plot The plot is set about a decade aft ...

'' as Teikabo Tsutumi – Teikabo Tsutsumi * 1961: ''Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: Yoru no enma chô'' * 1961: Nendo no omen' yori: kaachan'' * 1961: ''Kaoyaku akatsukini shisu'' * 1961: ''Kasen chitai'' – Shigemune * 1961: ''Zoku shachô dochuki: onna oyabun taiketsu no maki'' * 1961: ''Kurenai no umi'' * 1961: ''Jigoku no kyôen'' – Kanzaburo Itami * 1961: ''Witness Killed'' – Ichiro * 1961: ''Hoero datsugokushu'' * 1962: ''

Gorath is a 1962 Japanese epic science fiction disaster film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Based on an idea by Jojiro Okami, the film is about mankind's efforts to move Earth out of its orbit to prevent it from ...

'' - Raizô Sonoda – Tomoko's father * 1962: ''Doburoku no Tatsu'' – Kakibetsu * 1962: ''Owari Jurocho ikka-Sanshita nicho kenju'' * 1962: ''Dobunezumi sakusen'' * 1962: ''Star of Hong Kong'' – Dr. Matsumoto * 1962: ''Nippon musekinin jidai'' - Mr. Kuroda * 1962: ''

King Kong vs. Godzilla is a 1962 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the third film in both the ''Godzilla'' and ''King Kong'' franchises, as well as the first T ...

'' - General Masami Shinzo * 1962: ''Sanbyakurokujugoya'' * 1962: ''Yama-neko sakusen'' * 1962: '' Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki'' – Kiken Murakami * 1962: ''Ankokugai no kiba'' * 1963: ''

Attack Squadron! is a 1963 Japanese film directed by Shue Matsubayashi, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film is about Lt. Colonel Senda ( Toshiro Mifune) who commands three fighter squadrons, eventually being dominated by Allied forces in June 1944. ...

'' – Commander * 1963: – Kamo Serizawa * 1963: ''Nippon jitsuwa jidai'' * 1963: '' High and Low'' – Kamiya, National shoes publicity director * 1963: ''Sengoku yarô'' * 1963: ''Chintao yôsai bakugeki meirei'' * 1963: ''Yojinbô ichiba'' * 1963: ''Nippon ichi no iro otoko'' * 1963: ''Hiken'' * 1963: ''Norainu sakusen'' * 1963: ''The Lost World of Sinbad'' – Itaka Tsuzuka of the Imperial Guards * 1963: ''

'' - Captain Hachiro Jinguji * 1964: ''Zoku shachô shinshiroku'' * 1964: ''Kyô mo ware ôzora ni ari'' * 1964: '' Mothra vs. Godzilla'' – Maruta, Chief editor * 1964: * 1964: ''Hadaka no jûyaku'' – Imaizumi, Executive * 1964: ''Chi to daiyamondo'' – Utsuki * 1964: '' Dogara, the Space Monster'' – chief inspector * 1964: * 1964: ''Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kayaku no taru'' – Dr. Tatsuno * 1964: ''Hana no oedo no musekinin'' * 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 ...

'' – Kannai's colleague #1 ("Chawan no naka" segment) * 1965: ''Taiheiyô kiseki no sakusen: Kisuka'' – Akune * 1965: ''

Frankenstein Conquers the World is a 1965 '' kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film stars Nick Adams, Kumi Mizuno and Tadao Takashima, with Koji Furuhata as Frankenstein and Haruo Nakajima as Baragon. An international co-product ...

'' – Military advisor * 1965: ''Hana no o-Edo no hôkaibô'' – Gensui Matsui * 1965: ''Daiku taiheki'' * 1965: ''Baka to Hasami'' * 1965: ''

Invasion of Astro-Monster is a 1965 ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the sixth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise and Shōwa period. The film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the second collaboration b ...

'' – Dr. Sakurai * 1966: ''Musekinin Shimizu Minato'' * 1966: ''Izuko e'' * 1966: ''Bangkok no yoru'' – Dr. Yamawaki * 1966: ''Kiganjô no bôken'' – Innkeeper * 1966: ''Jigoku no nora inu'' * 1966: '' War of the Gargantuas'' – Army commander * 1966: ''

Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster is a 1966 Japanese '' kaiju'' film directed by Jun Fukuda and produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The film stars Akira Takarada, Kumi Mizuno, Akihiko Hirata and Eisei Amamoto, and features the fictional monster characters Godzilla, Mo ...

'' – Red Bamboo commander * 1966: ''Abashiri Bangaichi: Koya no taiketsu'' * 1967: ''The Killing Bottle'' – President of Buddabal * 1967: ''Abashiri bangaichi: Kettô reika 30 do'' – Nagamamushi, a miner * 1967: ''

Japan's Longest Day is a 1967 Japanese war film directed by Kihachi Okamoto. The subject of the majority of the movie is the period between noon on August 14, 1945 and noon on August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito's decision to surrender to the Allies in World ...

'' – Captain Yasuna Kozono – CO 302nd Air Group * 1967: ''Otoko no shobu: kantô arashî'' * 1967: ''Abashiri Bangaichi: Aku eno Chôsen'' – Gôzô Kadoma * 1968: ''Zoku otoshimae'' – Kuroda * 1968: ''

Destroy All Monsters is a 1968 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film, which was produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, is the ninth film in the ''Godzilla'' franchise, and features eleven monster ...

'' – Dr. Yoshida * 1968: ''Wakamono yo chôsen seyo'' * 1968: ''Wasureru monoka'' * 1968: ''Kûsô tengoku'' – Boss * 1969: '' Battle of the Japan Sea'' – Shimaji Hashiguchi * 1969: ''Kiki kaikai ore wa dareda?!'' – Kumagorô Izawa * 1970: ''Mekurano Oichi inochi moraimasu'' – Nadaaan * 1970: ''Nippon ichi no yakuza otoko'' * 1970: ''Botan to ryu'' * 1976: ''Osharé daisakusen'' * 1977: ''Hakkodasan'' * 1977: '' Sanshiro Sugata'' * 1978: ''Hakatakko junjô'' – Takeichi, Takeshi's dad * 1981: ''Kaettekita wakadaishô'' * 1981: '' The Imperial Navy'' * 1983: ''Shōsetsu Yoshida gakkō'' – Ono * 1985: ''

Ran Ran, RaN and ran may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ran'' (film), a 1985 film directed by Akira Kurosawa * "Ran" (song), a 2013 Japanese song by Luna Sea * '' Ran Online'', a 2004 MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) * ...

'' – Seiji Ayabe (final film role)

Television

* 1965: ''

Taikōki The is a biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose to the office of '' taikō'' during the Azuchi–Momoyama period of Japanese history. The Confucian scholar (1564–1640) published the work in 1626 during the rule of the third Tokugawa shōgu ...

'' * 1966: ''

Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a military commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles which toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-brother Yoritomo conso ...

'' * 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 broadc ...

'' – Director General Sakamoto * 1969: ''

Ten to Chi to is a 1990 Japanese film, directed by Haruki Kadokawa and starring Takaaki Enoki, Tsugawa Masahiko, Asano Atsuko, Zaizen Naomi and Nomura Hironobu. The film was released in Japan in June 1990, and an English version was released in North Ame ...

'' –

Takeda Nobutora was a Japanese ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) who controlled the Province of Kai, and fought in a number of battles of the Sengoku period. He was the father of the famous Takeda Shingen. Biography Nobutora’s son was Harunobu, later known as Take ...

* 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 ...

'' * 1973: ''

Jumborg Ace is the titular superhero of a tokusatsu science fiction/kaiju/superhero TV series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions, the show was broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System from January 17 to December 29, 1973, with a total of 50 episodes. This wa ...

'' * 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 ...

'' – Professor Keitarou Jin (Keisuke's father) * 1983: ''

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow ...

'' –

Shimazu Yoshihiro was the second son of Shimazu Takahisa and the younger brother of Shimazu Yoshihisa. Traditionally believed to be the 17th head of the Shimazu clan, he was a skilled general during the Sengoku period who greatly contributed to the unification o ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tazaki, Jun 1913 births 1985 deaths Japanese male actors