was a Japanese actor. Tanaka first made a name for himself as the lecherous antagonist of the ''Wakadaishō'' series (1961–1981) of films. He is also well-known for his roles in

Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking," Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty yakuza films, typified by the ''Battles Without Honor ...

's yakuza films, namely the ''

Battles Without Honor and Humanity , also known in the West as ''The Yakuza Papers'', is a Japanese yakuza film series produced by Toei Company. Inspired by a series of magazine articles by journalist Kōichi Iiboshi that are based on memoirs originally written by real-life yaku ...

'' series (1973–1974), and for starring in the ''Kita no Kuni Kara'' (1981–2002) television series. Tanaka was nominated for five

Japanese Academy Awards The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本アカデミー賞協会, ''Nippon Akademii- ...

, winning Best Supporting Actor for ''

Gakko Candraprabha (lit. 'Moonlight', Chinese: 月光菩薩; pinyin: ''Yuèguāng Púsà''; Romanji: ''Gakkō or Gekkō Bosatsu'') is a bodhisattva often seen with Sūryaprabha, as the two siblings serve Bhaiṣajyaguru. Statues of Candraprabha a ...

'' in 1993. He also won the

Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor The Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor is as part of its annual Blue Ribbon Awards for Japanese film, to recognize a male supporting actor who has delivered an outstanding performance. List of winners References External linksBlue Ri ...

for ''Nogare no Machi'' and ''

Izakaya Chōji is a 1983 Japanese film directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Cast * Ken Takakura : Tōno Eiji * Reiko Ohara : Kamiya Sayo * Tokiko Kato : Shigeko * Kunie Tanaka : Iwashita Yoshiharu * Juzo Itami : Kawahara * Hideji Ōtaki : Aiba * Naomi Chiaki : Mineko * ...

'' in 1983, and the

Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor The Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor is as part of its annual Blue Ribbon Awards for Japanese film, to recognize a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. List of winners References External linksBlue Ribbon ...

for '' Uhohho Tankentai'' in 1986. For his contributions to the arts, the Japanese government decorated Tanaka with the

Medal with Purple Ribbon are medals awarded by the Government of Japan. They are awarded to individuals who have done meritorious deeds and also to those who have achieved excellence in their field of work. The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and we ...

in 1999 and the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

in 2006.

Life and career

Tanaka was born on November 23, 1932 in

Toki District, Gifu was a district located in Gifu, Japan. The cities of Toki-all areas, Tajimi-excluding areas south of Tokigawa River, and Mizunami-excluding the former town of Toge are the areas of the former Toki District. On January 23, 2006, the town of ...

to a family of

Mino ware refers to Japanese pottery that was produced in Mino Province around the towns of Toki and Minokamo in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. History The history of Japanese pottery in the Toki area appears to have started more than 1,300 years ag ...

potters. After graduating from Reitaku Junior College, he became a substitute teacher in Gifu. However, he gave up the job to become an actor for 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 1957, Tanaka had his first film role in

Tadashi Imai was a Japanese film director known for Social realism, social realist filmmaking informed by a Left-wing politics, left-wing perspective. His most noted films include ''An Inlet of Muddy Water'' (1953) and ''Bushido, Samurai Saga'' (1963). Life ...

's ''

Jun'ai Monogatari is a 1957 Japanese film directed by Tadashi Imai. It was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival where Imai won the Silver Bear for Best Director. Cast * Shinjirō Ehara as Hayakawa Kantaro * Hitomi Nakahara * Eiji Okada * Isa ...

''. His first notable role was as a thug in

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 ...

's ''

The Bad Sleep Well is a 1960 Japanese crime mystery film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It was the first film to be produced under Kurosawa's own independent production company. It was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival. The film stars Toshiro ...

'' (1960), and he would later work with the director again on ''

Sanjuro is a 1962 black-and-white Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's 1961 ''Yojimbo''. Originally an adaptation of the Shūgorō Yamamoto novel ''Hibi Heian'', the script w ...

'' (1962) and ''

Dodes'ka-den is a 1970 Japanese drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai, Toshiyuki Tonomura, and Shinsuke Minami. It is based on Shūgorō Yamamoto's 1962 novel ''A City Without Seasons'' and is about a group of homeles ...

'' (1970). He established himself as an actor with the role of lecherous antagonist Shinjiro Ishiyama, nicknamed "Aodaishō", in 1961's ''

Daigaku no Wakadaishō AKA ''Sir Galahad in Campus'', is a 1961 Japanese musical comedy romance film starring Yūzō Kayama and directed by Toshio Sugie. It was the first in a series of films about the "Wakadaishō". Yuzo Kayama plays Yuichi Tanuma, ace of the swimmin ...

''. It spawned the 17-film ''Wakadaishō'' series (1961–1981), and he reprised the role for each installment. Tanaka also appeared in

Masaki Kobayashi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter, best known for the epic (genre), epic trilogy ''The Human Condition (film series), The Human Condition'' (1959–1961), the samurai films ''Harakiri (1962 film), Harakiri'' (1962) and ''Samurai Reb ...

's ''

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 ...

'' (1964), and portrayed

Daisuke Jigen is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series ''Lupin III'', which debuted in ''Weekly Manga Action'' on August 10, 1967. Jigen is the marksman, aide-de-camp and best friend of Arsène Lupin III. Along with colleague Goe ...

in '' Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy'' (1974). He is also known for playing Masakichi Makihara in

's ''

'' series (1973–1974) of yakuza films. Tanaka is well-known for starring as Goro Kuroita in the ''Kita no Kuni Kara'' television series, which had various installments between 1981 and 2002. His last film role was in 2010's ''Saigo no Chushingura''. The character Kizaru, from

Eiichiro Oda is a Japanese manga artist and the creator of the series ''One Piece'' (1997–present). With more than 516.5 million ''tankōbon'' copies in circulation worldwide, ''One Piece'' is both the best-selling manga in history and the best-se ...

's manga series ''

One Piece ''One Piece'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since July 1997, with its individual chapte ...

'', is modeled after Tanaka.

Selected filmography

*''

'' (1957) *''

'' (1960) *''

'' (1961) as Shinjiro Ishiyama *''

'' (1962) *'' Pitfall'' (1962) *''

Brave Records of the Sanada Clan is a Japanese film directed by Tai Kato in 1963. It is a jidaigeki musical about Sasuke Sarutobi and the Sanada Ten Braves who, under the leadership of Yukimura Sanada, try to defend Toyotomi Hideyori during the siege of Osaka Castle by th ...

'' (1963) as

Sakazaki Naomori (1563 – October 21, 1616) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the early Edo period, who served as lord of the Tsuwano Domain._ Originally_called_Ukita_Akiie_(宇喜多_詮家)_he_first_served_his_uncle_Ukita_Naoie.html" ;"title="DF 23 of 80/nowiki>"> ...

*''

'' (1964) *'' Ninpō-chūshingura'' (1965) as Fuwa Kazuemon *''

Abashiri Prison is a prison in Abashiri, Hokkaido Prefecture that opened in 1890. The northernmost prison in Japan, it is located near the Abashiri River and east of Mount Tento. It holds inmates with sentences of less than ten years. Older parts of the prison ...

'' (1965) *''

Ereki no Wakadaishō is a 1965 Japanese film starring Yūzō Kayama. It is the sixth in the Wakadaishō series of films. The film was inspired by the mid-sixties electric guitar boom created by the popularity of groups such as The Beatles and The Ventures. The spor ...

'' (1965) as Shinjiro Ishiyama *''

The Sword of Doom ''The Sword of Doom'', known in Japan as , is a 1966 Japanese ''jidaigeki'' film directed by Kihachi Okamoto and starring Tatsuya Nakadai. It is based on the serial novel of the same title by Kaizan Nakazato. Plot The story follows the life of Ryu ...

'' (1966) as Senkichi *''

The Human Bullet is a 1968 Japanese satiric anti-war film about a soldier who becomes assigned to a suicide mission against the US Forces during the late stage of World War II. It was written and directed by Kihachi Okamoto. Plot During the last days of the wa ...

'' (1968) *''

Fuji Sanchō is a 1970 Japanese film directed by Tetsutaro Murano. Based on Jiro Asada`s novel of the same title. The film depicts how People built Mount Fuji Radar System on the top of Mount Fuji. Cast *Yūjirō Ishihara as Gorō Umehara * Tetsuya Watari a ...

'' (1970) *''

'' (1970) as Hatsutaro *'' Summer Soldiers'' (1972) *'' Outlaw Killers: Three Mad Dog Brothers'' (1972) *''

'' (1973) as Masakichi Makihara *'' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War'' (1973) as Masakichi Makihara *'' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics'' (1974) as Masakichi Makihara *'' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode'' (1974) as Masakichi Makihara *''Evil of Dracula'' (1974) *'' Lupin III: Strange Psychokinetic Strategy'' (1974) as

*'' New Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' (1974) as Gen Sakagami *'' Graveyard of Honor'' (1975) as Katsuji Ozaki *''

Cops vs. Thugs is a 1975 Japanese yakuza film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It won two Blue Ribbon Awards in 1976: Best Director (Fukasaku) and Best Actor (Sugawara). ''Complex'' named it number 6 on their list of The 25 Best Yakuza Movies. Kino International rele ...

'' (1975) as Kinpachi Komiya *''

Kimi yo Funnu no Kawa wo Watare , known as ''Manhunt'', ''Hot Pursuit'' or ''Dangerous Chase'' in some translations, is a 1976 Japanese crime thriller film directed by Junya Satō. It is based on the novel of the same name by Juko Nishimura, and stars Ken Takakura in the leadi ...

'' (1976) *''

Dynamite Dondon Dynamite is an explosive made of nitroglycerin, sorbents (such as powdered shells or clay), and stabilizers. It was invented by the Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in Geesthacht, Northern Germany, and patented in 1867. It rapidly ...

'' (1978) *''

Pink Lady no Katsudō Daishashin Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...

'' (1978) *''

Nihon no Fixer is a 1979 Japanese film directed by Yasuo Furuhata. Inspired by Lockheed bribery scandals. Modeling on Kakuei Tanaka and Yoshio Kodama, the film depicts the collusion between Japanese right-wing organizations and the political and business wo ...

'' (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 ...

'' (1979) *'' Izakaya Choji'' (1983) *''

Okinawan Boys is a 1983 Japanese film directed by Taku Shinjō based on a novel by Mineo Higashi. Awards and nominations 26th Blue Ribbon Awards * Won: Best Actor - Ken Ogata , better known by his stage name , was a Japanese actor. Life Ogata was born in ...

'' (1983) *'' Soushun Monogatari'' (1985) *'' Uhohho Tankentai'' (1986) *'' Yojo no Jidai'' (1988) *''

Tasmania Story ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

'' (1990) *'' Luminous Moss'' (1992) *''

'' (1993) *'' Kozure Ōkami: Sono Chiisaki Te ni'' (1993) *'' Tora-san to the Rescue (1995) *''

Minna no Ie (also known as ''All About Our House'') is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by Japanese director Kōki Mitani. The film is about an affluent couple who decide to build a new house, and the clash between traditional Japanese and modern we ...

'' (2001) *''Saigo no Chushingura'' (2010)

Honors

Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor The Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor is a film award given at the Mainichi Film Awards. Award Winners References {{film-award-stub Film awards for lead actor Awards established in 1947 1947 establishments in Japan Actor An actor ...

(1967) *

(1983) *

(1986) *

Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role The Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is an award presented annually by the Japan Academy Prize Association. At the 1st Japan Academy Prize ceremony held in 1978, Tetsuya Takeda was the first winner ...

(1993) *

(1999) * Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2006)

References

External links

* 1932 births 2021 deaths Japanese male actors Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class {{Japan-actor-stub