Akiji Kobayashi
Acting
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.
Born: September 6, 1930
Place of Birth: Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan
Known For
The Men Who Made Ultraman
A biographical dramatization about the production of the original Ultraman, the beloved classic special effects fantasy series from Eiji Tsuburaya.
The Kagestar
While rescuing his wealthy boss's daughter from kidnappers, Sugata Kageoh, struck by an electric shock, was given the ability to merge with his shadow and transform into Kagestar!
Kamen Rider V3
Follow the adventures of Shiro Kazami, a bio-chem major at Jonan University in Tokyo. After witnessing the murder of a member of the evil organization Destron, Kazami is targeted by Destron which kills his family and leads him down a road of revenge that crosses paths with both Hongo Takeshi and Ichimonji Hayato, the original Kamen Riders and his eventual transformation into Kamen Rider V3!
Kamen Rider X
Robotics scientist Keitaro Jin and his son Keisuke become caught up in a campaign of terror by an evil organization known as "G.O.D.". They are attacked and the professor's technology gets stolen, but before Keitaro dies, he performs surgery on his son, using the last of his robotics technology to transform Keisuke into the "X-Rider". To avenge his father's death and ensure the safety of the entire world, Keisuke uses this technology as he battles the monstrous minions of G.O.D.’s Japan branch.
Kamen Rider Stronger
Shigeru Jo joins the evil organization Black Satan after the death of his close friend and mentor Goro Numata. He, promised power, and fueled by a desire for revenge, undergoes surgery to become one of Black Satan's super warriors. However, Shigeru knows that Black Satan were in fact the murderers of his friend; he was using Black Satan in order to gain new powers. The newly powered up Shigeru escapes from the Black Satan headquarters before they can brainwash him into following their campaign of evil and becomes Kamen Rider Stronger. While escaping from Black Satan, Stronger meets Yuriko Misaki another cyborg warrior created by Black Satan who has the ability to transform into Electronic Wave Humanoid Tackle. Together they fight the evil Black Satan and later the Delzer Army to restore peace in Japan.
Kamen Rider Amazon
A plane crashes in the Amazon rainforest, leaving young Daisuke Yamamoto stranded without his parents. Soon adopted by an Incan tribe under the name "Amazon", he becomes a wild child, living off the land. However, his village is massacred by the Ten-Faced Demon Gorgos, who searches for the powerful GiGi Armlet to take over the world with it. The last Inca, Elder Bago, gives Amazon the GiGi Armlet for safekeeping and uses his knowledge of Incan science and magic to perform a mystic ritual on Amazon and transform him into the powerful "Kamen Rider Amazon" before dying. Now in Japan, Amazon battles the evil organization Gedon, unaware of why they pursue him. Befriending Professor Kousaka's nephew and niece, Amazon learns of the GiGi Armlet's true nature and ultimately defeats Gedon, then the Garanda Empire.
Immortal Kamen Rider Special
A TV special, centered on introduction of Skyrider.
Harakiri
Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.
Ultraman
Hayata is a member of the Science Patrol, an organization tasked with investigating bizarre anomalies. He is mortally wounded when accidently encountering an alien being from Land of Light, who grants Hayata new life as the two are merged into one. Now, whenever a threat arises that is too great for the Science Patrol to handle, Hayata activates the beta capsule and becomes the hero known as Ultraman.
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman is a 1979 Japanese tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Akio Jissoji. It is a compilation film made up of scenes from Jissoji's episodes of the original Ultraman TV series.
Filmography
as Senior sergeant
as Fisherman
as Chief of World Defence Force
as Toubei Tachibana (voice)
as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
as Dionysus II (voice)
as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
as Detective
as Konton
as Katayama
as Toshio Muramatsu
as Inoue
as ペニー
as Seitaro Jinba
as Kodera
as Chief of Police, Ishihara
as Asst Chief Fuji
as Jinjii (voice)
as Lord Kurogawa
as Jean Valjean (voice)
as Tobei Tachibana
as Toshio Muramatsu
as Sannosuke
as Hara Soemon
as Captain Toshio Muramatsu
as Detective Kogure
as Detective Okawa
as Takezo
as Koreya Kusakabe (manager)
as Kokichi Inugami
as Inspector Tonda
as Inspector Keibu Tonda
as Tōbei Tachibana
as Tôbei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tōbei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tōbei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Narrator
as Hitoshi Suzuki
as Tōbei Tachibana
as Ozunu Kurokuwa
as Tobei Tachibana
as Narrator
as Captain Takamura
as Tobei Tachibana
as Tobei Tachibana
as Naosuke
as Capt. Toshio Muramatsu
as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
as Toshio Muramatsu
as Mari's pimp
as ワイラー
as (segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
as Tatsuo Nomoto
as Hei-san
as Nonaka Shôi