Toshirō Mifune
Acting
Biography
Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema. Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars." Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965). Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Born: April 1, 1920
Place of Birth: Qingdao, China
Known For
Strawberry Road
Hisa Ishii and his brother Akira emigrate from Japan to the United States. They settle in rural California and start a strawberry farm, slowly integrating themselves into the life of the community, which includes Japanese-Americans of both lengthy and brief residence.
The Man Who Came to Port
An Ishiro Honda film.
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Some of the greatest battles during the Age of Civil Wars were fought between the Uesugi and Takeda clans. Leading up to them was the incredible life of Uesugi Kenshin, who rose from a son out of favor with his...
Epic Chushingura
Daichūshingura is a 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 the Tuesday evening 9:00–9:56 prime-time slot in Japan. The series featured an all-star cast. The central actor was Toshiro Mifune, who portrayed Ōishi Kuranosuke; Yoko Tsukasa his wife; and kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII their son Chikara.
Lord Mito
One of Japan’s most popular historical characters, former Vice-Shogun Tokugawa Mitsukuni, whose travels around the nation are legendary has made it to the silver screen in a dynamic and exciting tale featuring megastar Toshiro Mifune as an expert swordsman drawn into the action to fight injustice. The Elder Lord travels about disguised as a retired merchant with his two trusty bodyguards Sukesaburo and Kakunoshin by his side and secret agent Yashichi close by. After a chance meeting with a dying man and young woman who had been brutally attacked, they set out for Kaga Province to wreak vengeance on the responsible parties. Don’t miss this exciting journey into Japanese history!
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
An ambitious Kansai yakuza don moves in on Tokyo using financial and political tactics, sparking conflict with a local criminal association.
Tora-san Goes North
When his travels take him to rural Hokkaido, Tora-san helps a cantankerous old veterinarian (Mifune) in his relationships with his estranged daughter, and a woman in whom he is secretly interested.
Seven Samurai
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
High and Low
A Yokohama shoe executive faces a wrenching choice when kidnappers mistakenly seize his chauffeur’s son but demand the ransom anyway.
Admiral Yamamoto
As Japan joins in a political pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is appointed supreme commander of the Japanese fleet. With Japan headed inexorably toward war, Yamamoto, despite his misgivings, believes the only possible victory lies in destroying the American fleet by surprise at Pearl Harbor. The attack succeeds, but fails to sink the American carrier fleet. Thus Yamamoto must lead the Japanese navy into war with ever-diminishing likelihood of success.
Filmography
as Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
as (archive footage)
as The Benshi
as Tsukada
as Kroomak
as Taoka
as Ieyasu Tokugawa
as Nagao Tamekage
as Shūichirō Hase
as Rikyu Sen-no
as Kukkune no jî
as Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
as Hikozaemon Ōkubo
as Junkichi Ueno
as Murai
as Kyūbei Matsufuji
as Kōzō Kanzaki
as Fisherman
as Shūsai Kondō
as Otsuichi Amo
as Tokugawa Ieyasu
as Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
as Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
as Sanjuro Hinoki
as Hyōtarō Aonari
as Masao Tadokoro
as Sanjuro Hinoki
as Toru Yoshida
as Tamon Umei
as Sanjuro Hinoki
as Shogun's Commander
as Tamon Umei
as Saito-San
as Sakon Shima
as Lord Yoshi Toranaga
as Emperor Meiji
as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
as Sadanobu Matsudaira
as Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
as Keith
as Tachibana Sakon
as Sakuzaemon Okumura
as Tsuchiya Michinao
as Kosuke Oishi
as Taiko Hideyoshi
as Captain Takeo Murata
as Yoshinao Tokugawa
as Kanbei Uchiyama
as Kosuke Oishi
as Yohei Kori
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
as Mr. Danna
as Ambassador Kagoyama
as Kujuro Toge
as Kuroda Jubei
as Self
as Oishi Kuranosuke
as Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
as Kinugasa Tadao
as Yojimbo
as Shojiro Goto
as Yojimbo/Sasa
as Isami Kondo
as Gonzo
as Admiral Heihachiro Togo
as Yūichirō Takase
as Kansuke Yamamoto
as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
as Kitagawa
as War Minister General Korechika Anami
as Isaburo Sasahara
as Izō Yamura
as Heihachirô Murakami
as Osami
as Toranosuke Shimada
as Abare Gōemon
as Sergeant Kosugi
as Omura
as Shogoro Yano
as Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
as Tsuruchiyo Niiro
as Lord Akashi
as Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
as Takeichi Matsuo
as Kingo Gondo
as Lt. Colonel Senda
as Genba Tawaraboshi
as Zhang Zhizhang
as Tatsu
as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
as Ánimas Trujano
as Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
as Mohei
as Kazuo Momoi
as Kôichi Nishi
as Kaji
as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
as Kunisada Chuji
as Detective Saburo Fujioka
as Prince Yamato Takeru
as Battalion Commander
as Rokuro Kai
as Heihachiro Komaki
as Kashimura
as General Rokurota Makabe
as Acting teacher
as Toshinoshin Taya
as Matsugorō Tomishima
as Tenkai's nephew Jirō
as Tasaburo
as Yoshio Tsuruishi
as Sutekichi the Thief
as Kawada
as Tasaburō Kasumi
as Toshio Maruyama
as Saburō Watari
as Taketoki Washizu
as Matsuo Tokuzō
as Kanji
as Kenkichi
as Shuntarō Ōhira
as Chief Inspector Kumada
as Masahiko Koseki
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
as Kiichi Nakajima
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
as Mitsuo Yano
as Daikichi Risshun
as Daikichi Risshun
as "Buick" Maki
as Eiichi Tsuda
as Skipper of the Utashima-maru
as Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
as Kikuchiyo
as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
as Ippei Hitachi
as Shinkichi / Hayakawa
as Matsumura
as Gorō Niinuma
as Shunsuke Kosugi
as Kurokawa
as Sasa Hayatenosuke
as Katsunosuke
as Chiyokichi
as Mataemon Araki
as Mizuno
as Yonetaro Katayama
as Miyamoto Musashi
as Kenji Kawakami
as Tora
as Denkichi Akama
as Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
as Gorō Sakata
as Tajômaru
as Takeshi Ema
as Ichirô Aoye
as Teisaku Nagasawa
as Shinkichi
as Det. Murakami
as Tetsu
as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
as Matsunaga
as Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
as Eijima