Tomisaburō Wakayama (若山 富三郎, Wakayama Tomisaburō, September 1, 1929 – April 2, 1992), born Masaru Okumura (奥村 勝),[1] was a Japanese actor best known for playing Ogami Ittō, the scowling ronin warrior in the six Lone Wolf and Cub samurai films.[1][2]
Tomisaburō Wakayama | |
|---|---|
 Wakayama appearing as Ogami Ittō in the Lone Wolf and Cub movie series | |
| Born | Masaru Okumura September 1, 1929 |
| Died | April 2, 1992 (aged 62) Kyoto, Japan |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–1991 |
| Spouse | Reiko Fujiwara (1963–1965)[citation needed] |
Biography
editWakayama (his stage name)[3] was born on September 1, 1929, in Fukagawa, a district in Tokyo, Japan.[1] His father was Minoru Okumura (奥村 実), a noted kabuki performer and nagauta singer who went by the stage name Katsutōji Kineya (杵屋 勝東治),[4][1] and the family as a whole were kabuki performers. He and his younger brother, Shintaro Katsu, followed their father in the theater.[1] Wakayama tired of this; at the age of 13, he began to study judo, eventually achieving the rank of 4th dan black belt in the art.[1]
In 1952, as part of the Azuma Kabuki troupe, Wakayama toured the United States of America for nine months.[2] He gave up theater performance completely after his two-year term with the troupe was over.[1] Wakayama taught judo until Toho recruited him as a new martial arts star in their jidaigeki movies,[1] originally using the stage name "Jō Kenzaburō". He prepared for these movies by practicing other disciplines, including kenpō, iaidō, kendo, and bōjutsu.[1] All this helped him for roles (now using the stage name "Wakayama Tomisaburō") in the television series The Mute Samurai,[4] the 1975 television series Shokin Kasegi (The Bounty Hunter),[4] and his most famous film role: Ogami Ittō, the Lone Wolf.
Wakayama went on to star in many films, performing in a variety of roles. It has been estimated that he appeared in between 250 and 500 films.[4] His only roles in American movies were as a baseball coach in The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) and as a yakuza boss, Sugai, in Ridley Scott's Black Rain (1989) that delivers a memorable English monologue that becomes a defining moment for the film, and the film's title.[4][5]
Wakayama died of acute heart failure on April 2, 1992, in a hospital in Kyoto.[1][4] He was survived by a son, Kiichirō Wakayama (若山 騎一郎) born in 1964, also an actor.[6]
Filmography
editFilm
editWakayama appeared in the following films, amongst others.
1955–1959
edit- Banba no Chûtarô (1955) - Banba no Chutaro
- Uta matsuri mangetsu tanuki-gassen (1955)
- Gyakushu orochimaru (1955) - Toyama Yunosuke
- Silver Snake Iwashiya (1956)
- Yotsuya kaidan (1956) - Iemon Tamiya
- Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Yôen roku shibijin (1956) - Ningyo Sashichi
- Yôun Satomi kaikyoden (1956) - Inuzuka Shino
- Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Ôedo Ushimitsudoki (1957) - Ningyo Sashichi
- Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Hanayome Satsujinma (1957) - Ningyo Sashichi
- Kanhasshû ken kajin (1958)
- Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Ukiyoburo no Shibijin (1958) - Ningyo Sashichi
- Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Koshimoto Irezumi Shibijin (1958) - Ningyo Sashichi
- Doto no taiketsu (1959)
- Fukaku hichô (1959)
- Fukaku hichô: kanketsuhen (1959)
- Chiyari musô (1959)
- Hibari torimonochô: furisode koban (1959)
- Yukinojô henge (1959)
- Hayate monzaburo (1959)
- Rage (1959)
1960-1969
edit- Hibari no mori no ishimatsu (1960) - Shimizu No Jirocho - Boss Of The Tokaido
- Tenpô rokkasen - Jigoku no hanamichi (1960)
- Jirochô kesshôki: Nagurikomi kôjinyama (1960) - Okita Soji
- Tenryu haha koi gasa (1960)
- Shoretsu shinsengumi - bakumatsu no doran (1960) - Okita Soji
- Oja kissa (1960)
- Ninkyo Nakasendo (1960) - Omasa
- Hibari Juhachiban Benten Kozo (1960)
- Hachisu chikemuri gasa (1961)
- Yami ni warau tekkamen (1961)
- Tekka Daimyo ("Lord of Steel Heart") (1961)
- Ghost of Oiwa (1961)
- Megitsune henge (1961)
- Kengo tengu matsuri (1961) - Iishiro Shurinosuke
- Kaidan Oiwa no borei (1961) - Tamiya Iemon
- Charinko kaido (1961)
- Kisaragi musô ken (1962) - Hayatomasa Tachibana
- Seizoroi kanhasshu (1962)
- Zatoichi 2 (1962)[4]- Nagisa no Yoshirō (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
- Ninja 1 (1962) - Oda Nobunaga
- Love for a Mother (1962)
- Shinsengumi shimatsuki (1963) - Isami Kondô (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
- Teuchi (1963) - Shindo Genjiro
- Kaidan onibi no numa (1963) - Saburôta Nishina
- Ninja 2 (1963) - Oda Nobunaga
- Ninja 3 (1963) - Oda Nobunaga
- Maiko to ansatsusha (1963)
- Yôsô (1963) - Prime Minister
- Sleepy Eyes of Death: The Chinese Jade (1963) - Chen Sun (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
- Hana no kodokan (1963)
- Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)[4] - Jushiro
- Shinobi no mono: Zoku Kirigakure Saizô (1964) - Sanada Yukimura
- Meiji taitei goichidaiki (1964) - Soldier charging Chinese fortress
- Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Seduction (1964) - Chen Sun (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
- Ninja 4 (1964) - Sanada Yukimura
- Gaijin bôchi no ketto (1964)
- Kojiki taishō (1964)
- Virgin Witnessed (1966) - Gyôshun
- A Brave Generous Era (1966)
- Ôtazune mono shichinin (1966)
- Fraternal Honor: Three Brothers of Kanto (1966) - Akoshima Isamu
- Bakuchiuchi ("The Gambler) (1967)[7]
- Zoku Toseinin (1967) - Sakamoto
- Toseinin (1967) - Hirose
- Hokkai yûkyôden (1967)
- Choueki juhachi-nen: kari shutsugoku (1967)
- Choueki juhachi-nen (1967)
- Bakuchi uchi (1967) - Ozeki Isamu
- Zenka mono (1968)
- Kaettekita gokudo (1968) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Ikasama bakuchi (1968)
- Hibotan bakuto ("Red Peony Gambler") (1968)[8] - Torakichi Kumasaka
- Jinsei-gekijô: Hishakaku to kiratsune (1968)
- Hibotan bakuto: Isshuku ippan (1968) - Torakichi Kumazaka
- Bakuto retsuden (1968) - Adachi Sanji
- Yôen dokufu-den hannya no ohyaku (1968) - Boss Minokichi of Otowa
- Otoko no shobu: byakko no tetsu (1968)
- Kyôdai jingi gyakuen no sakazuki (1968)
- Heitai gokudo (1968)
- Ballad of Murder (1968)
- Gokudo (1968) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Wicked Priest (1968) - Mikuni Shinkai
- Daigashi (1968)
- Bakuchi-uchi: Socho tobaku (1968) - Tetsuo Matsuda
- Nunnery Confidential (1968)
- Hibotan bakuto: Hanafuda shôbu (1969) - Torakichi Kumasaka
- Tabi ni deta gokudo (1969) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Quick-draw Okatsu (1969) - Bounty hunter
- Shokin kasegi (1969) - Shikoru Ichibei
- Hissatsu bakuchi-uchi (1969)
- Red Peony: The Hanafuda Game (1969)
- Memoir of Japanese Assassins (1969)
- Gonin no Shôkin Kasegi (1969) - Shikoro Ichibei
- Tosei-nin Retsuden (1969) - Kaku
- Boss (1969)[9] - Sakata Yoshinobu
- Nihon boryoku-dan: Kumicho (1969) - Miyahara
- Matteita gokudo (1969) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Gorotsuki butai (1969)
- Gokudô bôzu: Nenbutsu hitokiri tabi (1969)
- Gendai yakuza: Yotamono no okite (1969)
- Chôeki san kyôdai (1969)
1970–1979
edit- Hibotan bakuto: Oryû sanjô (1970) - Torakichi Kumasaka
- Bakuchi-uchi: Nagaremono (1970) - Yoshii Yusaku
- Nippon dabi katsukyu (1970)
- Saigo no tokkôtai (1970)
- Gokuaku bozu hitokiri kazoe uta (1970) - Shinkai
- Blind Yakuza Monk (1970) - Dr. Mitamura
- Thugs of Shinjuku (1970) - Senior yakuza at funeral (uncredited)
- Shiruku hatto no ô-oyabun: Chobi-hige no kuma (1970)
- Shiruku hatto no ô-oyabun (1970)
- Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Hagure Okami (1970)
- Sengo hiwa, hoseki ryakudatsu (1970)
- Nihon boryoku-dan: Kumicho kuzure (1970)
- Hakurai jingi: Kapone no shatei (1970)
- Gokudo kyojo tabi (1970) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Gokudo Kamagasaki ni kaeru (1970) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Gokuaku bozu nenbutsu sandangiri (1970) - Shinkai
- Underground Syndicate (1970)
- Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) - Yonabaru - Koza downtown boss
- A Boss with the Samurai Spirit (1971) - Capone
- Bakuchi-uchi: Inochi-huda (1971) - Kobayashi Kanji
- Gokuaku bozu - Nomu utsu kau (1971)
- Nihon yakuza-den: Sôchiyô e no michi (1971) - Torakichi Ohmatsu
- Hibotan bakuto: Oinochi itadaki masu (1971) - Torakichi Kumasaka
- Kaoyaku (1971) - Hoshino
- Nippon akuninden (1971) - Kumai
- Nihon aku nin den (1971)
- Kizudarake no seishun (1971) - Mihashi Tetsuo
- Boryokudan sai buso (1971)
- Bakuto kirikomi-tai (1971) - Yano
- Akû oyabûn tai daigashî (1971)
- Hibotan bakuto: Jingi tooshimasu (1972)
- Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)[4][10] - Ogami Ittō
- Kizu darake jinsei furui do de gonzansu (1972)
- Cherry Blossom Fire Gang (1972) - Master Kofusai Donju
- Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)[4][11] - Ogami Ittō
- Gokudo makari touru (1972) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)[4] - Ogami Ittō
- Kînagashî hyâkunîn (1972)
- Shôkin kubi: Isshun Hachi-nin Giri (1972) - Shikoro Ichibei
- Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)[4] - Ogami Ittō
- Nihon Aku Nin Den: Jigoku No Michizure (1972)
- Bakuchi-uchi Gaiden (1972)
- Sakura no Daimon (1973)
- Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)[4] - Ogami Itto
- Kamagasaki gokudo (1973) - Shimamura Seikichi, movie star
- Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (1974)[4][12] - Ogami Itto
- Gokudo VS Mamushi (1974)
- Datsugoku Hiroshima satsujinshû (1974) - Okamoto Seijiro
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1974) - Aoki Naotake
- ESPY (1974) - Ulrov
- Gokudo VS furyô banchô (1974) - Shimamura Seikichi
- Gotô hoka sâtsujin shû (1975)
- Bôryoku kinmyaku (1975)
- Yukâi na gokudo (1976)
- Akuma no temari-uta (1977) - Inspector Isokawa
- Devil's Bouncing Ball Song (1977) - Tatsuo Honda
- Sugata Sanshiro (1977) - Murai
- Torakku yarô: Otoko ippiki momojirô (1977)
- The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)[10] - Coach Shimizu
- Hi no Tori ("The Phoenix") (1978) - Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
- Oh My Son (1979) - Shuzo Kawase
- Distant Tomorrow (1979) - Iwasa
1980–1989
edit- Chichi yo haha yo! (1980) - Asakawa Senjo
- Shogun Assassin (1980)[2][4] - Lone Wolf
- Seishun no mon ("The Gate of Youth") (1981) - Ryugoro Hanawa
- Flames of Blood (1981) - Seihachi
- Makai Tenshō ("Samurai Reincarnation") (1981) - Lord Tajima no Kami Munenori Yagyu
- Moeru yusha (1981) - Goro Kaji
- The Shootout (1982) - Yabuki
- Conquest (1982) - Tsuyoshi Gonno
- Irezumi: Spirit of Tattoo (1982) - Kyogoro / the Tatto Artist
- Shōsetsu Yoshida gakkō (1983) - Bukichi Miki
- Hakujasho (1983) - Ekai Kanamishima
- Jinsei gekijo ("Theater of Life") (1984)
- Shura no mure (1984)
- Story of the Yamashita Boy (1985) - Yamashita Taizo, Cho's father
- A Promise (1986) - Detective Tagami
- Michi (1986) - Naokichi Sakura
- Shinran: Shiroi michi ("Shinran: Path to Purity") (1987) - Homen
- Daireikai: Shindara dou naru (1989)
- Shaso (1989) - Kazuo Otagaki
- Black Rain (1989)[4][5] - Sugai Kunio
- Tanba Tetsuro no daireikai shindara dounaru (1989) - God
1990
edit- Jotei: Kasuga no tsubone (1990)
- Checkmate (1991) - Sanae Mitamura
Television
edit- Oshizamurai Kiichihōgan (1973-1974) - Kiichihōgan
- Akuma no Yoūna Aitsu (1975) - Detective Shirato
- Shokin Kasegi (1975) - Shikoro Ichibei
- Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun (1975–76) - Tōyama Kinsirō
- Fumō Chitai (1979) - Ichizo Daimon
- Ōoku (1983) - Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Kozure Ōkami Meifumadō no Shikyakunin Hahakoishi Daigoro Zetsushou (1989) - Yagyū Retsudō
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Leous, G. (c. 2003): Tomisaburo Wakayama Retrieved on May 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c Stout, J. (1981): "Tomisaburo Wakayama: The Anti-Hero of Shogun Assassin." Martial Arts Movies (August), 1(2):26–33.
- ^ Lame d'un père, l'âme d'un sabre (2005). Wild Side Films. Event occurs at 34.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Asiateca: Tomisaburo Wakayama (August 10, 2007). Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- ^ a b Nash, Jay Robert; Ross, Stanley R. (1990). The Motion Picture Guide 1990 Annual The Films of 1989. Cinebooks. ISBN 978-0-933997-29-5.
- ^ Sankei Sports: 若山騎一郎＆仁美凌、熱愛発覚！交際５年 (in Japanese) (March 31, 2010). Retrieved on May 24, 2010. Archived April 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cowie, Peter (1977). World Filmography 1967. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-498-01565-6.
- ^ Hong Kong Cinema: Red Peony Gambler (c. 2006). Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
- ^ Desjardins, Chris (2005). Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film. I B Tauris & Company Limited. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84511-086-4.
- ^ a b Maltin, Leonard (2005). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide. ISBN 978-0-452-28699-3.
- ^ Palmer, Bill (1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-3027-1.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (2002). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 2003. Plume. ISBN 978-0-452-28329-9.