Satoshi Furuya (古谷 さとし, Furuya Satoshi),[2] known professionally as Bin Furuya (古谷 びん, Furuya Bin), is a Japanese actor best known for his portrayal of the title character in the 1966 series Ultraman.[3] Furuya would later portray the character Amagi in the sequel series Ultraseven.[2][4] Furuya has also made appearances in Mothra (1961), Gorath (1962), High and Low (1963), Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964), Ultraman Zearth (1996), Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy (2009), and Shin Ultraman (2022).

Bin Furuya
古谷敏
Furuya at the 2019 GalaxyCon Louisville
Born
Satoshi Furuya

(1943-07-05) July 5, 1943 (age 81)
NationalityJapanese
OccupationActor
Years active1961-present
Known forUltraman
Websitehttps://shinbin.jp/
Signature

Life

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Furuya was born in Nishiazabu, Minato, Tokyo, the fifth son of a door merchant. When he was young, he often went to watch movies at a nearby temple.[1] After finishing middle school,[1] Furuya studied acting at Toho Geino School.[2] He was inspired by actors Akira Takarada and Yūjirō Ishihara to pursue a career in acting.[1]

In 1960, he entered Toho.[1] His first role in a motion picture was in the 1961 film Mothra. He began his career as a crowd actor for Toho.

At the age of 22,[1] in 1966, Furuya was chosen for the role as a suit actor to portray an alien named Kemur in Ultra Q.[5] His height at 181 cm (5 ft 11 in), slim body and body type "different from regular Japanese people in the 1960s" are said to have matched with the requirements for the role. At first, he refused to take the role because he was embarrassed to wear the costume, but gave in after being persuaded by the movie staff.[1]

His Japanese-language autobiography, The Man Who Became Ultraman, was published in 2009.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Ref(s)
1961 Mothra Infant Island dancer [5]
1961 The Last War Kasagi Maru sailor [5]
1962 Gorath Reporter at Antarctic Base [5]
1962 King Kong vs. Godzilla JSDF correspondent
1963 High and Low Train Station employee / Drunk [5]
1963 Atragon JSDF Soldier [5]
1964 Tiger Flight Pilot
1964 Mothra vs. Godzilla Police Officer
1964 You Can Succeed, Too Towa Tourism employee
1964 Dogora JSDF Soldier
1964 Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster Researcher / Matsumoto Evacuee / Observation Platform Tourist / Police Officer [5]
1965 Frankenstein Conquers the World Man in Okayama Crowd [5]
1965 The Crazy Adventure Weekly Top Reporter / Guest at Club Sahara / Man at Hotel Meriken
1965 Invasion of Astro-Monster Xilien [5]
1966 The War of the Gargantuas Coast Guard Official [5]
1979 Ultraman Ultraman [5]
2008 Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit Officer Takamine [5]
2009 Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Inhabitant of the Land of Light
2013 The Intermission Member of the cinema audience
2014 Earth Defense Widow Yanagi
2016 Kaiju Mono Defense Minister Yukio Kamikura
2018 The Great Buddha Arrival Kazuyoshi Edamasa [6][7]
2021 Nezura 1964 Oyaji [8][9]
2022 Shin Ultraman Ultraman (motion capture) [10]

Television

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Year Title Role Ref(s)
1966 Ultra Q Guy in Crowd [episode 4] / Kemur Man [episode 19] / Ragon [episode 20] / Hachi [episode 24] [5][11]
1966 Ultraman Ultraman [11][12]
1967 Ultraseven Amagi [11][12]
2011 Ultra Zone Akio [episode 12]
2024 The Tiger and Her Wings Takekichi Wakashima [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "ウルトラマン、前屈みポーズは理由なき反抗 光線の意味:朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 26 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  2. ^ a b c d "Affiliated Artist". shinbin.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  3. ^ "Satoshi "Bin" Furuya « Kirk von Hammett's Fear FestEvil". Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
  4. ^ Ragone, August (2007-11-01). Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman, Godzilla in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film. Chronicle Books. pp. 128–. ISBN 9780811860789. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Homenick, Brett (2019-08-20). "THE ROAD TO M78! Bin Furuya on His Early Toho and Suit-Acting Roles!". Vantage Point Interviews. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  6. ^ "古谷敏". 映画『大仏廻国』公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  7. ^ Inc, Natasha. "「大仏廻国」2020年版が9月公開、新シーンに古谷敏と佐野史郎(動画あり)". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-10. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "古谷敏インタビュー". 映画『ネズラ1964』公式サイト (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-03-16. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  9. ^ Inc, Natasha. "「ネズラ1964」に佐野史郎と古谷敏が出演、「いちファンとして楽しみ」(動画あり)". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Toho Stella, ed. (May 13, 2022). Shin Ultraman (Film Pamphlet) (in Japanese). Toho. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Doyle, Billy "TaJa" (2020-10-31). "[Interview] Actor Bin Furuya, Ultraman & Ultraseven Star". Hero Club. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  12. ^ a b "ULTRAMAN Q&A Write Up From Monsterpalooza 2013 – Henshin Justice Unlimited". Retrieved 2021-05-09.
  13. ^ "虎に翼:「黒幕的な?」"モロボシ・ダン"森次晃嗣が登場! 古谷敏も並んでクレジット!! ファンから驚きの声". Mantan-web. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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