Profile of Takashi Shimura on Famous Like Me

Takashi Shimura (志村 喬 Shimura Takashi, 12 March 1905 - 11 February 1982) is one of the great Japanese actors of the last century. One of his earliest film roles was in Kenji Mizoguchi's Osaka Elegy (1936).

After Toshiro Mifune, Shimura was probably the next most closely associated actor with Akira Kurosawa. Shimura appeared in many of Kurosawa's most important movies - as well as many lesser known ones - in such roles as the lead samurai in The Seven Samurai, the woodcutter in Rashomon, the main character in Ikiru, and a veteran detective in Stray Dog, just to name a few.

The last movie of Kurosawa's in which Shimura appeared was Kagemusha (1980), where Kurosawa specifically wrote a part just for Shimura. However, the scene was cut from the western release, and so many do not know that he was even in the film. The release of the movie by the Criterion Collection rescued the lost footage and has included it within their US release of the film.

Outside of his career working with Kurosawa, Shimura is probably best known for his roles in several Japanese monster movies, including the scientist Kyohei Yamane in the first two Godzilla films.

Filmography

1. Nihon Philharmonic Orchestra: Honoo no dai gogakusho (1981)

Kagemusha (1980)

1. Tempyo no iraka (1980)

... aka Ocean to Cross

1. Dôran (1980) .... Kosuke Miyagi

1. Ogin-sama (1978) .... Sen Rikyu

... aka Lady Ogin (International: English title: literal title) ... aka Love and Faith (USA) ... aka Love and Faith of Ogin (USA) ... aka Love and Faith: Lady Ogin (USA) ... aka Ogin: Her Love and Faith (USA)

1. Zoku ningen kakumei (1976)
2. Shinkansen daibakuha (1975) .... JNR President

... aka Bullet Train ... aka The Bullet Train

1. Nosutoradamusu no daiyogen (1974) .... Pediatrician

... aka Catastrophe 1999: The Prophecies of Nostradamus ... aka Catastrophe: 1999 ... aka Nostradamus's Great Prophecies ... aka Propecies of Nostradamus: Catastrophe 1999 ... aka Prophecies of Nostradamus ... aka The Last Days of Planet Earth (USA: TV title)

1. Ranru no hata (1974) .... Shihei Furukawa

... aka The Tattered Banner

1. Karajishi keisatsu (1974)
2. Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Kasama no chimatsuri (1973)

... aka A New Tale of Zatoichi: Blood Festival of Kasama (informal English title) ... aka The Blind Swordsman's Conspiracy ... aka Zatôichi 25 (Japan: informal title) ... aka Zatoichi at the Blood Fest (UK: video title) ... aka Zatoichi's Conspiracy

1. Gokudo makari touru (1972)
2. Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro koiuta (1971) .... Hyouichiro Suwa (Hiroshi's father)

... aka Tora-san 8 ... aka Tora-san's Love Call (USA)

1. Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro renka (1971)
2. Gekido no showashi 'Gunbatsu' (1970) (uncredited) .... Editor

... aka The Militarists ... aka Turning Point of Showa History: The Militarists (International: English title: literal title)

1. Zoku otoko wa tsurai yo (1969)

... aka So Sad Is Man ... aka Tora-San's Cherished Mother ... aka Tora-San, Part 2

1. Otoko wa tsurai yo (1969) .... Hiroshi's father

... aka Am I Trying (USA) ... aka It's Tough Being a Man (Japan: English title) ... aka Tora San Our Lovable Tramp (USA: reissue title) [[Samurai Banners]] (1969)

1. Nihon boryoku-dan: kumicho to shikaku (1969)
2. Showa zankyo-den: Karajishi jingi (1969)

... aka The Man with the Dragon Tattoo

1. Gion matsuri (1968) .... Kakiemon/Tsuneemon

... aka Festival of Gion ... aka Gion Festival ... aka Kurobe's Sun ... aka The Day the Sun Rose

1. Zatôichi hatashi-jô (1968) .... Dr. Junan

... aka The Blind Swordsman and the Fugitives ... aka Zatôichi 18 (Japan: informal title) ... aka Zatoichi and the Fugitives ... aka Zatoichi: A Letter of Challenge ... aka Zatoichi: Challenge Letter (informal English title) ... aka Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman and the Fugitives

1. Botan-dôrô (1968) .... Kiku

... aka A Ghost Story of Peonies and Stone Lanterns ... aka A Tale of Peonies and Lanterns (International: English title) ... aka Ghost Beauty ... aka Kaidan botan-dôrô (Japan) ... aka My Bride Is a Ghost ... aka Peony Lantern ... aka The Bride from Hades (USA) ... aka The Bride from Hell

1. Chikadô no taiyô made (1968) .... Ashimura

... aka Kurobe no taiyo ... aka Sun Over the Kurobe Gorge ... aka The Sands of Kurobe (literal English title) ... aka Tunnel to the Sun

1. Gendai yakuza: yotamono no okite (1968)
2. Sangyo supai (1968)

... aka Industrial Spy

1. Gyangu no teiô (1967)

... aka Gyangu 11 (Japan: informal title)

1. Nihon no ichiban nagai hi (1967) .... Information Chief

... aka Japan's Longest Day (USA: reissue title) ... aka Nippon no ichiban nagai hi (Japan: alternative transliteration) ... aka The Emperor and a General ... aka The Emperor and the General ... aka The Longest Day of Japan (literal English title)

1. Satogashi ga kowareru toki (1967) .... Kudo

... aka When the Cookie Crumbles (International: English title)

1. Kaerazeru hatoba (1966) .... Detective Egusa

... aka The Harbor of No Return

1. Bangkok no yoru (1966)

... aka Man gu zhi ye (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) ... aka Night in Bangkok

1. Noren ichidai: jôkyô (1966)
2. Buraikan jingi (1965) .... Genkichi Jinnai
3. Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon (1965) .... Axis Scientist

... aka Frankenstein Conquers the World (USA) ... aka Frankenstein Meets the Giant Devil Fish ... aka Frankenstein and the Giant Lizard ... aka Frankenstein vs. Baragon (International: English title) ... aka Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devil Fish ... aka Frankenstein vs. the Subterranean Monster ... aka Furankensuten to Baragon

1. Taiheiyo kiseki no sakusen: Kisuka (1965) .... Military Command president

... aka Kiska ... aka Miraculous Military Operation in the Pacific Ocean, Kiska (literal English title) ... aka Retreat From Kiska

1. Sugata Sanshiro (1965) .... Mishima

... aka Judo Saga ... aka Sanshiro Sugata (USA)

1. Akahige (1965) .... Tokubei Izumiya

... aka Red Beard (International: English title: literal title)

1. Samurai (1965) .... Narihisa Ichijo

... aka Samurai Assassin

1. Kono koe naki sakebi (1965)

... aka The Soundless Cry

1. Kaidan (1964) .... Head priest (Hoichi the Earless)

... aka Ghost Stories (USA) ... aka Ghost Story (literal English title) ... aka Hoichi the Earless ... aka Kwaidan (USA) ... aka Weird Tales

1. San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen (1964) .... Dr. Tsukamoto

... aka Earth's Greatest Battle (literal English title) ... aka Ghidora, the Three-Headed Monster ... aka Ghidrah ... aka Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster (USA) ... aka Gojira Mosura Kingughidorah: chikyu saidai no kessen (Japan: reissue title) ... aka Monster of Monsters ... aka The Biggest Battle on Earth ... aka The Biggest Fight on Earth ... aka The Greatest Battle on Earth ... aka The Greatest Fight on Earth ... aka Three Giant Monsters: The Earth's Greatest Decisive Battle

1. Tensai sagishi monogatari: Tameki no hanamichi (1964)
2. Aku no monsho (1964) .... Tsukamoto, manager

... aka Brand of Evil (USA)

1. Chi to daiyamondo (1964)

... aka Blood and Diamonds (literal English title)

1. Daitozoku (1963) .... King Raksha

... aka The Adventures of Sinbad ... aka The Great Thief ... aka The Lost World of Sinbad (USA) ... aka The Samurai Pirate

1. Tasaka wa yondeiru (1963)
2. Tengoku to jigoku (1963) .... Chief of Investigation Section

... aka Heaven and Hell (International: English title: literal title) ... aka High and Low (USA) ... aka The Ransom (UK)

1. Taiheiyo no tsubasa (1963) .... Admiral

... aka Attack Squadron! (USA) ... aka Kamikaze (USA: video title) ... aka Wings Over the Pacific (literal English title) ... aka Wings of the Pacific (literal English title)

1. Chushingura - Hana no maki yuki no maki (1962) .... Hyobu Chishaka

... aka 47 Ronin ... aka 47 Samurai (USA) ... aka Chushingura: 47 Samurai (USA: reissue title) ... aka The Loyal 47 Ronin

1. Kujira gami (1962)

... aka Killer Whale ... aka The Whale God

1. Kurenai no sora (1962)

... aka Scarlet Sky ... aka The Crimson Sky

1. Yosei Gorasu (1962) .... Kesuke Sonoda

... aka Astronaut 1980 ... aka Gorath (USA) ... aka Gorath, the Mysterious Star ... aka Suspicous Star Gorath ... aka Yosei Gorath

1. Long Way to Okinawa (1962)
2. Zoku sararîman shimizu minato (1962)
3. Tsubaki Sanjûrô (1962) .... Kurofuji

... aka Sanjuro (USA)

1. Futari no musuko (1961)

... aka Different Sons (USA) ... aka Two Sons

1. Kuroi gashû dainibu: Kanryû (1961)
2. Mosura (1961) .... News Editor

... aka Daikaijû Masura ... aka Mothra (USA)

1. Ai to honoho to (1961) .... Yoshii

... aka Challenge to Live

1. Yojimbo (1961) .... Tokuemon

... aka The Bodyguard (International: English title: literal title) ... aka Yojimbo the Bodyguard (USA) ... aka Yojinbo (Japan: modified Hepburn romanization)

1. Zoku sararîman Chushingura (1961) .... Honzo Kadokawa

... aka Salary Man Chushingura Sequel (literal English title) ... aka Salary Man Chushingura, Part 2 ... aka The Masterless 47: Part II

1. Harekosode (1961)

... aka Clear Weather (International: English title)

1. Osaka jo monogatari (1961) .... Katagiri

... aka Daredevil in the Castle ... aka Devil in the Castle ... aka Osaka Castle Story

1. Sararîman Chushingura (1960) .... Honzo Kadokawa

... aka Salary Man Chushingura ... aka The Masterless 47

1. Gambare! Bangaku (1960)

... aka Master Fencer Sees the World (International: English title) ... aka Perils of Bangaku (International: English title)

1. Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (1960) .... Administrative Officer Moriyama

... aka The Bad Sleep Well ... aka The Rose in the Mud ... aka The Worse You Are, the Better You Sleep

1. Otoko tai otoko (1960) .... Chotaro Masue

... aka Man Against Man

1. Yoru no nagare (1960)

... aka Evening Stream

1. Hawai Middouei daikaikusen: Taiheiyo no arashi (1960) .... Tosaku

... aka Hawaii-Midway Battle of the Sea and Sky: Storm in the Pacific Ocean (literal English title) ... aka I Bombed Pearl Harbor (USA: dubbed version) ... aka Storm Over the Pacific (USA: original subtitled version) ... aka Taiheiyo no arashi (Japan) ... aka The Storm of the Pacific

1. Karakkaze yarô (1960) .... Gohei Hirayama

... aka Afraid to Die (USA)

1. Sen-hime goten (1960)

1. Nippon tanjo (1959) .... Elder Kumaso

... aka Age of the Gods ... aka Japan Birth ... aka Japan Is Born ... aka The Birth of Japan ... aka The Three Treasures

1. Kagero ezu (1959) .... Ryoan

... aka Stop the Old Fox

1. Sengoku gunto-den (1959) .... Saemon Toki

... aka Saga of the Vagabonds ... aka The Vagabonds (USA: promotional title)

1. Aru kengo no shogai (1959)

... aka Life of an Expert Swordsman (literal title) ... aka Samurai Saga

1. Kotan no kuchibue (1959)

... aka Whistle in My Heart (International: English title) ... aka Whistling in Kotan

1. Tetsuwan toshu inao monogatari (1959)

... aka Inao: Story of an Iron Arm ... aka The Story of Iron-Arm Inao (informal literal English title)

1. Beran me-e geisha (1959)
2. Shobushi to sono musume (1959)
3. Sora kakeru hanayome (1959)

... aka The High-Flying Bride

1. Kakushi toride no san akunin (1958) .... The Old General, Izumi Nagakura

... aka The Hidden Fortress (USA) ... aka The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress (informal English title) ... aka Three Bad Men in a Hidden Fortress (International: English title: literal title) ... aka Three Rascals in the Hidden Fortress (International: English title)

1. Jinsei gekijô - Seishun hen (1958)

... aka Theater of Life (International: English title) ... aka Theater of Life: Youth Version (literal English title)

1. Chushingura (1958)

... aka The Loyal 47 Ronin

1. Nichiren to moko daishurai (1958)
2. Ten to sen (1958)

... aka The Dead End

1. Dotanba (1957)
2. Yuunagi (1957) .... Yasunori Igawa
3. Kiken na eiyu (1957)

... aka A Dangerous Hero

1. Hôkyaku no hanabira: kanketsuhen (1957)
2. Arakure (1957)

... aka Untamed ... aka Untamed Woman (USA: festival title)

1. Kono futari ni sachi are (1957)

... aka Be Happy, These Two Lovers ... aka Good Luck to These Two

1. Yama to kawa no aru machi (1957)

... aka A Path Through Mountains and Rivers (literal English title)

1. Kumonosu jô (1957) .... Noriyasu Odagura

... aka Cobweb Castle ... aka Macbeth (USA) ... aka Spider Web Castle ... aka The Castle of the Spider's Web ... aka Throne of Blood (USA: original subtitled version)

1. Hôkyaku no hanabira (1957)
2. Chikyu Boeigun (1957) .... Dr. Tanjiro Adachi

... aka Defence Force of the Earth ... aka Earth Defense Force ... aka The Mysterians (USA)

1. Ohtori-jo hanayome (1957)

... aka The Lord Takes a Bride

1. Narazu-mono (1956) .... Juzo

... aka Blackguard (literal English title) ... aka Scoundrel

1. Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) .... Dr. Kyohei Yamane

... aka Kaijû no Gojira (Japan)

1. Ankokugai (1956) .... Tsunejiro Furuya

... aka The Underworld

1. Kyatsu o nigasuna (1956) .... Nagasawa

... aka I Saw the Killer

1. Wakai ki (1956)

... aka Young Tree (International: English title)

1. Shin heike monogatari: Yoshinaka o meguru sannin no onna (1956) .... Saito

... aka Three Women Around Yoshinaka ... aka Yoshinaka and His Three Women

1. Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettô Ganryûjima (1956) .... Sado Nagaoka the court official

... aka Bushido (USA) ... aka Duel on Ganryu Island ... aka Kettô Ganryû-jima ... aka Musashi Miyamoto Conclusion: Ganryu Island Duel (literal English title) ... aka Musashi and Kojiro ... aka Samurai 3: Ketto Ganryujima ... aka Samurai III (USA: video title) ... aka Samurai III: Duel on Ganryu Island (USA)

1. Ikimono no kiroku (1955) .... Domestic Court Counselor Dr. Harada

... aka I Live In Fear: Record of a Living Being (International: English title) ... aka I Live in Fear (USA) ... aka Record of a Living Being ... aka What the Birds Knew

1. Geisha Konatsu: Hitori neru yo no Konatsu (1955) .... Sakuma

... aka The Tears of Geisha Konatsu

1. Muttsuri Umon torimonocho (1955)
2. Shin kurama tengu daisanbu (1955)
3. Sanjusan go sha otonashi (1955)

... aka No Response From Car 33

1. Otoko arite (1955) .... 'Sparrows' Coach Shimamura

... aka No Time for Tears ... aka There Was a Man (literal English title)

1. Mugibue (1955) .... Nobuo's father

... aka Love Never Fails (International: English title) ... aka The Grass Whistle

1. Gojira no gyakushû (1955) .... Kyohei Yamane-hakase

... aka Counterattack of the Monsters (USA: promotional title) ... aka Fire Monster ... aka Gigantis ... aka Gigantis the Fire Monster (USA) ... aka Godzilla Raids Again (USA: video title) ... aka Godzilla's Counter Attack (International: English title: literal title) ... aka Gojira Strikes Again ... aka Gojira's Counterattack ... aka The Return of Godzilla ... aka The Volcano Monster

1. Mekura neko (1955)
2. Bazoku geisha (1954) .... Kotaro Yamabe
3. Shin kurama tengu daini wa: Azuma-dera no ketto (1954)
4. Gojira (1954) .... Kyohei Yamane-hakase

... aka G ... aka Godzilla (USA)

1. Shin kurama tengu daiichi wa: Tengu shutsugen (1954)
2. Haha no hatsukoi (1954)

... aka Mother's First Love

1. Kimi shinitamo koto nakare (1954)
2. Asakusa no yoru (1954) .... Komazo
3. Shichinin no samurai (1954) .... Kambei Shimada

... aka Seven Samurai (UK) ... aka Shichi-nin no samurai (Japan: alternative transliteration) ... aka The Magnificent Seven ... aka The Seven Samurai (USA)

1. Jirochô sangokushi: kaitô-ichi no abarenbô (1954)
2. Taiheiyo no washi (1953) .... Colonel A, staff officer of the army

... aka Eagle of the Pacific

1. Yoru no owari (1953) .... Yoshikawa
2. Hoyo (1953) .... Watanabe, alias Nabesan

... aka Last Embrace ... aka The Last Embrace

1. Fuun senryobune (1952)
2. Minato e kita otoko (1952)

... aka The Man Who Came to Port ... aka The Man Who Went to Sea

1. Oka wa hanazakari (1952) .... Kenkichi Kimura
2. Ikiru (1952) .... Kanji Watanabe

... aka Doomed ... aka Living (International: English title) ... aka To Live (International: English title)

1. Bijo to touzoku (1952) .... Yoshimichi
2. Sengoku burai (1952)

... aka Sword for Hire ... aka Vagabonds in a Country at War (Japan: literal English title)

1. Saikaku ichidai onna (1952) .... Old Man

... aka Diary of Oharu ... aka Saikaku: Life of a Woman (literal English title) ... aka The Life of Oharu

1. Muteki (1952)

... aka Foghorn (USA) ... aka Kiribue (Japan)

1. Nangoku no hada (1952)

... aka The Skin of the South (International: English title)

1. Araki Mataemon: Kettô kagiya no tsuji (1952)

... aka Duel at Keymakers' Corner ... aka Vendetta of a Samurai (USA)

1. Bakurô ichidai (1951) .... Rokutaro Kosaka

... aka The Life of a Horsetrader

1. Hopu-san: sararîman no maki (1951)
2. Mesu inu (1951) .... Horie

... aka Bitch (literal English title)

1. Aoi shinju (1951)

... aka The Blue Pearl

The Den of Beasts (1951)
The Idiot (1951)
Elegy (1951)
Beyond Love and Hate (1951) Stolen Love (1951)
Rashômon (1950)
Angry Street (1950)
Scandal (1950) Ma no ogon (1950)
I'm the Bodyguard (1950)
Escape From Prison (1950)
Sanshiro at Ginza (1950)
Crazy Uproar (1950)
Stray Dog (1949)
Mori no Ishimatsu (1949)
Lady from Hell (1949)
The Quiet Duel (1949)
Onna no issho (1949)
Drunken Angel (1948)
Daini no jinsei (1948)
Spring Awakens (1947)
Snow Trail (1947)
24 Hours of a Secret Life (1947)
Four Love Stories (1947)
No Regrets for My Youth (1946)
Eleven Girl Students (1946)
Those Who Make Tomorrow (1946)
An Enemy of the People (1946)
The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail (1945)
Sagohei the Three-footer (1944)
The Most Beautiful (1944)
Colonel Kato's Flying Squadron (1944)
The Daily Battle (1944)
Kaigun (1943)
Sugata Sanshiro (1943)
Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijoji ketto (1942)
The Last Days of Edo (1941)
Miyamoto Musashi: Dai-san-bu - Kenshin ichiro (1940)
Fûunji Nobunaga (1940)
Tsubanari ronin (1939)
Singing Lovebirds (1939)
Shunjû ittôryû (1939)
Jigoku no mushi (1938)
Kurama tengu: Kakubei jishi no maki (1938)
Takadanobaba Duel (1937)
Jiraiya (Ninjutsu sanyôden) (1937)
Woman of Osaka (1936)
Capricious Young Man (1936)
Chuji uridasu (1935)

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