Toshirō Mifune
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.
Movies
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
Picture Bride
The Benshi
Deep River
Tsukada
Shadow of the Wolf
Kroomak
Journey of Honor
Ieyasu Tokugawa
Strawberry Road
Taoka
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Nagao Tamekage
Death of a Tea Master
Rikyu Sen-no
cf Girl
Shūichirō Hase
The Demon Comes in Spring
Kukkune no jî
Princess from the Moon
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
The Retired Samurai
Hikozaemon Ōkubo
Tora-san Goes North
Junkichi Ueno
The Shatterer
Murai
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Kyūbei Matsufuji
No More God, No More Love
Kōzō Kanzaki
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Fisherman
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Shūsai Kondō
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
The Women of Osaka Castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
Battle Anthem
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Sanjuro Hinoki
Theater Of Life
Hyōtarō Aonari
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Sanjuro Hinoki
Domineering
Masao Tadokoro
The Challenge
Toru Yoshida
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Tamon Umei
Lowly Ronin
Sanjuro Hinoki
The Bushido Blade
Shogun's Commander
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Tamon Umei
Inchon
Saito-San
Port Arthur
Emperor Meiji
1941
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Sadanobu Matsudaira
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
Winter Kills
Keith
Lord Mito
Sakuzaemon Okumura
The Fall of Ako Castle
Tsuchiya Michinao
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Kosuke Oishi
Love and Faith
Taiko Hideyoshi
Shag
Captain Takeo Murata
Shogun's Samurai
Yoshinao Tokugawa
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Kosuke Oishi
Proof of the Man
Yohei Kori
Midway
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Paper Tiger
Ambassador Kagoyama
Red Sun
Kuroda Jubei
The Militarists
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
The Walking Major
Kinugasa Tadao
Incident at Blood Pass
Yojimbo
The Ambitious
Shojiro Goto
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Yojimbo/Sasa
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Isami Kondo
Red Lion
Gonzo
Battle of the Japan Sea
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
Safari 5000
Yūichirō Takase
Samurai Banners
Kansuke Yamamoto
Hell in the Pacific
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
The Day the Sun Rose
Kumaza
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
The Sands of Kurobe
Kitagawa
Japan's Longest Day
War Minister General Korechika Anami
Samurai Rebellion
Isaburo Sasahara
Grand Prix
Izō Yamura
The Mad Atlantic
Heihachirô Murakami
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Osami
The Sword of Doom
Toranosuke Shimada
Rise Against the Sword
Abare Gōemon
Fort Graveyard
Sergeant Kosugi
The Retreat from Kiska
Omura
Sanshiro Sugata
Shogoro Yano
Red Beard
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
Samurai Assassin
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
Whirlwind
Lord Akashi
Samurai Pirate
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
Legacy of the 500,000
Takeichi Matsuo
High and Low
Kingo Gondo
Attack Squadron
Lt. Colonel Senda
Chûshingura
Genba Tawaraboshi
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Zhang Zhizhang
Home-Brewed Tatsu
Tatsu
Sanjuro
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
The Important Man
Ánimas Trujano
The Youth and His Amulet
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
Yojimbo
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
The Masterless 47 – Part II
Daredevil in the Castle
Mohei
The Masterless 47
Kazuo Momoi
The Bad Sleep Well
Kôichi Nishi
Man Against Man
Kaji
The Storm of the Pacific
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
The Gambling Samurai
Kunisada Chuji
The Last Gunfight
Detective Saburo Fujioka
The Three Treasures
Prince Yamato Takeru
Desperado Outpost
Battalion Commander
Saga of the Vagabonds
Rokuro Kai
Samurai Saga
Heihachiro Komaki
The Big Boss
Kashimura
The Hidden Fortress
General Rokurota Makabe
Theater of Life
All About Marriage
Acting teacher
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Toshinoshin Taya
The Rickshaw Man
Matsugorō Tomishima
Holiday in Tokyo
Tenkai's nephew Jirō
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Tasaburo
Down Town
Yoshio Tsuruishi
The Lower Depths
Sutekichi the Thief
A Dangerous Hero
Kawada
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Tasaburō Kasumi
Good Luck to These Two
Toshio Maruyama
A Man in the Storm
Saburō Watari
Throne of Blood
Taketoki Washizu
Rebels on the High Sea
Matsuo Tokuzō
Scoundrel
Kanji
A Wife's Heart
Kenkichi
Settlement of Love
Shuntarō Ōhira
The Underworld
Chief Inspector Kumada
Rainy Night Duel
Masahiko Koseki
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
I Live in Fear
Kiichi Nakajima
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
No Time for Tears
Mitsuo Yano
All is Well 2
Daikichi Risshun
All is Well
Daikichi Risshun
A Man Among Men
"Buick" Maki
The Black Fury
Eiichi Tsuda
The Surf
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
Seven Samurai
Kikuchiyo
The Eagle of the Pacific
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
Sunflower Girl
Ippei Hitachi
The Last Embrace
Shinkichi / Hayakawa
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Matsumura
The Man Who Came to Port
Gorō Niinuma
Swift Current
Shunsuke Kosugi
Tokyo Sweetheart
Kurokawa
Sword for Hire
Sasa Hayatenosuke
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
The Life of Oharu
Katsunosuke
Foghorn
Chiyokichi
Vendetta of a Samurai
Mataemon Araki
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Mizuno
The Life of a Horse Trader
Yonetaro Katayama
Sasaki Kojiro
Miyamoto Musashi
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Kenji Kawakami
Pirates
Tora
The Idiot
Denkichi Akama
Elegy
Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
Beyond Love and Hate
Gorō Sakata
Rashomon
Tajômaru
Wedding Ring
Takeshi Ema
Scandal
Ichirô Aoye
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Teisaku Nagasawa
Escape from Prison
Shinkichi
Stray Dog
Det. Murakami
Jakoman and Tetsu
Tetsu
The Quiet Duel
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
Drunken Angel
Matsunaga
These Foolish Times
Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
Snow Trail
Eijima
TV Series
Burning Mountain River
Otsuichi Amo
51 Episodes
Tuesday Suspense Theater
1 Episode
Sekigahara
Sakon Shima
3 Episodes
Shōgun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
5 Episodes
The 47 Ronins of Ako
Tachibana Sakon
36 Episodes
Falcons of Edo
Kanbei Uchiyama
38 Episodes
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Mr. Danna
11 Episodes
Ronin of the Wastelands
Kujuro Toge
13 Episodes
Epic Chushingura
Oishi Kuranosuke
52 Episodes