Shintaro katsu biography books
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Shintaro Katsu (勝 新太郎, Shintarō Katsu?), born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio, November 29, —June 21, ; nicknamed Katsu-shin) was a Japanese actor, singer, producer, and director. He was the son of kabuki performer Katsutoji Kineya (Kineya Katsutōji) who was renowned for his nagauta and shamisen skills, younger brother of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama (Wakayama Tomisaburō), husband of actress Tamao Nakamura (married in ), and father of actor Ryutaro Gan (Gan Ryūtarō).
His best known role was as blind Yakuza anma (masseur) Zatoichi in the series of films by the same name, which were very popular in the s and s. Katsu played Zatoichi in 25 movies between and , starred and directed a 26th in and played the role in kvartet seasons of a spin-off television series, the role comprising almost 30 years of his career.
Katsu became a force to be reckoned with within the Japanese entertainment industry during his long and varied career, not the least of which was the company Katsu Productions,
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Long before pop culture phenomenon Zatoichi was born to Japanese cinema, the man who gave him life, Shintaro Katsu, made his first appearance on the world scen. The year was , the date November His father, Minoru Okuyama, named him Toshio (his older brother Masaru was born in ). Minoru was a player of shamisen (three string Japanese lute), specializing in a classical music style called
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Shintaro Katsu
Japanese actor (–)
Shintaro Katsu | |
|---|---|
Shintaro Katsu in | |
| Born | Toshio Okumura ()29 November Fukagawa, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | 21 June () (aged65) Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, producer, writer and director |
| Yearsactive | –97 |
| Spouse | Tamao Nakamura |
Shintaro Katsu (Japanese: 勝 新太郎, Hepburn: Katsu Shintarō, 29 November – 21 June ) was a Japanese actor, singer, and filmmaker. He is known for starring in the Akumyo series, the Hoodlum Soldier series, and the Zatoichi series.
Life and career
[edit]Born Toshio Okumura (奥村 利夫 Okumura Toshio) on 29 November He was the son of Minoru Okumura (奥村 実), a noted kabuki performer who went by the stage name Katsutōji Kineya (杵屋 勝東治) and who was renowned for his nagauta and shamisen skills. He was the younger brother of actor Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Shintaro Katsu began his career in entertainment as a shamisen player. He switched to acting because he noticed i