Akiji Kobayashi
Acting • Born 1930-09-06 – Died 1996-08-27
Biography
Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.
Filmography
100 credits
47 Ronin
Movie • 1994
Kwaidan
Movie • 1965
(segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril
Movie • 1972
Narrator
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Movie • 1991
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
Youth of the Beast
Movie • 1963
Tatsuo Nomoto
Getting Any?
Movie • 1995
Chief of World Defence Force
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Movie • 1992
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
Movie • 1972
Ozunu Kurokuwa
Foundry Town
Movie • 1962
Hei-san
Pleasures of the Flesh
Movie • 1965
Mari's pimp
The Kagestar: The Movie
Movie • 1976
Inspector Tonda
Five Riders vs. King Dark
Movie • 1974
Tobei Tachibana
Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants
Movie • 1973
Tobei Tachibana
Go Go Kamen Rider
Movie • 1971
Tobei Tachibana
Kamen Rider vs. Shocker
Movie • 1972
Tobei Tachibana
The Inugami Family
Movie • 1976
Kokichi Inugami
Immortal Kamen Rider Special
Movie • 1979
Tobei Tachibana
This Transient Life
Movie • 1970
Run, Melos!
Movie • 1992
Dionysus II (voice)
Lullaby to Kill
Movie • 1977
Koreya Kusakabe (manager)
Mandala
Movie • 1971
Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders
Movie • 1975
Tobei Tachibana
Kogarashi Monjirō Returns
Movie • 1993
The Men Who Made Ultraman
Movie • 1989
The Curse of the Ghost
Movie • 1969
Naosuke
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman
Movie • 1979
Captain Toshio Muramatsu
Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars
Movie • 1990
Detective
Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Waterspout Monsters
Movie • 1971
Captain Takamura
Master Swordsman Hirate Miki - Duel in Tone
Movie • 1997
The Tale of Jean Valjean
Movie • 1979
Jean Valjean (voice)
Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 5 - The Mystery of the Skull Wife
Movie • 1971
Harakiri
Movie • 1962
Black Rain
Movie • 1989
Katayama
Intruders
Movie • 1963
Ichiro Honma
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Movie • 1959
Nonaka Shôi
Like the Clouds, Like the Wind
Movie • 1990
Konton
The Longest Tunnel
Movie • 1982
Shogun Assassin
Movie • 1980
Lord Kurogawa
Death Shadows
Movie • 1986
Ultraman Zearth
Movie • 1996
Fisherman
Queen Bee
Movie • 1978
Detective Kogure
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature
Movie • 1967
Capt. Toshio Muramatsu
Ultraman: Terror on Route 87
Movie • 1989
Toshio Muramatsu
Daigoro vs. Goliath
Movie • 1972
Hitoshi Suzuki
Fight of the Gamblers
Movie • 1963
Kamen Rider Amazon: The Movie
Movie • 1975
Tōbei Tachibana
Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell
Movie • 1972
Tōbei Tachibana
Kamen Rider V3: The Movie
Movie • 1973
Tōbei Tachibana
Internal Sleuth
Movie • 1973
Island of Hell
Movie • 1977
Takezo
Kamen Rider SD: Strange?! Kumo Otoko
Movie • 1993
Toubei Tachibana (voice)
Lonely Heart
Movie • 1981
Prison Break
Movie • 1969
Karate Cop
Movie • 1982
Asst Chief Fuji
Kamen Rider Stronger: The Movie
Movie • 1975
Tôbei Tachibana
Desperate Pursuit
Movie • 1986
Inoue
All Together! Seven Kamen Riders!!
Movie • 1976
Tōbei Tachibana
Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle
Movie • 1979
Toshio Muramatsu
Suspicion
Movie • 1982
Chief of Police, Ishihara
Koto: The Ancient City
Movie • 1980
The House of Hanging
Movie • 1979
Sannosuke
Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
Movie • 1972
Utamaro's World
Movie • 1977
The Black Hood
Movie • 1981
Noh Mask Murders
Movie • 1991
The Makioka Sisters
Movie • 1983
Seitaro Jinba
The Pirates of Buban
Movie • 1972
The Birth of Ultraman
Movie • 1966
Toshio Muramatsu
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
Movie • 1996
Senior sergeant
Yuki
Movie • 1981
Jinjii (voice)
The Empty Table
Movie • 1985
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
Movie • 1972
Narrator
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Movie • 1982
Bakumatsu seishun graffiti: Ronin Sakamoto Ryoma
Movie • 1986
Hanazuki
Revive! Ultraman
Movie • 1996
Afternoon When Flowers Fell
Movie • 1989
The Woman Who Calls for Corpses
Movie • 1973
The Return of the Filthy Seven
Movie • 1967
The Shogun Assassins
Movie • 1979
Lady on 6th Street: Taste of Honey
Movie • 1982
Kodera
The Father of Ultra Q
Movie • 1966
The 8-Tomb Village
Movie • 1996
Kamen Rider
TV • 1971
Tobei Tachibana
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories
TV • 1968
Professional Killers
TV • 1972
The Kagestar
TV • 1976
Inspector Keibu Tonda
宇宙少年ソラン
TV • 1965
ワイラー
Kojika Monogatari
TV • 1983
ペニー
Tales of the Bizarre
TV • 1990
Ultraman
TV • 1966
Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
The 47 Ronins of Ako
TV • 1979
Hara Soemon
Ie Naki Ko
TV • 1994
Attack, Jun
TV • 1979
Kamen Rider V3
TV • 1973
Tobei Tachibana
Kamen Rider X
TV • 1974
Tobei Tachibana
Kamen Rider Stronger
TV • 1975
Tobei Tachibana
Kamen Rider Amazon
TV • 1974
Tobei Tachibana
Fushoku no kōzō
TV • 1977
Detective Okawa
Kamen Norider
TV • 1988
Tobei Tachibana
Seibu Keisatsu
TV • 1979