Keiju Kobayashi

Keiju Kobayashi was a prominent Japanese actor born on 23 November 1923 in Gunma, Japan. Embarking on an illustrious career that spanned over six decades, Kobayashi featured in no less than 253 films. His journey began at the Nikkatsu studio, and he made his grand entrance into the world of acting with his film debut in 1942. Known for his versatile acting skills, in 1956, Kobayashi moved to the Toho film company. He was a renowned figure in the Company President (Shachō) comedy films, where he worked with esteemed actors like Hisaya Morishige, Daisuke Katō, and Norihei Miki. His commendable portrayal of the post-war salaryman was particularly well-received. In a testament to his extraordinary acting abilities, he bagged the best actor award at the Mainichi Film Awards multiple times, most notably for films such as 'The Naked General', 'Kuroi gashū', and 'The Elegant Life of Mr Everyman'. He worked under acclaimed directors like Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, and Kihachi Okamoto, lending his talent to a variety of unique characters. Despite shifting primarily to television in the late 1960s, he continued to deliver powerful performances. He also lent his voice to the character 'Shirō Nishi' in the Studio Ghibli anime film 'Whisper of the Heart' in 1995. Kobayashi passed away on 16 September 2010 due to heart failure at the age of 86.