What's After the Movie
Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Kiyoshi Kobayashi was a prolific Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator whose career spanned more than six decades, from his debut in 1958 until his death in 2022. Born on 1933-01-11 in Bunkyō, Tokyo City, Japan, Kobayashi displayed an early talent for English during junior high school and initially aspired to become a writer, a dream that eventually led him to the theater department of Nihon University’s College of Art after a failed attempt to enter the University of Tokyo. Graduating from the arts department, he was instantly captivated by the stage, joining the theater company Izumi‑za where he performed as a stage actor and translated plays such as The Caine Mutiny, which opened the door to his parallel career in Japanese dubbing. His deep, resonant baritone quickly made him a sought‑after dubbing artist, becoming the exclusive Japanese voice of Hollywood legends James Coburn and Lee Marvin, and also providing voice work for Tommy Lee Jones, Jack Palance, and Franco Nero, among many others. Kobayashi’s most iconic role, however, was Daisuke Jigen in the Lupin the Third franchise, a character he voiced for over fifty years—from the pilot in 1969 through the first episode of Part 6 in 2021. The creator Monkey Punch deliberately modeled Jigen after James Coburn, making Kobayashi the natural choice to embody the charismatic, gun‑toting thief, and he remained the only original cast member after numerous cast changes in 2011. Throughout his career, Kobayashi was known for idiosyncratic recording habits, such as forgoing a pop filter and chewing caramel before a session, and for his heavy smoking, which became a legendary anecdote among studio staff. In the 2010s he reduced public smoking, yet studios occasionally granted special permission out of respect for his legacy. He retired from the role of Jigen in 2021, citing age and the 50th‑anniversary milestone, and was succeeded by Akio Otsuka. Kobayashi continued to narrate and appear in various productions until his passing from pneumonia on 2022-07-30, leaving an indelible imprint on Japanese voice acting and dubbing history.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Kiyoshi Kobayashi, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Kiyoshi Kobayashi rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Born: Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
Citizenship: Japanese
Birthday: January 11, 1933
Occupations: actor, voice actor, narrator
Years Active: 1958-2022
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Lupin III: The First
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Lupin the Third: The Last Job
Lupin the Third: Blood Seal of the Eternal Mermaid
Lupin the Third: Lupin Family Lineup
Lupin the Third: The Secret Page of Marco Polo
Lupin the Third: Princess of the Breeze
Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie
Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
Lupin the IIIrd: Jigen’s Gravestone
Lupin the Third: Italian Game
Lupin the IIIrd: Goemon’s Blood Spray
Lupin the Third: Is Lupin Still Burning?
Space Cop Gavan The Movie
Lupin the IIIrd: Fujiko’s Lie
Lupin III: The First
Lupin the Third: Missed by a Dollar
Lupin the Third: Alcatraz Connection
Lupin the Third: Return of Pycal
Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street
Lupin the Third: Goodbye Partner
Lupin the Third: Prison of the Past
Touch 5: Cross Road
Lupin the Third: Episode 0: First Contact
Crayon Shin-chan: Invoke a Storm! The Kasukabe Boys of the Evening Sun
Lupin the Third: Operation: Return the Treasure
Cromartie High School: The Movie
Lupin the Third: Angel Tactics
Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God
Lupin the Third: Seven Days Rhapsody
Lupin the 3rd: The Elusiveness of the Fog
Lupin the Third: The Hemingway Papers
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OVA: Journey to Egypt
Riki-Oh 2: Child of Destruction
Twelve Months
Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
Violence Jack: Hell’s Wind
Lupin the Third: Napoleon’s Dictionary
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
Megazone 23
Lupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder
Sword for Truth
Crusher Joe
Golgo 13: The Professional
The Humanoid
Violence Jack: Harem Bomber
Violence Jack: Evil Town
Crusher Joe: The Ice Prison
Lupin the Third: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty
Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie
Goku II: Midnight Eye
Demon City Shinjuku
BEM: BECOME HUMAN
Grey: Digital Target
Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Demon Island!
Kamen Rider Black: Terror! Demon Mansion at Devil’s Pass
Crusher Joe: The OVAs
Crusher Joe: The Ultimate Weapon: Ash
Amon Saga
Love City
The Story of Perrine
Mazinger Z vs. Devilman
Mazinger Z vs The Great Dark General
Lupin the Third: Pilot Film
Galaxy Express 999: Can You Live Like a Warrior!!
The Star of the Seine
Lupin the Third: The Mystery of Mamo
Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao’s Treasure
Lupin the Third: Green vs Red
Lupin the Third: From Siberia with Love
Lupin the Third: Sweet Lost Night
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Afterglow of Zeon
Future Boy Conan
Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive
Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro
Lupin the Third: Farewell to Nostradamus
Lupin the Third: Voyage to Danger
Lupin the Third: Dragon of Doom
Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan
Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis
Death Note Relight 2: L’s Successors
Lupin the Third: The Secret of Twilight Gemini
Lupin the Third: The Columbus Files
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Kiyoshi Kobayashi, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2019
Lupin the IIIrd: Fujiko’s Lie
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin III: The First
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: Goodbye Partner
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: Prison of the Past
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
2013
Lupin the Third: Princess of the Breeze
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Space Pirate Captain Harlock
Roujin (voice)
2012
Lupin the Third: Lupin Family Lineup
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: The Secret Page of Marco Polo
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Space Cop Gavan The Movie
Narrator
2008
Lupin the Third: Green vs Red
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: Sweet Lost Night
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Death Note Relight 2: L’s Successors
Watari (voice)
2007
Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God
Watari (voice)
Lupin the 3rd: The Elusiveness of the Fog
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
2005
Cromartie High School: The Movie
Space Apeman Gori / Narrator (voice)
Lupin the Third: Angel Tactics
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
2004
Crayon Shin-chan: Invoke a Storm! The Kasukabe Boys of the Evening Sun
Justice Love
Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
2002
Lupin the Third: Return of Pycal
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street
James Moriarty (voice)
Lupin the Third: Episode 0: First Contact
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
2001
Lupin the Third: Alcatraz Connection
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Touch 5: Cross Road
Franklin Beaumont (voice)
2000
Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Lupin the Third: Missed by a Dollar
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OVA: Journey to Egypt
Muhammad Avdol (voice)
1996
Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: The Secret of Twilight Gemini
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
1995
Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao’s Treasure
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Lupin the Third: Farewell to Nostradamus
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
1992
Lupin the Third: From Siberia with Love
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Afterglow of Zeon
Aguille Delaz (voice)
1990
Lupin the Third: The Hemingway Papers
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Riki-Oh 2: Child of Destruction
Shinkichi Fukao (voice)
Violence Jack: Hell’s Wind
Dante
Sword for Truth
Narrator (voice)
1989
Lupin the Third: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Wrath of the Ninja: The Yotoden Movie
Gen'yusai
Goku II: Midnight Eye
Zenzō Kadoma (voice)
Crusher Joe: The OVAs
Talos (voice)
1988
Violence Jack: Evil Town
Jack
Demon City Shinjuku
Levi Ra (voice)
Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Demon Island!
Narrator (voice)
Kamen Rider Black: Terror! Demon Mansion at Devil’s Pass
Narrator (voice)
1986
The Humanoid
Alan (voice)
Violence Jack: Harem Bomber
Jack
Grey: Digital Target
Red (voice)
Amon Saga
Love City
Kuu Ragua Lee
1985
Megazone 23
Eigen Yumekanou (voice)
Lupin the Third: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon
Daisuke Jigen (voice)
Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Last Red Shoulder
Gregore Garosh
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