Ichirō Arishima

Ichirō Arishima (有島 一郎, Arishima Ichirō, March 1, 1916 – July 20, 1987) was a Japanese comedian and actor.[1] Nicknamed "The Japanese Chaplin",[2][3] he is best known outside Japan for his appearance as Tako, the promoter of King Kong in King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962).

Ichirō Arishima
有島 一郎
Arishima in 1955
Born
Tadao Oshima

March 1, 1916
DiedJuly 20, 1987 (aged 71)
NationalityJapanese
OccupationActor
Years active1933-1987

Arishima's real name was Tadao Oshima.[1] He was born in Nagoya[1] and both of his parents died when he was a teenager. His love of the theater began in childhood, and he moved to Tokyo in 1936 to pursue that interest. He spent the next decade working with various theatrical troupes until he made his film debut in 1947, with Shochiku Studios.[4] He became a household name in Japan after his move to Toho in 1955.[4][1] At Toho he was featured in two very popular series, the "Wakadaishō series" ("Young Guy") movies starring Yūzō Kayama,[4] and the "Shacho" ("Company President") movies[4] featuring the Crazy Cats (クレージーキャッツ) comedy team.[1] In addition to Ishirō Honda's King Kong vs. Godzilla, Arishima appeared in two Toho fantasy films directed by Senkichi Taniguchi: The Lost World of Sinbad (Daitozoku) (1963) and The Adventure of Taklamakan (Kiganjō no bōken) (1966). In 1972, he left Toho and a freelance actor.[4]

Arishima's slight physical build contrasted well with the portly comedian Frankie Sakai, leading to their teaming in several comedies. He was also popular on several television shows, one of his last roles being "Kanō Gorōzaemon," the elderly advisor to the shogun in Abarenbō Shōgun.[1]

Filmography

Film

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1953 Ojōsan shachō Tetsutaro Kaitani
1954 Shichihenge tanuki goten Yamizaemon
1955 Midori haruka ni
1958 The Badger Palace
Tōkyō no kyūjitsu Photographer
1959 The Birth of Japan Gods of Yaoyorozu
1961 Daigaku no Wakadaishō Tanuma Hisataro
1962 King Kong vs. Godzilla Mr. Tako
Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki Denpachirô Okado
1963 The Lost World of Sinbad Sennin
1964 You Can Succeed, Too Ômori
1965 Ironfinger Detective Tezuka
1967 Kyu-chan no Dekkai Yume
1970 Machibuse Tokubei
1979 Nihon no Fixer Heikichi Shibuya
1987 Maison Ikkoku Otonashi's Father

Television

References

  1. "Ichirō Arishima". kotobannk. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. Ryfle, Steve; Godziszewski, Ed (2017). Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. Wesleyan University Press. p. 236. ISBN 9780819570871.
  3. Tucker, Guy (Fall 1991). The Magazine of Japanese Fantasy. Markalite. p. 91.
  4. "有島 一郎". 映画DB. Retrieved August 1, 2021.


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