Tomisaburo Wakayama

Tomisaburō Wakayama (若山 富三郎, Wakayama Tomisaburō, September 1, 1929 – April 2, 1992), born Masaru Okumura (奥村 勝),[1] was a Japanese actor best known for playing Ogami Ittō, the scowling, 19th-century ronin warrior in the six Lone Wolf and Cub samurai films.[1][2]

Tomisaburō Wakayama
Tomisaburō Wakayama
Wakayama appearing as Ogami Ittō in
the Lone Wolf and Cub movie series
Born
Masaru Okumura

(1929-09-01)September 1, 1929
Fukagawa, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
DiedApril 2, 1992(1992-04-02) (aged 62)
Kyoto, Japan
OccupationActor
Years active1955–1991
SpouseReiko Fujiwara (1963–1965)

Biography

Wakayama (his stage name)[3] was born on September 1, 1929, in Fukagawa, a district in Tokyo, Japan.[1] His father was Minoru Okumura (奥村 実), a noted kabuki performer and nagauta singer who went by the stage name Katsutōji Kineya (杵屋 勝東治),[4][1] and the family as a whole were kabuki performers. He and his younger brother, Shintaro Katsu, followed their father in the theater.[1] Wakayama tired of this; at the age of 13, he began to study judo, eventually achieving the rank of 4th dan black belt in the art.[1]

In 1952, as part of the Azuma Kabuki troupe, Wakayama toured the United States of America for nine months.[2] He gave up theater performance completely after his two-year term with the troupe was over.[1] Wakayama taught judo until Toho recruited him as a new martial arts star in their jidaigeki movies,[1] originally using the stage name "Jō Kenzaburō". He prepared for these movies by practicing other disciplines, including kenpō, iaidō, kendo, and bōjutsu.[1] All this helped him for roles (now using the stage name "Wayakama Tomisaburō") in the television series The Mute Samurai,[4] the 1975 television series Shokin Kasegi (The Bounty Hunter),[4] and his most famous film role: Ogami Ittō, the Lone Wolf.

Wakayama went on to star in many films, performing in a variety of roles. It has been estimated that he appeared in between 250 and 500 films.[4] His only roles in American movies were as a baseball coach in The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) and as a yakuza boss, Sugai, in Ridley Scott's Black Rain (1989) that delivers a memorable English monologue that becomes a defining moment for the film, and the film's title.[4][5]

Wakayama died of acute heart failure on April 2, 1992, in a hospital in Kyoto.[1][4] He was survived by a son, Kiichirō Wakayama (若山 騎一郎) born in 1964, also an actor.[6]

Filmography

Film

Wakayama appeared in the following films, amongst others.

1955–1959
  • Banba no Chûtarô (1955) - Banba no Chutaro
  • Uta matsuri mangetsu tanuki-gassen (1955)
  • Gyakushu orochimaru (1955) - Toyama Yunosuke
  • Silver Snake Iwashiya (1956)
  • Yotsuya kaidan (1956) - Iemon Tamiya
  • Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Yôen roku shibijin (1956) - Ningyo Sashichi
  • Yôun Satomi kaikyoden (1956) - Inuzuka Shino
  • Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Ôedo Ushimitsudoki (1957) - Ningyo Sashichi
  • Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Hanayome Satsujinma (1957) - Ningyo Sashichi
  • Kanhasshû ken kajin (1958)
  • Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Ukiyoburo no Shibijin (1958) - Ningyo Sashichi
  • Ningyô Sashichi torimonochô: Koshimoto Irezumi Shibijin (1958) - Ningyo Sashichi
  • Doto no taiketsu (1959)
  • Fukaku hichô (1959)
  • Fukaku hichô: kanketsuhen (1959)
  • Chiyari musô (1959)
  • Hibari torimonochô: furisode koban (1959)
  • Yukinojô henge (1959)
  • Hayate monzaburo (1959)
  • Rage (1959)

1960-1969
  • Hibari no mori no ishimatsu (1960) - Shimizu No Jirocho - Boss Of The Tokaido
  • Tenpô rokkasen - Jigoku no hanamichi (1960)
  • Jirochô kesshôki: Nagurikomi kôjinyama (1960) - Okita Soji
  • Tenryu haha koi gasa (1960)
  • Shoretsu shinsengumi - bakumatsu no doran (1960) - Okita Soji
  • Oja kissa (1960)
  • Ninkyo Nakasendo (1960) - Omasa
  • Hibari Juhachiban Benten Kozo (1960)
  • Hachisu chikemuri gasa (1961)
  • Yami ni warau tekkamen (1961)
  • Tekka Daimyo ("Lord of Steel Heart") (1961)
  • Ghost of Oiwa (1961)
  • Megitsune henge (1961)
  • Kengo tengu matsuri (1961) - Iishiro Shurinosuke
  • Kaidan Oiwa no borei (1961) - Tamiya Iemon
  • Charinko kaido (1961)
  • Kisaragi musô ken (1962) - Hayatomasa Tachibana
  • Seizoroi kanhasshu (1962)
  • Zatoichi 2 (1962)[4]- Nagisa no Yoshirō (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
  • Ninja 1 (1962) - Oda Nobunaga
  • Love for a Mother (1962)
  • Shinsengumi shimatsuki (1963) - Isami Kondô (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
  • Teuchi (1963) - Shindo Genjiro
  • Kaidan onibi no numa (1963) - Saburôta Nishina
  • Ninja 2 (1963) - Oda Nobunaga
  • Ninja 3 (1963) - Oda Nobunaga
  • Maiko to ansatsusha (1963)
  • Yôsô (1963) - Prime Minister
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death: The Chinese Jade (1963) - Chen Sun (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
  • Hana no kodokan (1963)
  • Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)[4] - Jushiro
  • Shinobi no mono: Zoku Kirigakure Saizô (1964) - Sanada Yukimura
  • Meiji taitei goichidaiki (1964) - Soldier charging Chinese fortress
  • Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Seduction (1964) - Chen Sun (credited as Jō Kenzaburō)
  • Ninja 4 (1964) - Sanada Yukimura
  • Gaijin bôchi no ketto (1964)
  • Kojiki taishō (1964)
  • Virgin Witnessed (1966) - Gyôshun
  • A Brave Generous Era (1966)
  • Ôtazune mono shichinin (1966)
  • Fraternal Honor: Three Brothers of Kanto (1966) - Akoshima Isamu
  • Bakuchiuchi ("The Gambler) (1967)[7]
  • Zoku Toseinin (1967) - Sakamoto
  • Toseinin (1967) - Hirose
  • Hokkai yûkyôden (1967)
  • Choueki juhachi-nen: kari shutsugoku (1967)
  • Choueki juhachi-nen (1967)
  • Bakuchi uchi (1967) - Ozeki Isamu
  • Zenka mono (1968)
  • Kaettekita gokudo (1968) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Ikasama bakuchi (1968)
  • Hibotan bakuto ("Red Peony Gambler") (1968)[8] - Torakichi Kumasaka
  • Jinsei-gekijô: Hishakaku to kiratsune (1968)
  • Hibotan bakuto: Isshuku ippan (1968) - Torakichi Kumazaka
  • Bakuto retsuden (1968) - Adachi Sanji
  • Yôen dokufu-den hannya no ohyaku (1968) - Boss Minokichi of Otowa
  • Otoko no shobu: byakko no tetsu (1968)
  • Kyôdai jingi gyakuen no sakazuki (1968)
  • Heitai gokudo (1968)
  • Ballad of Murder (1968)
  • Gokudo (1968) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Wicked Priest (1968) - Mikuni Shinkai
  • Daigashi (1968)
  • Bakuchi-uchi: Socho tobaku (1968) - Tetsuo Matsuda
  • Nunnery Confidential (1968)
  • Hibotan bakuto: Hanafuda shôbu (1969) - Torakichi Kumasaka
  • Tabi ni deta gokudo (1969) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Quick-draw Okatsu (1969) - Bounty hunter
  • Shokin kasegi (1969) - Shikoru Ichibei
  • Hissatsu bakuchi-uchi (1969)
  • Red Peony: The Hanafuda Game (1969)
  • Memoir of Japanese Assassins (1969)
  • Gonin no Shôkin Kasegi (1969) - Shikoro Ichibei
  • Tosei-nin Retsuden (1969) - Kaku
  • Boss (1969)[9] - Sakata Yoshinobu
  • Nihon boryoku-dan: Kumicho (1969) - Miyahara
  • Matteita gokudo (1969) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Gorotsuki butai (1969)
  • Gokudô bôzu: Nenbutsu hitokiri tabi (1969)
  • Gendai yakuza: Yotamono no okite (1969)
  • Chôeki san kyôdai (1969)

1970–1979
  • Hibotan bakuto: Oryû sanjô (1970) - Torakichi Kumasaka
  • Bakuchi-uchi: Nagaremono (1970) - Yoshii Yusaku
  • Nippon dabi katsukyu (1970)
  • Saigo no tokkôtai (1970)
  • Gokuaku bozu hitokiri kazoe uta (1970) - Shinkai
  • Blind Yakuza Monk (1970) - Dr. Mitamura
  • Thugs of Shinjuku (1970) - Senior yakuza at funeral (uncredited)
  • Shiruku hatto no ô-oyabun: Chobi-hige no kuma (1970)
  • Shiruku hatto no ô-oyabun (1970)
  • Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Hagure Okami (1970)
  • Sengo hiwa, hoseki ryakudatsu (1970)
  • Nihon boryoku-dan: Kumicho kuzure (1970)
  • Hakurai jingi: Kapone no shatei (1970)
  • Gokudo kyojo tabi (1970) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Gokudo Kamagasaki ni kaeru (1970) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Gokuaku bozu nenbutsu sandangiri (1970) - Shinkai
  • Underground Syndicate (1970)
  • Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) - Yonabaru - Koza downtown boss
  • A Boss with the Samurai Spirit (1971) - Capone
  • Bakuchi-uchi: Inochi-huda (1971) - Kobayashi Kanji
  • Gokuaku bozu - Nomu utsu kau (1971)
  • Nihon yakuza-den: Sôchiyô e no michi (1971) - Torakichi Ohmatsu
  • Hibotan bakuto: Oinochi itadaki masu (1971) - Torakichi Kumasaka
  • Kaoyaku (1971) - Hoshino
  • Nippon akuninden (1971) - Kumai
  • Nihon aku nin den (1971)
  • Kizudarake no seishun (1971) - Mihashi Tetsuo
  • Boryokudan sai buso (1971)
  • Bakuto kirikomi-tai (1971) - Yano
  • Akû oyabûn tai daigashî (1971)
  • Hibotan bakuto: Jingi tooshimasu (1972)
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)[4][10] - Ogami Ittō
  • Kizu darake jinsei furui do de gonzansu (1972)
  • Cherry Blossom Fire Gang (1972) - Master Kofusai Donju
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)[4][11] - Ogami Ittō
  • Gokudo makari touru (1972) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)[4] - Ogami Ittō
  • Kînagashî hyâkunîn (1972)
  • Shôkin kubi: Isshun Hachi-nin Giri (1972) - Shikoro Ichibei
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)[4] - Ogami Ittō
  • Nihon Aku Nin Den: Jigoku No Michizure (1972)
  • Bakuchi-uchi Gaiden (1972)
  • Sakura no Daimon (1973)
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)[4] - Ogami Itto
  • Kamagasaki gokudo (1973) - Shimamura Seikichi, movie star
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell (1974)[4][12] - Ogami Itto
  • Gokudo VS Mamushi (1974)
  • Datsugoku Hiroshima satsujinshû (1974) - Okamoto Seijiro
  • New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1974) - Aoki Naotake
  • ESPY (1974) - Ulrov
  • Gokudo VS furyô banchô (1974) - Shimamura Seikichi
  • Gotô hoka sâtsujin shû (1975)
  • Bôryoku kinmyaku (1975)
  • Yukâi na gokudo (1976)
  • Akuma no temari-uta (1977) - Inspector Isokawa
  • Devil's Bouncing Ball Song (1977) - Tatsuo Honda
  • Sugata Sanshiro (1977) - Murai
  • Torakku yarô: Otoko ippiki momojirô (1977)
  • The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978)[10] - Coach Shimizu
  • Hi no Tori ("The Phoenix") (1978) - Sarutahaiko, General of the Yamatai
  • Oh My Son (1979) - Shuzo Kawase
  • Distant Tomorrow (1979) - Iwasa

1980–1989
  • Chichi yo haha yo! (1980) - Asakawa Senjo
  • Shogun Assassin (1980)[2][4] - Lone Wolf
  • Seishun no mon ("The Gate of Youth") (1981) - Ryugoro Hanawa
  • Flames of Blood (1981) - Seihachi
  • Makai Tenshō ("Samurai Reincarnation") (1981) - Lord Tajima no Kami Munenori Yagyu
  • Moeru yusha (1981) - Goro Kaji
  • The Shootout (1982) - Yabuki
  • Conquest (1982) - Tsuyoshi Gonno
  • Irezumi: Spirit of Tattoo (1982) - Kyogoro / the Tatto Artist
  • Shōsetsu Yoshida gakkō (1983) - Bukichi Miki
  • Hakujasho (1983) - Ekai Kanamishima
  • Jinsei gekijo ("Theater of Life") (1984)
  • Shura no mure (1984)
  • Story of the Yamashita Boy (1985) - Yamashita Taizo, Cho's father
  • A Promise (1986) - Detective Tagami
  • Michi (1986) - Naokichi Sakura
  • Shinran: Shiroi michi ("Shinran: Path to Purity") (1987) - Homen
  • Daireikai: Shindara dou naru (1989)
  • Shaso (1989) - Kazuo Otagaki
  • Black Rain (1989)[4][5] - Sugai Kunio
  • Tanba Tetsuro no daireikai shindara dounaru (1989) - God

1990
  • Jotei: Kasuga no tsubone (1990)
  • Checkmate (1991) - Sanae Mitamura

Television

References
  1. Leous, G. (c. 2003): Tomisaburo Wakayama Retrieved on May 23, 2010.
  2. Stout, J. (1981): "Tomisaburo Wakayama: The Anti-Hero of Shogun Assassin." Martial Arts Movies (August), 1(2):26–33.
  3. Lame d'un père, l'âme d'un sabre (2005). Wild Side Films. Event occurs at 34.
  4. Asiateca: Tomisaburo Wakayama (August 10, 2007). Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
  5. Nash, Jay Robert; Ross, Stanley R. (1990). The Motion Picture Guide 1990 Annual The Films of 1989. Cinebooks. ISBN 978-0-933997-29-5.
  6. Sankei Sports: 若山騎一郎＆仁美凌、熱愛発覚！交際５年 (in Japanese) (March 31, 2010). Retrieved on May 24, 2010. Archived April 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Cowie, Peter (1977). World Filmography 1967. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-498-01565-6.
  8. Hong Kong Cinema: Red Peony Gambler (c. 2006). Retrieved on May 24, 2010.
  9. Desjardins, Chris (2005). Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film. I B Tauris & Company Limited. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84511-086-4.
  10. Maltin, Leonard (2005). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide. ISBN 978-0-452-28699-3.
  11. Palmer, Bill (1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-3027-1.
  12. Maltin, Leonard (2002). Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 2003. Plume. ISBN 978-0-452-28329-9.
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