Akira Takarada

Akira Takarada (宝田 明, Takarada Akira, April 29, 1934) is a Japanese film actor best known for his roles in the Godzilla film series.

Akira Takarada
Akira Takarada (age 20) in detail from movie poster of Japanese movie Godzilla (1954)
Born (1934-04-29) April 29, 1934[1]
Japan-occupied Korea[1]
OccupationActor, tarento
Years active1954-present
Spouse(s)Akiko Kojima (1966-1984) (divorced)
ChildrenMichiru Kojima

Life and career

Takarada was born in Japan-occupied Korea, and lived for a time in Harbin, China.[1] His father worked as an engineer on the South Manchuria Railway. After the war, he remained in Harbin, and he is able to speak Mandarin Chinese and English.

Takarada moved to Japan with his family in 1948. He joined Toho as part of their "New Face" program in April 1953.[1] In his film debut, he had a small role in And Then the Liberty Bell Rang, a biography of the educator Fukuzawa Yukichi.[1] His big break came when he was cast as navy diver Hideto Ogata in the original Godzilla (1954). He became a popular actor at Toho for his good looks and charismatic, sophisticated character. He continued his association with the Godzilla series in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966). He returned to the series in 1992 with Godzilla vs. Mothra and appeared again in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Other Toho science-fiction/special-effects films in which he appeared include Half Human (1955), The Last War (1961), King Kong Escapes (1967), and Latitude Zero (1969).

Toho prepared a musical production of Gone with the Wind with Broadway composer-lyricist Harold Rome for its new Teigeki theater in 1970. Entitled Scarlett, Takarada was originally scheduled to play the role of Rhett Butler. However, injuries sustained in an accident in which he fell off a bulldozer while filming prevented him from participating in this stage production.[2]

Takarada made a guest appearance at the fan convention G-Fest XVII in 2010, and once more at G-Fest XIX in July 2012. On March 27, 2013, Takarada posed for publicity photographs with director Gareth Edwards on the set of the Legendary/Warner Bros Godzilla reboot, suggesting a cameo of sorts in the new movie. His scenes were filmed, but ultimately cut from the movie. He is still listed in the movie credits.

Roles

Selected filmography
Year Title[3] Role Notes
1954 Godzilla Hideto Ogata
1955 Half Human Takeshi Iijima
1956 Romantic Daughters Kubota
1957 Ōatari Sanshoku Musume narrator
Aoi Sanmyaku Tamao Memata
A Rainbow Plays in My Heart Tatsuo Itō
1958 A Holiday in Tokyo
1959 The Birth of Japan Prince Wakatarashi
Life of an Expert Swordsman
1960 Hawaii Midway Daikai Kūsan: Taiheiyō Noarashi Communications officer
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1961 The Last War Takano
Kohayagawa-ke no aki Tadashi Teramoto
1962 A Wanderer's Notebook Kō Fukuchi
1964 Mothra vs. Godzilla News Reporter Ichirō Sakai
1965 Invasion of Astro-Monster Astronaut K. Fuji
1966 Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster Yoshimura
1967 King Kong Escapes Lieutenant Commander Jirō Nomura
1968 Fancy Paradise Kō Maeno
1969 Latitude Zero Doctor Ken Tashirō
1990 Tales of a Golden Geisha Inukai
1992 Minbo
General Manager Kobayashi
Godzilla vs. Mothra Jōji Minamino
1996 Hissatsu! Mondo Shisu Mizuno Tadakuni Hissatsu series
1997 Marutai no Onna Police commissioner
2000 Tales of the Unusual
2004 Godzilla: Final Wars Natarō Daigo
2005 Fantastipo Kintarō Koinobori
2007 Glory to the Filmmaker!
2014 Godzilla Deleted scene
2018 Ashita ni Kakeru Hashi
2018 The Great Buddha Arrival
2019 Dance with Me Machin Ueda

Television drama

Live action

Animation

Video games

Stage productions

Other

References
  1. Ryfle, Steve (1998). "Akira Takarada: Mr. Handsome". Japan's favorite mon-star: the unauthorized biography of "The Big G". Miami: ECW Press. pp. 94–95. ISBN 1-55022-348-8.
  2. Rome, Florence (1971). The Scarlett Letters. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-46171-1., p.154.
  3. Filmography: "AKIRA TAKARADA". Complete Index to World Film. Retrieved 2010-01-29., Akira Takarada at IMDb, 宝田明 たからだ・あきら (in Japanese). allcinema.net. Retrieved 2010-01-29., 宝田明 (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-29., and 宝田明( 出演 ) (in Japanese). Kinema Junpo. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  4. disney-studio.jp Aladdin DVD
  5. "声優さん出演リスト 個別表示：宝田 明(Akira Takarada)" [Voice actor's appearance list individual display: Tomomichi Nishimura]. Voice Artist Database (in Japanese). GamePlaza-HARUKA-. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  6. disney-studio.jp The Return of Jafar DVD
  7. disney-studio.jp Olivia-chan no Daibōken(The Great Mouse Detective) BD/DVD
  9. "Akira Takarada - 9 Character Images | Behind The Voice Actors". behindthevoiceactors.com. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.

Bibliography
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