Akiji Kobayashi

Biography

Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.

Known For

Kamen Rider

Ultraman

Tales of the Bizarre

Professional Killers

Kojika Monogatari

Harakiri

Attack, Jun

Kamen Rider X

All Movies (82)

• Master Swordsman Hirate Miki - Duel in Tone1997
• The 8-Tomb Village1996
• Gamera 2: Attack of Legion1996 · as Senior sergeant
• Ultraman Zearth1996 · as Fisherman
• Revive! Ultraman1996
• Getting Any?1995 · as Chief of World Defence Force
• 47 Ronin1994
• Kogarashi Monjirō Returns1993
• Kamen Rider SD: Strange?! Kumo Otoko1993 · as Toubei Tachibana (voice)
• Godzilla vs. Mothra1992 · as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
• Run, Melos!1992 · as Dionysus II (voice)
• Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah1991 · as Yuzo Tsuchiashi
• Noh Mask Murders1991
• Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars1990 · as Detective
• Like the Clouds, Like the Wind1990 · as Konton
• Afternoon When Flowers Fell1989
• Black Rain1989 · as Katayama
• Ultraman: Terror on Route 871989 · as Toshio Muramatsu
• The Men Who Made Ultraman1989
• Death Shadows1986
• Desperate Pursuit1986 · as Inoue
• Bakumatsu seishun graffiti: Ronin Sakamoto Ryoma1986 · as Hanazuki
• The Empty Table1985
• The Makioka Sisters1983 · as Seitaro Jinba
• The Longest Tunnel1982
• Lady on 6th Street: Taste of Honey1982 · as Kodera
• Suspicion1982 · as Chief of Police, Ishihara
• Karate Cop1982 · as Asst Chief Fuji
• Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 21982
• The Black Hood1981
• Lonely Heart1981
• Yuki1981 · as Jinjii (voice)
• Koto: The Ancient City1980
• Shogun Assassin1980 · as Lord Kurogawa
• The Tale of Jean Valjean1979 · as Jean Valjean (voice)
• Immortal Kamen Rider Special1979 · as Tobei Tachibana
• The Shogun Assassins1979
• Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle1979 · as Toshio Muramatsu
• The House of Hanging1979 · as Sannosuke
• Akio Jissoji's Ultraman1979 · as Captain Toshio Muramatsu
• Queen Bee1978 · as Detective Kogure
• Utamaro's World1977
• Island of Hell1977 · as Takezo
• Lullaby to Kill1977 · as Koreya Kusakabe (manager)
• The Inugami Family1976 · as Kokichi Inugami
• The Kagestar: The Movie1976 · as Inspector Tonda
• All Together! Seven Kamen Riders!!1976 · as Tōbei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider Stronger: The Movie1975 · as Tôbei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider Amazon: The Movie1975 · as Tōbei Tachibana
• Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders1975 · as Tobei Tachibana (archive footage)
• Five Riders vs. King Dark1974 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants1973 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Internal Sleuth1973
• Kamen Rider V3: The Movie1973 · as Tōbei Tachibana
• The Woman Who Calls for Corpses1973
• Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril1972 · as Narrator
• Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice1972
• Daigoro vs. Goliath1972 · as Hitoshi Suzuki
• Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell1972 · as Tōbei Tachibana
• Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx1972 · as Ozunu Kurokuwa
• Kamen Rider vs. Shocker1972 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance1972 · as Narrator
• The Pirates of Buban1972
• Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Waterspout Monsters1971 · as Captain Takamura
• Mandala1971
• Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 5 - The Mystery of the Skull Wife1971
• Go Go Kamen Rider1971 · as Tobei Tachibana
• This Transient Life1970
• Prison Break1969
• The Curse of the Ghost1969 · as Naosuke
• The Return of the Filthy Seven1967
• Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature1967 · as Capt. Toshio Muramatsu
• The Birth of Ultraman1966 · as Toshio Muramatsu
• The Father of Ultra Q1966
• Pleasures of the Flesh1965 · as Mari's pimp
• Kwaidan1965 · as (segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
• Fight of the Gamblers1963
• Youth of the Beast1963 · as Tatsuo Nomoto
• Intruders1963 · as Ichiro Honma
• Harakiri1962
• Foundry Town1962 · as Hei-san
• The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity1959 · as Nonaka Shôi

All TV Shows (18)

• Ie Naki Ko1994
• Tales of the Bizarre1990
• Kamen Norider1988 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Kojika Monogatari1983 · as ペニー
• Seibu Keisatsu1979 · as Minami Choutaro
• The 47 Ronins of Ako1979 · as Hara Soemon
• Attack, Jun1979
• Fushoku no kōzō1977 · as Detective Okawa
• The Kagestar1976 · as Inspector Keibu Tonda
• Kamen Rider Stronger1975 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider Amazon1974 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider X1974 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Kamen Rider V31973 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Professional Killers1972
• Kamen Rider1971 · as Tobei Tachibana
• Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories1968
• Ultraman1966 · as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu
• 宇宙少年ソラン1965 · as ワイラー