Ichiro Arishima
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese comedian
and actor. Nicknamed "The Japanese Chaplin," he is best known outside Japan for his appearance as Tako, the promoter of King Kong in King Kong vs. Godzilla
(1962).
Arishima's real name was Tadao Oshima. He was born in Nagoya
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
' Wakaki hi no chi wa moete. He became a household name in Japan after his move to Toho
in 1955. At Toho he was featured in two very popular series, the "Wakadaisho" ("Young Guy") movies starring Yuzo Kayama
, and the "Shacho" ("Company President") movies featuring the "Crazy Cats" (クレージーキャッツ) comedy team. 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).
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
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor. Nicknamed "The Japanese Chaplin," he is best known outside Japan for his appearance as Tako, the promoter of King Kong in King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong vs. Godzilla
is a 1962 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho Studios. Directed by Ishirō Honda with visual effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, and Mie Hama. It was the third installment in the Japanese series of films featuring the monster Godzilla...
(1962).
Arishima's real name was Tadao Oshima. He was born in Nagoya
Nagoya, Aichi
is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan.Located on the Pacific coast in the Chūbu region on central Honshu, it is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and is one of Japan's major ports along with those of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba, and Moji...
and both of his parents died when he was a teenager. His love of the theater began in childhood, and he moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
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
Shochiku
is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...
' Wakaki hi no chi wa moete. He became a household name in Japan after his move to Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
in 1955. At Toho he was featured in two very popular series, the "Wakadaisho" ("Young Guy") movies starring Yuzo Kayama
Yuzo Kayama
is a Japanese popular musician and film star, born on 11 April 1937. His father, Ken Uehara, was a film star during the 1930s. Yuzo Kayama became a big star in the 1960s in the Wakadaishō film series....
, and the "Shacho" ("Company President") movies featuring the "Crazy Cats" (クレージーキャッツ) comedy team. In addition to Ishirō Honda
Ishiro Honda
Ishirō Honda , sometimes miscredited in foreign releases as "Inoshiro Honda", was a Japanese film director...
's King Kong vs. Godzilla, Arishima appeared in two Toho fantasy films directed by Senkichi Taniguchi
Senkichi Taniguchi
was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.Born in Tokyo, Japan, he attended Waseda University but left before graduating due to his involvement in a left-wing theater troupe. He joined P.C.L...
: The Lost World of Sinbad (Daitozoku) (1963) and The Adventure of Taklamakan (Kiganjō no bōken) (1966).
Arishima's slight physical build contrasted well with the portly comedian, Frankie Sakai
Frankie Sakai
was a Japanese comedian, actor, and musician.-Career:From his days at Keio University, Sakai worked as a jazz drummer at American Army camps during the Occupation of Japan, often doing comic routines with his music...
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
Abarenbo Shogun
is a Japanese television program on the TV Asahi network. Set in the eighteenth century, it showed fictitious events in the life of Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa shogun. The program started in 1978 under the title Yoshimune Hyōbanki: Abarenbō Shōgun...
.
Filmography
- Ojōsan shachōOjōsan shachō, lit. "Madame Company President", is a 1953 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Yuzo Kawashima.It is musical film.- Cast :* Hibari Misora as Madoka Ohara* Ichirō Arishima as Tetsutaro Kaitani* Takiko Egawa as musical actress...
(お嬢さん社長), lit. "Madame Company President" (1953) - The Badger PalaceThe Badger Palaceaka The Princess of Badger Palace is a 1958 color Japanese film directed by Kozo Saeki.Production designer was Kazuo Okawa, sound recordist was Kanji Nakano and lighting technician was Kazuo Shimomura.- Cast :* Hibari Misora...
(大当り狸御殿 Oatari tanukigoten) aka The Princess of Badger Palace (1958)