Ken Ogata
Encyclopedia
Ken Ogata was a Japanese actor
.
Ogata was born in Tokyo
, Japan
. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's
The Pillow Book
, Paul Schrader's
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
and Shohei Imamura
's The Ballad of Narayama
. He won the award for best actor at the 26th Blue Ribbon Awards
for Okinawan Boys
.
In television, his starring role as Toyotomi Hideyoshi
in the 1965 NHK
Taiga drama
Taikōki catapulted him to fame. Ken went on to many prominent roles in subsequent programs. The following year, he portrayed Benkei
in Minamoto no Yoshitsune
. The network tapped him again for the role of Fujiwara no Sumitomo
in the 1976 Kaze to Kumo to Niji to. He returned to playing Hideyoshi in the 1978 Ōgon no Hibi, and returned to the lead as Ōishi Kuranosuke
in Tōge no Gunzō, the 1982 Chūshingura
. Another featured appearance in a Taiga drama was in Taiheiki
(1991, as Ashikaga Sadauji, father of Takauji
).
Mr. Ogata died on October 5, 2008, just days after finishing his role in the production of the Fuji TV drama "Kaze no Garden" (Garden of the Winds), filmed in the rural Furano area of northern Japan. In his final role, Ogata, himself 71 years of age, played a doctor involved in the end-of-life care of elderly patients.
His sons Kanta and Naoto Ogata are actors. NHK selected Naoto for the starring role of Oda Nobunaga
in the 1992 Taiga drama Nobunaga King of Zipangu; Kanta played Inaba Masakatsu
in Aoi Tokugawa Sandai (2000).
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Ogata was born in 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...
, Japan
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...
. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
The Pillow Book
The Pillow Book (film)
The Pillow Book is a 1996 film by United Kingdom director Peter Greenaway, which stars Vivian Wu as Nagiko, a Japanese model in search of pleasure and new cultural experience from various lovers...
, Paul Schrader's
Paul Schrader
Paul Joseph Schrader is an American screenwriter, film director, and former film critic. Apart from his credentials as a director, Schrader is most notably known for his screenplays for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull....
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is an American/Japanese film co-written and directed by Paul Schrader in 1985. It was co-produced by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas....
and Shohei Imamura
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
's The Ballad of Narayama
The Ballad of Narayama (1983 film)
is a 1983 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura. It stars Sumiko Sakamoto as Orin, Ken Ogata, and Shoichi Ozawa. It is an adaptation of the book Narayama bushiko by Shichiro Fukazawa and remake of the 1958 film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita.- Plot :...
. He won the award for best actor at the 26th Blue Ribbon Awards
Blue Ribbon Awards
The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers...
for Okinawan Boys
Okinawan Boys
is a 1983 Japanese film directed by Taku Shinjō....
.
In television, his starring role as Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
in the 1965 NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
Taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
Taikōki catapulted him to fame. Ken went on to many prominent roles in subsequent programs. The following year, he portrayed Benkei
Saito Musashibo Benkei
, popularly called Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore.-Biography:...
in Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
. The network tapped him again for the role of Fujiwara no Sumitomo
Fujiwara no Sumitomo
was a Japanese Heian era court noble and warrior. From 939 to 941 he aided the Taira clan in a series of revolts.Sumitomo built his power base in Northern Kyushu. After making a secret agreement with Taira no Masakado, who was leading a revolt in Shimōsa Province, Sumitomo led his own revolt in Iyo...
in the 1976 Kaze to Kumo to Niji to. He returned to playing Hideyoshi in the 1978 Ōgon no Hibi, and returned to the lead as Ōishi Kuranosuke
Oishi Yoshio
was the chamberlain of the Akō Domain in Harima Province , Japan . He is known as the leader of the Forty-seven Ronin in their 1702 vendetta and thus the hero of the Chūshingura...
in Tōge no Gunzō, the 1982 Chūshingura
Chushingura
is the name for fictionalized accounts of the historical revenge by the Forty-seven Ronin of the death of their master, Asano Naganori. Including the early , the story has been told in kabuki, bunraku, stage plays, films, novels, television shows and other media...
. Another featured appearance in a Taiga drama was in Taiheiki
Taiheiki
The is a Japanese historical epic , written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino....
(1991, as Ashikaga Sadauji, father of Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
).
Mr. Ogata died on October 5, 2008, just days after finishing his role in the production of the Fuji TV drama "Kaze no Garden" (Garden of the Winds), filmed in the rural Furano area of northern Japan. In his final role, Ogata, himself 71 years of age, played a doctor involved in the end-of-life care of elderly patients.
His sons Kanta and Naoto Ogata are actors. NHK selected Naoto for the starring role of Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
in the 1992 Taiga drama Nobunaga King of Zipangu; Kanta played Inaba Masakatsu
Inaba Masakatsu
was a daimyō of early Edo period, Japan, who ruled Kakioka and Mōka , and was finally transferred to Odawara Domain in Sagami Province.-Biography:...
in Aoi Tokugawa Sandai (2000).
Filmography
- Castle of SandCastle of SandCastle of Sand is a 1974 police procedural directed by Yoshitaro Nomura, based on the novel "Inspector Imanishi Investigates" by Seicho Matsumoto, and is largely considered by critics as one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema....
(1974) - The DemonThe Demon (1978 film)The Demon is a 1978 Japanese psychological drama directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and written by Masato Ide, based on the novel by Seicho Matsumoto.-Plot:...
(1978) - Vengeance Is MineVengeance is Mine (1979 film)Vengeance Is Mine is a 1979 film directed by Shohei Imamura, based on the book of the same name by Ryuzo Saki. It depicts the true story of serial killer Akira Nishiguchi .It stars Ken Ogata as Enokizu, with Mayumi Ogawa, Rentaro Mikuni, Mitsuko Baisho, Nijiko Kiyokawa and Chocho Miyako...
(1979) - Samurai ReincarnationSamurai ReincarnationSamurai Reincarnation is a 1981 film directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Sonny Chiba. The film was based on the novel Makai Tensho....
(1981) - Yaju-dekaYaju-dekais a 1982 Japanese drama film directed by Eiichi Kudo. It was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Ken Ogata as Seiji Ōtaki* Ayumi Ishida as Keiko Yamane* Shigeru Izumiya as Toshiaki Sakagami* Gannosuke Ashiya as Seiji Shimamura...
(1982) - The Ballad of NarayamaThe Ballad of Narayama (1983 film)is a 1983 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura. It stars Sumiko Sakamoto as Orin, Ken Ogata, and Shoichi Ozawa. It is an adaptation of the book Narayama bushiko by Shichiro Fukazawa and remake of the 1958 film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita.- Plot :...
(1983) - Okinawan BoysOkinawan Boysis a 1983 Japanese film directed by Taku Shinjō....
(1983) - Mishima: A Life in Four ChaptersMishima: A Life in Four ChaptersMishima: A Life in Four Chapters is an American/Japanese film co-written and directed by Paul Schrader in 1985. It was co-produced by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas....
(1985) - House on FireHouse on Fireis a 1986 Japanese film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It was chosen as Best Film at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony.-Cast:*Ken Ogata as Kazuo Dan*Ayumi Ishida as Yoriko Dan*Mieko Harada as Keiko*Keiko Matsuzaka as Tokuko Tanayoshi*Chu Arai...
(1986) - ZegenZegenis a 1987 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura. It was entered into the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.- Plot :This black comedy is a satire of Japan's 20th century imperialism. By taking the story of Iheiji Muraoka, who built brothels for the Japanese military, Imamura is able to make comments on...
(1987) - Shogun's Shadow (1989)
- ZatoichiZatoichiis a fictional character featured in one of Japan's longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. The character, a blind masseur and swordmaster, was created by novelist . This originally minor character was developed for the screen by Daiei Studios and actor...
the Blind Swordsman (1989) - The Pillow BookThe Pillow Book (film)The Pillow Book is a 1996 film by United Kingdom director Peter Greenaway, which stars Vivian Wu as Nagiko, a Japanese model in search of pleasure and new cultural experience from various lovers...
(1996) - Man Walking on SnowMan Walking on SnowMan Walking on Snow is a 2001 Japanese drama film directed by Kobayashi Masahiro. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Ken Ogata - Nobuo Honma* Yasufumi Hayashi - Yasuo* Teruyuki Kagawa - Ryoichi...
(2001) - The Hidden BladeThe Hidden Bladeis a 2004 film, set in 1860s Japan, directed by Yoji Yamada. The plot revolves around several samurai during a time of change in the ruling and class structures of Japan. The film was written by Yamada with Yoshitaka Asama and, like its predecessor The Twilight Samurai, based on a short story by...
(2004) - Love and HonorLove and Honoris a 2006 film set in Japan of the Edo period. It is the final film in Yoji Yamada's acclaimed Samurai Trilogy .-Plot:Shinnojo, a low level samurai, lives with his pretty, dutiful and loyal wife Kayo...
(2006)