Masakazu Tamura
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese film and theatre actor.
, Japan
to Japanese actor Tsumasaburō Bandō
. His brothers Takahiro
and Ryō
are also actors. He was thus trained in fighting with swords and more traditional forms of Japanese theatre like Kabuki
.
He made his debut in movies with the film "Eternal Woman" in 1961.
He has played the role of "Nemuri Kyoshirō" four times in made-for-TV specials.
He is most famous for his role as the polite and highly idiosyncratic police detective, Furuhata Ninzaburō
, in a self-titled drama by Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani
. This drama was one of the most popular in its time and one of the most popular dramas in the history of Japanese television. There are rumours that while the character was based on Matlock
, the characteristics, speech patterns and easily imitable fashion sense are based on that of writer Koki Mitani's professor of philosophy, the famed scholar Yoichiro Murakami
. Tamura himself afterwards mentioned that he regretted taking the role, because it ended up typecasting him. He also appeared in many staged dramas (jidaigeki).
Profile
Masakazu Tamura was born 1 August 1943 in KyotoKyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, 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...
to Japanese actor Tsumasaburō Bandō
Tsumasaburo Bando
was one of the most prominent Japanese actors of the twentieth century. Famous for his rebellious, sword fighting roles in many jidaigeki silent films, he rose to fame after joining the Tōjiin Studio of Makino Film Productions in Kyoto in 1923.-Early life:...
. His brothers Takahiro
Takahiro
-Possible writings:Takahiro can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:*高広, "high, broad"*隆弘, "noble, vast"*隆宏, "noble, wide"*隆博, "noble, gain"*孝広, "filial piety, broad"*貴弘, "precious, vast"*貴裕, "precious, abundant"...
and Ryō
Ryo Tamura
is a Japanese actor from Kyoto. His father was silent-film star Tsumasaburo Bando. With his elder brothers, the late Takahiro and Masakazu, he is one of the Three Tamura Brothers. Another elder brother, Toshimaro, is active in show business as a manager....
are also actors. He was thus trained in fighting with swords and more traditional forms of Japanese theatre like Kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
.
He made his debut in movies with the film "Eternal Woman" in 1961.
He has played the role of "Nemuri Kyoshirō" four times in made-for-TV specials.
He is most famous for his role as the polite and highly idiosyncratic police detective, Furuhata Ninzaburō
Furuhata Ninzaburo
is a Japanese television series that ran periodically on Fuji Television from 1994 until its final episodes in 2006. It was written by Japanese playwright Koki Mitani and being known as the Japanese's version of Columbo....
, in a self-titled drama by Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani
Koki Mitani
is a Japanese playwright, screenwriter, actor and film director. He was previously married to Japanese actress Satomi Kobayashi. The name "Koki" is a combination of two Japanese characters - 幸 "Happy" and 喜 "Pleased". In an attempt to add his own character to his movies, as a director he takes...
. This drama was one of the most popular in its time and one of the most popular dramas in the history of Japanese television. There are rumours that while the character was based on Matlock
Matlock (TV series)
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of attorney Ben Matlock. The show originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC, where it replaced The A-Team, then from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC.The show's format was similar...
, the characteristics, speech patterns and easily imitable fashion sense are based on that of writer Koki Mitani's professor of philosophy, the famed scholar Yoichiro Murakami
Yoichiro Murakami
born in Tokyo, Japan on September 9, 1936, is a Japanese scholar. He specializes in the areas of history of science and philosophy of science.Murakami studied at the Hibiya High School before attaining his undergraduate degree at Tokyo University in the field of education...
. Tamura himself afterwards mentioned that he regretted taking the role, because it ended up typecasting him. He also appeared in many staged dramas (jidaigeki).
Filmography
- Last Love (2007)
- Furuhata Ninzaburo Final (2006)
- Fufu (2004)
- Otosan (2002)
- Sayônara, Ozu-sensei (2001)
- Oyajî (2000)
- Utsukushii hito (1999)
- Nemuri Kyoshiro: The Woman Who Loved Kyoshiro (1998)
- Sôri to yobanai de(1997)
- Nemuri Kyoshiro: The Man with No Tomorrow (1996)
- Furuhata Ninzaburo(1994)
- Nemuri Kyoshiro: Conspiracy at Edo Castle (1993)
- Kozure Ôkami: Sono chîsaki te ni (1993)
- Nemuri Kyôshirô (1989)
- Katana Gesho (The Flower Sword) (1989)
- Papa wa newscaster (1987)
- Uchi no ko ni kagitte... (1984)
- Female Prisoner Scorpion (1973)
- Yakuza zessyô (1970)
- Onna-ro hizu (1970)
- Nemuri Kyoshiro manji giri (1969)
- Gendai yakuza: yotamono jingi (1969)
- Furin kazan (1969)
- Kuro bara no yakata (1969)
- Higashi shinakai (1968)
- Onna to misoshiru (1968)
- Onna no issho (1967)
- Chijin no ai (1967)
- Kiza naki oharu (1967)