Ose Koichi
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese actor famous for his lead role as Samurai
swordsman Akikusa Shintaro in The Samurai (TV series)
. This series made a huge impact when shown in Australia
in 1965. He worked in television from 1958 to 1972 after which he became a businessman. He also became skilled in Iaido
, the art of swift sword drawing.
, Ose's real name was Ose Kazunari. He graduated from Keio University School of Foreign Languages. In 1952 he joined the Daiei Motion Picture Company (who made Rashomon
and Zatoichi
among others) and appeared in a number of films.
TV series Gekko Kamen (Moonlight Mask
), before landing the leading role as Shintaro in The Samurai.
Ose got the part of Gekko Kamen when producer Shunichi Nishimura went to the Toei movie lot and picked him from some photographs, then interviewed him on the spot. At the time there were three candidates for the part, but the actor needed to have clear cut features which would be easy to draw so Ose was chosen.
Through Gekko Kamen, Ose gained popularity with children as the mysterious masked hero despite the fact his face was hidden by a mask and his identity kept secret to preserve the mystery. It made a star of Ose and its two theme songs became big hits. He took one character from creator Yasunori Kawauchi's given name and incorporated it in his stage name in recognition of the boost to his career this role gave him. Made by Senkosha Productions
it was directed by Funatoko Sadao. Funatoko next directed him in Jaga no me (Eye of the Jaguar) which proved to be another success before his famous role in The Samurai TV series. At the height of his television career he left The Samurai for a film contract. He was replaced by a new star Shinichiro Hayashi who appeared in the new series titled The New Samurai. It was filmed in color, but the dubbed prints were black and white.
After The Samurai, Ose acted in about 20 feature films including some period pieces and gangster films, until his sudden retirement in 1969.
Ose was also a recording artist. One of the singles released in English was called Lonely Night.
and at Festival Hall
in Melbourne before returning to Japan. Originally only the Sydney shows were booked, but pressure from Melbourne promoters changed his program. Each show drew more than 6,000 people watching him slay dragons and fight ninjas in performance.
Ose first saw the extent of his popularity when he was mobbed at airports in both Sydney and Melbourne by fans wearing homemade kimono, brandishing ninja stars fashioned from cardboard or tin can lids, and waving Samurai bubble gum wrappers with his picture on them.
Ose married award winning actress, Hizuru Takachiho in April 1964. Born in Kobe, Japan in 1932, Takachiho appeared in 26 films from 1951 until 1969. She won awards for Zero no shoten (Zero Focus
) and Haitoku no mesu in 1962. They have one son, Yasuhiro, born in October 1965. Ose had his share of accidents, falling and injuring himself during some swordplay at a theatre. He lives in Tokyo and is an expert in Iaido
. He is 5'7" (1.70 m) tall.
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 actor famous for his lead role as Samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
swordsman Akikusa Shintaro in The Samurai (TV series)
The Samurai (TV series)
The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi . The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs , usually of 13 episodes each...
. This series made a huge impact when shown in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1965. He worked in television from 1958 to 1972 after which he became a businessman. He also became skilled in Iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
, the art of swift sword drawing.
Life
Born in YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Ose's real name was Ose Kazunari. He graduated from Keio University School of Foreign Languages. In 1952 he joined the Daiei Motion Picture Company (who made Rashomon
Rashomon (film)
The bandit's storyTajōmaru, a notorious brigand , claims that he tricked the samurai to step off the mountain trail with him and look at a cache of ancient swords he discovered. In the grove he tied the samurai to a tree, then brought the woman there. She initially tried to defend herself with a...
and Zatoichi
Zatoichi
is 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...
among others) and appeared in a number of films.
Career
Ose’s career began in 1958 when he starred as the hero in the tokusatsuTokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
TV series Gekko Kamen (Moonlight Mask
Moonlight Mask
is a fictional superhero that has appeared in Japanese tokusatsu and anime television shows and movies since his TV debut in 1958. Created by writer Kōhan Kawauchi, Moonlight Mask is best described as Japan's answer to The Lone Ranger and Batman....
), before landing the leading role as Shintaro in The Samurai.
Ose got the part of Gekko Kamen when producer Shunichi Nishimura went to the Toei movie lot and picked him from some photographs, then interviewed him on the spot. At the time there were three candidates for the part, but the actor needed to have clear cut features which would be easy to draw so Ose was chosen.
Through Gekko Kamen, Ose gained popularity with children as the mysterious masked hero despite the fact his face was hidden by a mask and his identity kept secret to preserve the mystery. It made a star of Ose and its two theme songs became big hits. He took one character from creator Yasunori Kawauchi's given name and incorporated it in his stage name in recognition of the boost to his career this role gave him. Made by Senkosha Productions
Senkosha Productions
Senkosha Productions was the television production arm of the large Japanese advertising agency the Senkosha Company. The Tokyo-based Senkosha Company still exists, though it has long since closed its television division, now known as Senko Kikaku...
it was directed by Funatoko Sadao. Funatoko next directed him in Jaga no me (Eye of the Jaguar) which proved to be another success before his famous role in The Samurai TV series. At the height of his television career he left The Samurai for a film contract. He was replaced by a new star Shinichiro Hayashi who appeared in the new series titled The New Samurai. It was filmed in color, but the dubbed prints were black and white.
After The Samurai, Ose acted in about 20 feature films including some period pieces and gangster films, until his sudden retirement in 1969.
Ose was also a recording artist. One of the singles released in English was called Lonely Night.
Australian tour
The Samurai was the first Japanese produced series shown on Australian television and the Australian press gushed about Ose as Shintaro. Ose toured Australia in December 1965 and appeared in 12 live 90-minute shows in 15 days at the Sydney StadiumSydney Stadium
The Sydney Stadium was a sporting and entertainment venue in Sydney, New South Wales, which formerly stood on the corner of New South Head Road and Neild Avenue, Rushcutters Bay...
and at Festival Hall
Festival Hall, Melbourne
Festival Hall is a concert and sporting venue, located at 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is one of Melbourne's larger concert venues and has hosted a variety of local and international acts over many years....
in Melbourne before returning to Japan. Originally only the Sydney shows were booked, but pressure from Melbourne promoters changed his program. Each show drew more than 6,000 people watching him slay dragons and fight ninjas in performance.
Ose first saw the extent of his popularity when he was mobbed at airports in both Sydney and Melbourne by fans wearing homemade kimono, brandishing ninja stars fashioned from cardboard or tin can lids, and waving Samurai bubble gum wrappers with his picture on them.
Personal life
Ose retired from acting in 1969 and from 1971 he concentrated on managing an acting agency until 1977 when he finally left show business altogether. He ran a promotion and property development company that included a golf course and a chain of noodle shops called "Goninbayashi" (five musical).Ose married award winning actress, Hizuru Takachiho in April 1964. Born in Kobe, Japan in 1932, Takachiho appeared in 26 films from 1951 until 1969. She won awards for Zero no shoten (Zero Focus
Zero Focus
is a 1961 Japanese mystery film directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and is based on a novel by Seicho Matsumoto.-Plot:One week into newlywed Teiko Uhara's marriage, her husband, Kenichi, leaves on a short business trip and never returns. Teiko travels across Japan to search for him, and along the way...
) and Haitoku no mesu in 1962. They have one son, Yasuhiro, born in October 1965. Ose had his share of accidents, falling and injuring himself during some swordplay at a theatre. He lives in Tokyo and is an expert in Iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
. He is 5'7" (1.70 m) tall.
Major TV roles
- Moonlight MaskMoonlight Maskis a fictional superhero that has appeared in Japanese tokusatsu and anime television shows and movies since his TV debut in 1958. Created by writer Kōhan Kawauchi, Moonlight Mask is best described as Japan's answer to The Lone Ranger and Batman....
(1958–1959) - The Samurai (TV series)The Samurai (TV series)The Samurai is a Japanese historical fiction television series made by Senkosha Productions during the early 1960s. Its original Japanese title was Onmitsu Kenshi . The series premiered in 1962 on TBS and ran continuously until 1965 for ten self-contained story arcs , usually of 13 episodes each...
(1962–1965) - Eye of the Jaguar (1959)