is a Japanese actor and singer. He was born on July 14, 1952 in Ashibetsu City, Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, 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...

.

Biography

Mizutani was raised from the age of eight 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. He started acting at the age of twelve, when a neighbor introduced him to a children's acting school in the area. When he discovered that going to an acting school wasn't the same as meeting the people he admired on TV, he wanted to quit, but by that time he had been selected to play a small role in a 'Vampire', a television movie being filmed by Fuji Television

Fuji Television

is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....

. This role launched his reluctant career, and though he purposely took a number of years off work to try studying, his failing to get into university urged him to continue in the acting business.

It was after the age of 20 when his career as an actor finally took off. His first major drama was in 1974, called Kizu Darake no Tenshi (Battered Angel).

At the moment Mizutani stars in a regular TV Asahi

TV Asahi

, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....

 detective drama called Aibō

Aibō

is a Japanese television detective series that first aired on TV Asahi on June 3, 2000. It has been adapted into three films, including Aibō The Movie.-Seasons:-External links:*...

with actors Yasufumi Terawaki

Yasufumi Terawaki

is a Japanese actor. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize for Aibō The Movie.-Filmography:* Aibō * Aibō The Movie * Kinako -References:...

 (2000-2008) and Mitsuhiro Oikawa (2009-).

Music

In addition to acting, his agency also encouraged him to put out music albums starting from 1977, all of which sold very well. His last album was released in 2009 (Time Traveler).

Personal relationships

Mizutani was once married to an American actress by the name of Miki MacKenzie. They divorced soon afterwards. He is now married to ex pop-idol Ran Ito

Ran Ito

is a Japanese actress and previous member of the 1970s idol group Candies. She is married to Mizutani Yutaka, a famous actor in Japan. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 2nd Yokohama Film Festival for Disciples of Hippocrates.-Filmography:...

 from the 1970s singing group Candies. He has one daughter.

External links