Akiji Kobayashi
Born
September 6, 1930
Died
August 27, 1996 (65 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan
Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952.
He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.
Known For
Master Swordsman Hirate Miki - Duel in Tone
1997
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
Senior sergeant
1996
Ultraman Zearth
Fisherman
1996
Revive! Ultraman
1996
Getting Any?
Chief of World Defence Force
1995
47 Ronin
1994
Ie Naki Ko
(13 episodes)
1994
Kogarashi Monjirō Returns
1993
Kamen Rider SD: Strange?! Kumo Otoko
Toubei Tachibana (voice)
1993
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
1992
Run, Melos!
Dionysus II (voice)
1992
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Yuzo Tsuchiashi
1991
Noh Mask Murders
1991
Tales of the Bizarre
(1 episode)
1990
Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars
Detective
1990
Like the Clouds, Like the Wind
Konton
1990
Afternoon When Flowers Fell
1989
Black Rain
Katayama
1989
Ultraman: Terror on Route 87
Toshio Muramatsu
1989
The Men Who Made Ultraman
1989
Death Shadows
1986
Desperate Pursuit
Inoue
1986
Bakumatsu seishun graffiti: Ronin Sakamoto Ryoma
Hanazuki
1986
The Empty Table
1985
Kojika Monogatari
ペニー · (52 episodes)
1983
The Makioka Sisters
Seitaro Jinba
1983
The Longest Tunnel
1982
Suspicion
Chief of Police, Ishihara
1982
Karate Cop
Asst Chief Fuji
1982
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
1982
The Black Hood
1981
Lonely Heart
1981
Yuki
Jinjii (voice)
1981
Koto: The Ancient City
1980
Shogun Assassin
Lord Kurogawa
1980
The Tale of Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean (voice)
1979
Immortal Kamen Rider Special
Tobei Tachibana
1979
The Shogun Assassins
1979
Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle
Toshio Muramatsu
1979
The House of Hanging
Sannosuke
1979
The 47 Ronins of Ako
Hara Soemon · (36 episodes)
1979
Akio Jissoji's Ultraman
Captain Toshio Muramatsu
1979
Attack, Jun
(71 episodes)
1979
Queen Bee
Detective Kogure
1978
腐蝕の構造
Detective Okawa · (1 episode)
1977
Island of Hell
Takezo
1977
Lullaby to Kill
Koreya Kusakabe (manager)
1977
Utamaro's World
1977
The Inugami Family
Kokichi Inugami
1976
The Kagestar: The Movie
Inspector Tonda
1976
The Kagestar
Inspector Keibu Tonda · (34 episodes)
1976
All Together! Seven Kamen Riders!!
Tōbei Tachibana
1976
Kamen Rider Stronger: The Movie
Tôbei Tachibana
1975
Kamen Rider Stronger
Tobei Tachibana · (39 episodes)
1975
Kamen Rider Amazon: The Movie
Tōbei Tachibana
1975
Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders
Tobei Tachibana
1975
Kamen Rider Amazon
Tobei Tachibana · (24 episodes)
1974
Five Riders vs. King Dark
Tobei Tachibana
1974
Kamen Rider X
Tobei Tachibana · (35 episodes)
1974
Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants
Tobei Tachibana
1973
Internal Sleuth
1973
Kamen Rider V3: The Movie
Tōbei Tachibana
1973
Kamen Rider V3
(52 episodes)
1973
The Woman Who Calls for Corpses
1973
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril
Narrator
1972
Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
1972
Daigoro vs. Goliath
Hitoshi Suzuki
1972
Professional Killers
(1 episode)
1972
Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell
Tōbei Tachibana
1972
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
Ozunu Kurokuwa
1972
Kamen Rider vs. Shocker
Tobei Tachibana
1972
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
Narrator
1972
The Pirates of Buban
1972
Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Waterspout Monsters
Captain Takamura
1971
Mandala
1971
Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 5 - The Mystery of the Skull Wife
1971
Go Go Kamen Rider
Tobei Tachibana
1971
Kamen Rider
Tobei Tachibana
1971
Kamen Rider
Tobei Tachibana · (248 episodes)
1971
This Transient Life
1970
Prison Break
1969
The Curse of the Ghost
Naosuke
1969
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories
(52 episodes)
1968
The Return of the Filthy Seven
1967
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature
Capt. Toshio Muramatsu
1967
Ultraman
Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu · (39 episodes)
1966
ウルトラマン前夜祭 ウルトラマン誕生
1966
The Birth of Ultraman
Toshio Muramatsu
1966
Pleasures of the Flesh
Mari's pimp
1965
宇宙少年ソラン
ワイラー · (96 episodes)
1965
Kwaidan
(segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)
1965
Fight of the Gamblers
1963
Youth of the Beast
Tatsuo Nomoto
1963
Intruders
Ichiro Honma
1963
Harakiri
1962
Foundry Town
Hei-san
1962
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Nonaka Shôi
1959