Rentarō Mikuni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rentarō Mikuni
|
|
|---|---|
around 1950s
|
|
| Born |
Masao Sato
January 20, 1923 Gunma, Japan
|
| Died | April 14, 2013 (aged 90) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–2013 |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Children | Kōichi Satō |
Rentarō Mikuni (三國 連太郎, Mikuni Rentarō) was a famous Japanese film actor. He was born on January 20, 1923, in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. He passed away on April 14, 2013.
Mikuni starred in over 150 movies, starting his acting journey in 1951. He won many awards for his acting. He received three Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actor. He also won two Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor.
Besides acting, he also wrote and directed a film called Shinran: Path to Purity in 1987. This movie won a special award at the Cannes Film Festival. His son, Kōichi Satō, is also a well-known actor.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Rentarō Mikuni's birth name was Masao Sato. His mother became pregnant while working in a difficult situation. She later married an electrician, who Mikuni considered his father.
Mikuni faced some challenges growing up. His stepfather was from a group that experienced prejudice. Because of this, Mikuni sometimes faced unfair treatment himself. For example, he was once wrongly suspected of stealing a bicycle.
He finished elementary school. His father wanted him to go to middle school, but Mikuni left school early. He also left home when he was young. From age sixteen to twenty, he traveled around Japan and Korea. He did many different jobs during this time.
When he was twenty, he was called to join the Japanese military. He tried to avoid it but was sent to serve in China. He was part of a unit that did not see much direct fighting. He never had to fire a weapon at an enemy.
After returning to Japan, Mikuni worked various odd jobs. His acting career began by chance. A talent scout asked him to do a screen test. Mikuni agreed, not because he wanted to act, but because he was offered free meal tickets!
He chose his stage name, Rentarō Mikuni, from his first movie role. This was in the 1951 film The Good Fairy. He won the Blue Ribbon award for best new actor for this role.
Rentarō Mikuni died in 2013 from heart failure.
Filmography
Mikuni appeared in many films throughout his long career. Here are some of his notable movies:
- The Good Fairy (1951)
- Husband and Wife (1953)
- Samurai I : Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
- Keisatsu nikki (1955)
- A Hole of My Own Making (1955)
- The Burmese Harp (1956)
- Ruri no Kishi (1956)
- Night Drum (1958)
- Kiku to Isamu (1959)
- The Catch (1961)
- Harakiri (1962)
- Wolves, Pigs and Men (1964)
- Kwaidan (1965)
- A Fugitive from the Past (1965)
- Zatoichi the Outlaw (1967)
- The Profound Desire of the Gods (1968)
- Coup d'État (1973)
- Himiko (1974)
- Akai Unmei (television) (1976)
- Kiri-no-hata (1977)
- Mount Hakkoda (1977)
- Never Give Up (1978)
- Vengeance is Mine (1979)
- Ah! Nomugi Toge (1979)
- Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1981)
- The Go Masters (1983)
- A Promise (1986)
- Shinran: Path to Purity (1987 - directed)
- A Taxing Woman 2 (1988)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi (1988)
- Wuthering Heights (1988)
- Rikyu (1989)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi 3 (1990)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi 2 (1989)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi 4 (1991)
- Musuko (1991)
- Luminous Moss (1992)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi 6 (1993)
- Daibyonin (1993)
- Tsuribaka Nisshi 7 (1994)
- Mitabi no kaikyô (1995)
- Oishinbo (1996)
- Will to Live (1999)
- Taiga no itteki (2001)
- Chronicle of My Mother (2012)
Selected Television Appearances
Rentarō Mikuni also acted in television shows. Here are a few:
- Hissatsu Shikakenin (1972) - Episode 6
- Sekigahara (1981)
Honours and Awards
Mikuni received several important awards for his contributions to film and culture:
- Medal with Purple Ribbon (1984)
- Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (1993)
See also
- In Spanish: Rentarō Mikuni para niños
