Kunie Tanaka
Known for
Acting
Life
1932 – 2021 (aged 88)
Born in
Toki, Gifu, Japan
Credits
View on IMDb292 acting credits
Biography
Kunie Tanaka (田中 邦衛 Tanaka Kunie, November 23, 1932 - March 24, 2021) was a Japanese actor. He had his first notable role in 1960 as a thug in Akira Kurosawa's The Bad Sleep Well, and worked with the director again on Sanjuro. Tanaka is well known for his roles in Kinji Fukasaku's yakuza films, namely the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series. He also appeared in Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan.
He has been nominated for five Japanese Academy Awards, winning the Best Supporting Actor statuette for Gakko in 1993. He appeared as the lecherous Shinjiro Ishiyama, nicknamed Aodaishō, the antagonist of the hero, played by Yūzō Kayama, in all of the Wakadaishō series of films. The character Kizaru, from Eiichiro Oda's manga series One Piece, is modeled after Tanaka.
Known For
Sanjuro
01 Jan 1962
Kwaidan
06 Jan 1965
The Bad Sleep Well
19 Sep 1960
The Face of Another
15 Jul 1966
The Sword of Doom
25 Feb 1966
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
20 Nov 1959
Dodes'ka-den
31 Oct 1970
The Hidden Blade
30 Oct 2004
Photos
Filmography
2010
- The Last Roninas Okuno Shōgen
2009
- The Sun in Kurobeas Genkichi2 episodes
2004
- The Hidden Bladeas Kanbê Katagiri
2003
- Fukumimi
- The Boat to Heavenas Masato Sakurai
- 北の国から 記憶 前編as 演员
- Yomigaerias Dr. Saito
2001
- 世界で一番熱い夏4 episodes
- All About Our Houseas Chouichirou Iwata
- Proof of the Man 2001
2000
- The Password is Courage11 episodes
- As the River Flowsas Matsuda (The Shopkeeper)
1998
1996
- The Rainbow Seekeras Tsune-san
- Oishinboas Tattsan
1993
- Hacchōbori Torimono Banashi2 episodes
- A Class to Rememberas Ino
- Rainbow Bridge
- Baian the Assassin: Showdown
- Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflictas Buddhist Priest
1992
1991
- My Sons
- Baian the Assassinas Han-Emon of Otowa5 episodes
- Castle of Sandas Eitaro Imanishi
- A Desirable Marriageas Mr. Kawamata
- The love song of farewell later
- Shy Security
- Private Detective Dobu7 episodes
- Mourning Work
- Kamigata Kugaizoshi
1990
- Baian the Assassin
- Ronin-gaias Magozaemon Doi
- Tasmania Story
- Hoshi wo tsugu monoas Kenji Yoshida
1988
- Love on a Daily Basis
- I Love You So Much
- Yojo no jidai
- This Heartbeat
- Tomorrowas Shoji's stepfather
- Oración
1987
- The Great Department Store Robbery
- Take Me Out to the Snowlandas Yûichirô Tayama
- The Return of the Newshound and the Lady Copas Yutaro Hatori
- The Thief and the Expelled Master
- The Roaming Reporter and Rookie Detective 3 - I Saw a Woman's Corpse in the Steam of Beppu Onsen!as Yutaro Hatori
- Kita no kuni kara '87 Hatsukoi
1986
- The House of Wedlockas Kazuya Enomoto
- Maison Ikkoku - Apartment Fantasyas Man
- Rice Curry13 episodes
- The Roaming Reporter and Rookie Detective 2 - I Saw the Bride's Corpse in the Sea of Toba!as Yutaro Hatori
1985
- The Roaming Reporter and Rookie Detective - I Saw a Female Ghost in Hida Takayama!as Yutaro Hatori
- Early Spring Storyas Okino, Hitomi's father
- Demonas Keita
1984
- Ghost Reunionas Inspector Joichi Uno
- Kita no kuni kara '84 Natsu
- The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
- Sukanpin Walkas Keizo Fukami
- Tokimeki Kaigan Monogatari
1983
- Private Detective DOBU 6: The Origami Murder Caseas Dobu
- Choji Snack Baras Iwashita
- Nogare no machi
- Deadly Swords in Search of Hidden Gold
- The Undercover Ninja Organization
- Private Detective DOBU 5: The Pinwheel Murder Caseas Dobu
- Kita no kuni kara '83 Fuyu
- Private Detective DOBU 4: The Mysterious Kite Murders Caseas Dobu
1982
1981
- At This Late Date, the Charlestonas Army Minister
- Stationas Sugawara
- From the Northern Countryas Goru Kuroita (黑板五郎)24 episodes
- Return of the Champas Shinjiro Ishiyama
- Private Detective DOBU 1as Dobu
1980
- Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougaias ボオルチュ2 episodes
- May Love Be Restoredas Yugiri-ro client
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Sagaas Masakichi Makihara
- The Revolt
1979
- The Last Game
- The Fixer
- The Bride of the Ghost Lakeas Inspector Joichi Uno
- Troubleman Laughs and Kills
- White Love
- The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichias Lt. Todoroki
- The Infernoas Unpei Ikegata
- Ghost Festival in Zenjin Villageas Inspector Joichi Uno
- Murder in the Doll Houseas Detective Naraki
- Down with The Big Boss
- Nichiren
1978
- The Truck Rascals Go to The North
- Pink Lady's Motion Picture
- Blood Type: Blue
- Ghost Coastas Inspector Joichi Uno
- Never Give Upas Bartender
- Dynamite Don-Donas Sakuzo
- The Demonas Policeman
- Bandits vs. Samurai Squadronas Rikichi Komadera
- Winter's Floweras Kokichi Minami
- Inside the Storm of Love
- Ghost Train
1977
- The Extravagant Cops
- Village of Eight Gravestones
- Sugata Sanshiroas Yasuyoshi
- Older brotheras Kintaro13 episodes
- The Love and Adventures of Kuroki Taroas Kuroki Taro
- Seasonal Wind
- Dazzling Copsas Nangou Goro1 episode
- Japan's Donas Detective Goto
1976
- Kawachi Rascal Is Spurred Onas Shinichiro Nabeyama
- Yoake no hata matsumoto jiichirō Denas Toramatsu Otani
- Hangyaku no Tabi
- Hobo General
- The Machine Gun Dragon
- Manhuntas Yokomichi Keiji
1975
- The Wild Truckeras Borsalino 2
- 300 Million Thief: Statute of Limitationsas Toyama
- The International Gang of Kobeas Teruo Maruyama
- Company Buggers
- Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women
- The Bullet Trainas Koga's Brother
- Light of Africaas Katsuhiro
- Shimane Prison Riotas Yoshikazu Minagawa
- Cops vs. Thugsas Kinpachi Komiya
- The Nagasaki Crime Chroniclesas Yoshitoshi Kogure26 episodes
- Great Jailbreakas Goda
- Battle Cryas Yamakawa Hiroshi
- Graveyard of Honoras Katsuji Kozaki
- Doterai Man
- Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack
1974
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 1as Gen Sakagami
- Submersion of Japanas Tatsuno26 episodes
- Third Generation Boss
- Lupin the Third: Strange Psychokinetic Strategyas Daisuke Jigen
- Evil of Draculaas Dr. Shimomura
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episodeas Masakichi Makihara
- Machi no Hias Goro
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tacticsas Masakichi Makihara
1973
- Yakuza of the Presentas Zen san
- Stray Dogas Sagawa
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy Waras Masakichi Makihara
- Japan's Top Gangster
- Rika 3: Juvenile's Lullabyas Soldier Mania
- What is Love?as Saitaro Asami
- The School Deviate Waru
- Deeper Than Blueas Ajikawa
- The Three Musketeers of Japan: The Tale of Hakata Obias Ken
- Battles Without Honor and Humanityas Masakichi Makihara
1972
- Outlaw Killers: Three Mad Dog Brothersas Ohno
- The Shin Hasegawa Seriesas 蛙ヶ池の仙太30 episodes
- Kogarashi Monjiro 2: Secret of Monjiro's Birthas Johei Yawata
- New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
- My Voiceless Friends
- Summer Soldiersas Fujimura
- The Witty Samurai
- Zorome no San Kyoudai
1971
1970
- Banner of the Youngas Taro
- It's a Man's Way of Lifeas Heihachirou Yanai
- Dodes'ka-denas Hatsutaro Kawaguchi
- The Kingpin of Fair Ladiesas Tadao Ueda
- Fear of Sex
- Get Your Sky, Young Guy
- Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
- Charming Menas Kuramoto Kuraji
- Bravo, Young Guy
- Live Again Tomorrowas 刈田勝利
- Rebel Against Glory
- The Summit of Mt. Fuji
- Duel at Fort Ezoas Kurobei
- Zoku Isoginchakuas Takashi Takai
1969
- Vermillion Sword: Scabbard Code Sword Amidst the Swirling Cherry Blossomsas Seiji Matsumiya
- The Great Japanese Pick-Pocket Clubas Kanegai
- Tenchu!as Rokkaku Prison Officer
- Young Guy on Mt. Cook
- Forward, Young People!as Taro
- Goyokinas Hirosuke
- 夕月
- Young Guy Graduates
1968
- Outlaw: Black Daggeras Doctor Michio Hongô
- Angel's Lover
- The Woman Gambler's Revenge
- Young Peopleas Taro
- The Day the Sun Rose
- In Broad Daylightas March
- The Human Bulletas Platoon Leader
- Three Rogues
- Cry of the Mountain
- An Angel's Temptation
- Young Guy in Rio
- Women and Miso Soup
- The Woman Champion
- How to Be the Worst of Office Workers
- Hymn to a Tired Manas Hisataro Ohno
- Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2as Katsuji Nemoto
1967
1966
- Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country
- Debt of Honor
- Golden Ninjaas Risuke
- Koto—The Lake of Tearsas Kenkichi Ohara
- Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
- Zatoichi's Pilgrimageas Storyteller
- The Face of Anotheras Mentally Ill Man #1
- The Front Line Showdownas Sawamura
- It Started In The Alpsas Shinjiro Ishiyama
- Third Class Soldier Boss
- The Bullet and the Horse
- The Sword of Doomas Senkichi
- The Threat
- Silence Has No Wings
- The Saturday Tiger1 episode
- Cash Calls Hellas Umegaya
1965
- Prison Walls of Abashiri 4
- Campus A Go-Go
- Wakai nobaraas 石丸雄吉
- Yakuza G-Menas Masayoshi Imanishi
- Prison Walls of Abashiri 3as Otsuki
- Sword of the Beastas Tanji
- Young Guy at Seaas 石山新次郎（青大））
- Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2as Kirikawa
- Three Yakuza
- The Last Judgment
- Abashiri Prisonas Otsuki
- Tale of Ninja Duty
- Kwaidanas Yasaku (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
1964
- Red Diamondas George Takase
- 間諜
- Shingo's Final Duel
- The Desperateas Chiba
- Punishment of a Lawless Villian
1963
- Sasuke and His Comedians
- Hell Festivalas Somei To
- Okashina yatsuas Sankichi Fujita
- Kagami no naka no razō
- Walleyed Nipponas Shirosaka
- Young Guy in Hawaiias 石山新次郎（青大将）
- A Photo journalist's Story: Risk Your Life for the Moment
- Sensation Seekers
- A Fishmonger's Tour
1962
- College Champ
- Pitfallas Man in White Suit
- Operation Sewer Ratsas Private Anayama
- The Crimson Sky
- The Inheritance
- Pride of the Campusas Shinjiro Ishiyama (Aodaisho)
- Sanjuroas Samurai
1961
- Blood on the Sea
- Sir Galahad in Campusas Shinjiro Ishiyama (Aodaisho)
- Big Shots Die at Dawn
- Eternity of Love
- Hidden Fangs
- The Merciless Trap
1960
- The War Without Weaponsas Detective Kitajima
- The Bad Sleep Wellas Hitman
- The Sun's Burialas Thief
1959
- The Human Condition II: Road to Eternityas Obara Nitôhei
- Lucky Dragon No. 5
1957
- The Story of Pure Loveas Satoyan