Kinya Kitaoji
Early life:
He was born in Kyoto, son of jidaigeki film star Ichikawa Utaemon, and graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences Ⅱ in Tokyo.
Acting career:
Kin'ya made his debut with his father in the 1956 Toei film Oyakodaka in the role of Katsu Kaishū. He is a contemporary of, and was taken to be a rival of, Hiroki Matsukata, who was also the son of a famous actor (Jūshirō Konoe). In 1964, Kin'ya made his first appearance on stage in Cyrano de Bergerac.
The 1960s and 1970s saw him in many contemporary roles. He appeared in Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima and Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode as well as Karei naru Ichizoku. The title role in the 1975 film Takehisa Yumeji was his.
On television, Kitaōji portrayed Miyamoto Musashi in the Nippon Television show of the same name. A major historical role was Sakamoto Ryōma in the year-long prime-time NHK Taiga drama Ryōma ga Yuku (1968). He landed the title role in the long-running cop show Zenigata Heiji, set in the Edo period. In the 1985 twelve-hour New Year special Fūun Yagyū Bugeichō, he played Yagyū Jūbei, and in the following year's special, he portrayed both Tokugawa Yoshimune and Yagyū Shinrokurō. The role of another shogun fell to him in the following new year as TV Tokyo tapped him to play Tokugawa Iemitsu. Kin'ya returned to NHK for the 1987 Taiga drama Dokuganryū Masamune as Date Terumune, father of title character Date Masamune.
Another role he took had been created by his father. Saotome Mondonosuke was the title character in the series Gozonji! Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko. It ran from 1988 to 1994 on TV Asahi. His father, Ichikawa Utaemon, had appeared in numerous films as Mondonosuke.
Kin'ya reprised the part of Miyamoto Musashi in the 1990 New Year's special. Toshirō Mifune had portrayed Musashi in the earlier film, also based on the Eiji Yoshikawa story, that had won an Academy Award. He returned to the New Year's special in 1996, again as the famous swordsman, in Tokugawa Kengōden Sore kara no Musashi.
His first portrayal of Ōishi Kuranosuke was in the 1996 Chūshingura. He took up the role again in 2004 for the NHK Saigo no Chūshingura and in 2007, in the New Year special Chūshingura Yōzei-in no Inbō. Other historical roles from the Sengoku period include Azai Nagamasa, Saitō Dōsan, and Yamamoto Kansuke. In addition to historical parts, he appeared in fictional series. His portrayal of Ogami Ittō in the Lone Wolf and Cub ( Kozure 2) Which was a series for Asahi TV in Japan is representative of these appearances.
In 2008, Kitaōji revisited the role of Katsu Kaishū in the Taiga drama Atsuhime. He had portrayed Katsu in his 1956 debut.
He won the award for best actor at the 10th Hochi Film Award for Fire Festival and Haru no kane. Kitaōji played one of the lead roles in Hideo Nakata's psychological thriller film The Incite Mill.
In recent times, Kitaōji voices the Hokkaido-inu character of "Father" in SoftBank Mobile's White Family advertising campaign.
Photos
Movies (130)
Toyama Shōgawa kai satsujin jiken
2024
THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY
2023 · Saitō Dōsan
さすらい署長風間昭平スペシャル 塩屋岬いわき殺人事件
2022
The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess –
2020 · Raymond Fuu
三屋清左衛門残日録 新たなしあわせ
2020
Castle of Sand
2019
Whistleblower
2019 · Ikuo Yakuyama
がん消滅の罠～完全寛解の謎～
2018 · 西條征士郎(さいじょう せいしろう)
三屋清左衛門残日録 三十年ぶりの再会
2018
三屋清左衛門残日録 完結篇
2017 · Mitsuya Seizaemon
Monster Strike The Movie: To The Place of Beginnings
2016 · Kentaro Ishibashi (voice)
One Piece Film: GOLD
2016 · Raise Max (voice)
Case 17
2016 · Shuichi Itami
Sayonara Debussy - Pianist Tantei Misaki Yosuke
2016 · 香月玄太郎
三屋清左衛門残日録
2016 · Mitsuya Seizaemon
Kenkaku Shōbai: Onikuma Izakaya
2014
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
Sakura Housara
2014
淋しい狩人
2013
Legal High SP
2013 · Isao Teshigawara
Asura
2012 · Monk
I Don't Want to Kidnap Anyone Anymore
2012 · Hanazono Shugoro
The Last Revenge
2011 · Tesshu Yamaoka
Chushingura〜Sono Otoko, Oishi Kuranosuke
2010
The Incite Mill
2010 · Yoshi Ando
Sakurada Gate Incident
2010
Eternal First Love
2010 · Yuichi Makibara
Genjuro's Deadly Sword: The Return of Shinigami
2009
Sushi King Goes to New York
2008 · Gengoro
Roving Police Chief Kazama Shohei 2 - Lake Tazawa Murder Case
2004 · Shohei Kazama
Warlord of the Underworld
1998 · Jirocho Shimizu
The Peking Man
1997 · Kin'ya Kitaôji
Another 47 Ronins: Genroku Taiheiki
1995
Assassin's Target: Iemitsu
1995
The Notorious Bored Samurai 9
1994 · Saotome Mondonosuke
Rainbow Bridge
1993
Bored Hatamoto: The Kaga Conspiracy
1993
The Notorious Bored Samurai 8
1993 · Sawatari Mondonosuke
Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death
1993
Yakuza Ladies Revisited 2
1993
Date Masamune: The One-Eyed Dragon
1993
The Notorious Bored Samurai 7
1992 · Sawatari Shusui
Tokugawa Ieyasu: The Conqueror of Japan
1992
The Notorious Bored Samurai 6
1991 · Sawatari Shusui
Dohten
1991
遊の人‐天下の御意見番 大久保彦左衛門‐
1991
The Notorious Bored Samurai 5
1990 · Sawatari Shusui
Detective Heiji
1990 · Heiji Zenigata
The Mysterious Lightning Beauty
1990 · Kogoro Akechi
The Phantom Beauty of Kobe Rokko
1989 · Kogoro Akechi
The Notorious Bored Samurai 3
1989 · Sawatari Shusui
Sensei
1989 · Chairman of the town
The Notorious Bored Samurai 2
1988 · Mondonosuke Saotome
The Notorious Bored Samurai
1988 · Mondosuke
The Beauty of the Sundial Mansion
1988 · Kogoro Akechi
The Beauty in the Red Riding Outfit
1987 · Kogoro Akechi
The Beauty in the Black Mask
1987 · Kogoro Akechi
The Beauty with the Enchanting Melody
1986 · Kogoro Akechi
Spring Bell
1985 · Rokuheita Narumi
The Second Is a Christian
1985 · Eiji
Yume-Chiyo
1985
Fire Festival
1985 · Tatsuo
The Story of a Man Among Men
1984
Zero
1984 · Jiro Horikoshi
Kukai
1984 · Kukai
Shadow Conspirator
1982
Future War 198X
1982 · Wataru Mikumo (voice)
Lake of Illusions
1982 · Nobunaga Oda
The Highest Honour
1982 · Major Tachibana
南十字星
1982
Abandoned
1981
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
1980
Glowing Autumn
1978 · Mamoru Kishida
Dynamite Don-Don
1978 · Ginji Tachibana
Monument to Holy Service
1978
Winter's Flower
1978 · Michio Sakata
Shag
1978
Mount Hakkoda
1977 · Captain Kanda
The Alaska Story
1977 · Frank Yasuda
The Corporation
1976 · Kaibe
Love and Separation in Sri Lanka
1976
The Story of Yumeji Takehisa: In Love
1975 · Yumeji Takehisa
Gambling Den Heist
1975 · Takeshi Kiyomoto
Shimane Prison Riot
1975 · Yuji Kawamura
Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack
1975
Father of the Kamikaze
1974
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode
1974 · Tamotsu Matsumura
Akumyo: Notorious Dragon
1974
The Blossom and the Sword
1973 · Captain Sakagami
Rise, Fair Sun
1973 · Asao
Men and War III: The Final Chapter
1973 · Shunsuke Godai
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
1973 · Shoji Yamanaka
A Woman Called En
1971
Will to Conquer
1970 · Ryōma Sakamoto
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
1969 · Soji Okita
Admiral Borneo: Betting at the Equator
1969 · Takeo
Tsugaru zessho
1969
One Day at Summer's End
1968 · Shigeo Ugari
The Day the Sun Rose
1968
Cry of the Mountain
1968
Our Silent Love
1967
River of Forever
1967
Love on the Rainbow
1965 · Tatsuya Kitakami
Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu
1965 · 松平三郎元信（後の徳川家康）
Wolves, Pigs & Men
1964 · Sabu, the third brother
The Navy
1963 · Shinji
53 Stages of Action
1963
Tokaido Fullhouse
1963 · Okeya-no-oni
A Revengeful Raid
1962
Keepers of Order
1962
Yoka chigo zakura Make no wakamusha
1962
Genkuro Yoshitsune
1962
Knightly Advice
1962
Young Lord and Second Son
1961
Whistling Drifter
1961 · Tsukinowa Gentaro
Law in Ghost Island
1961 · Yusaku
Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku
1961
The Orphan Brother
1961
Fine Man
1961
Traveling of Two Young Men
1961 · Gentaro
Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return
1960
Bloody Battle at Dawn
1959
Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy
1959
The Acrobats of Death
1959
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute
1958
Kingdom of Youth
1958 · Yamanaka Shikanoske
The Mansion of Intrigue
1957 · Kyoya Kirishima
Shadow Over Fuji
1957
Avenging Father
1956 · Minamoto no Yoriie
Virtue in Spades
1956
TV shows (46)
BORDERLESS -72 Hours
2026 · Midorikawa Soichiro
Believe: A Bridge to You
2024 · Goro Bando
Alice in Wonderful Kitchen
2024 · Gojo Michitaka
Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero
2023
In His Chart
2021 · Itagaki Genzo [Director]
Alive: Dr. Kokoro, The Medical Oncologist
2020 · Kyotaro Onda
Kioku Sousa ~Shinjuku Higashi-sho Jiken Fairu~
2019 · Ichiro Onizuka
Virtual Detective Tabito Higurashi
2017 · Wataru Enoki
Seizaemon Remaining Diary
2016
Fragile
2016 · Kaoru Nakaguma
Seven Detectives
2015 · Shuntaro Domoto
I'm Home
2015 · Yozo Ieji
Sanbiki no Ossan
2014 · 清田清一
Hanzawa Naoki
2013 · Ken Nakanowatari
Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon
2012 · Yoshihito Tendo
Breathless Summer
2012 · 夏目周作
Blackboard
2012 · Akinori Shioda, Shioda Akinori
Man of Destiny
2012 · Keisaku Sahashi
Princess Go
2011 · Tokugawa Ieyasu
Absolute Zero
2010 · Hideo Nagashima
Triangle
2009 · Kuroki Shinzo
刑事シュート しゅうと&ムコの事件日誌
2008
Phantom Assassin
2008 · Koyama Genjuro
Atsuhime
2008
Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
2007 · Kuwayama Jubei
The Family
2007 · Daisuke Manpyo
Magistrate Ooka Echizen
2005
The Story of Dominating Countries
2005
忠臣蔵
2004
さすらい署長 風間昭平
2003
Lone Wolf and Cub
2002 · Ogami Ittô
生存 愛する娘のために
2002
Hojo Tokimune
2001 · Sha Kokumei
Secret Magistrate Asahina
1998 · Asahina Kawachinokami Masakiyo
SMAP×SMAP
1996 · Skit Guest
Further Tales of Musashi
1996 · Miyamoto Musashi
事件 (テレビ朝日のテレビドラマ)
1993
The Diary of Chuji's Travels
1992 · Chuji
Miyamoto Musashi
1990 · Miyamoto Musashi
Sanada Yukimura
1989
Masamune Shogun
1987 · 伊達輝宗
Crisis at Edo Castle - Angry Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu
1987
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
1986 · Genroku Kano (Tokugawa Yoshimune)
Mominoki wa Nokotta
1970 · Sakai Tadakiyo
Ryoma ga Yuku
1968 · Sakamoto Ryoma
白虎隊～敗れざる者たち