After serving in World II, he turned to the stage, co-founding the Gekidan Mingei troupe in 1950 and later leading it as president. His screen career took off in the 1970s through a succession of television roles, most notably as Seikichi Kitamura in the long-running series Kita no Kuni kara. He also appeared in numerous films, collaborating frequently with director Juzo Itami and taking parts in…
