Akihiko Hirata

Akihiko Hirata ( Hirata Akihiko ) (26 December 1927–25 July 1984) was a Japanese film actor. While Hirata starred in many movies (including Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai trilogy), he is most well known for his work in the kaiju genre, including such films as King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Mysterians, and his most famous role of Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, the brilliant but disturbed young scientist in the original Godzilla, released in 1954. Hirata died after a long battle with lung cancer in 1984, at age 56. Description above from the Wikipedia article Akihiko Hirata, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Fugitive Alien (1987)

An alien is pursued as a traitor by his own race because he refuses to kill humans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Minoru Kanaya  •  Kiyozumi Fukazawa
CAST:  Osamu Murashima  •  Miyuki Tanigawa  •  Jō Shishido  •  Chōei Takahashi

An alien is pursued as a traitor by his own race because he refuses to kill humans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Minoru Kanaya  •  Kiyozumi Fukazawa
CAST:  Osamu Murashima  •  Miyuki Tanigawa  •  Jō Shishido  •  Chōei Takahashi

 (more)

DIRECTION:  Kajirō Yamamoto
CAST:  Mariko Okada  •  Keiju Kobayashi  •  Hiroshi Koizumi  •  Yōko Sugi

Structure of Hate (1961)

Drama about two college friends, now working for the same banking firm, torn apart by jealousy over their inequitable positions and love lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Suzuki
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Michiko Araki  •  Akihiko Hirata  •  Michiyo Aratama

Drama about two college friends, now working for the same banking firm, torn apart by jealousy over their inequitable positions and love lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Suzuki
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Michiko Araki  •  Akihiko Hirata  •  Michiyo Aratama

風来忍法帖 (1965)

The first of two films based on the novel by Futaro Yamada.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuhiro Kawasaki
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Jūrō Sasa  •  Yuki Nakagawa

The first of two films based on the novel by Futaro Yamada.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuhiro Kawasaki
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Jūrō Sasa  •  Yuki Nakagawa

Daredevil in the Castle (1961)

During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has been completely decimated) is recruited by Toyotomi to overcome the seat of power, Osaka Castle. Mohei's daredevil skills will be put to severe tests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Kyōko Kagawa  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Yoshiko Kuga

During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has been completely decimated) is recruited by Toyotomi to overcome the seat of power, Osaka Castle. Mohei's daredevil skills will be put to severe tests.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Kyōko Kagawa  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Yoshiko Kuga

Japan's Longest Day (1967)

Following the detonation of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese military and the government clash over the demand from the Allies for unconditional surrender. Minister of the Army Anami leads the military officers who propose to fight on, even ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Seiji Miyaguchi  •  Rokkō Toura  •  Yoshio Kosugi  •  Takashi Shimura

Following the detonation of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese military and the government clash over the demand from the Allies for unconditional surrender. Minister of the Army Anami leads the military officers who propose to fight on, even ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Seiji Miyaguchi  •  Rokkō Toura  •  Yoshio Kosugi  •  Takashi Shimura

Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender (1959)

In World War II, the commanding officer of a sub, against his will takes on board two Western diplomats, to take them to the Canaries and arrange an armistice. When they get there, peace has been declared, but the sub's crew don't know as their radio has failed. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūe Matsubayashi
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Akihiko Hirata  •  Akira Kubo

In World War II, the commanding officer of a sub, against his will takes on board two Western diplomats, to take them to the Canaries and arrange an armistice. When they get there, peace has been declared, but the sub's crew don't know as their radio has failed. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūe Matsubayashi
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Akihiko Hirata  •  Akira Kubo

Station (1981)

A detective goes out of his way to crack the case of a serial killer who specialises in murdering police officers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ayumi Ishida  •  Setsuko Karasuma

A detective goes out of his way to crack the case of a serial killer who specialises in murdering police officers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ayumi Ishida  •  Setsuko Karasuma

Samurai Saga (1959)

Edmund Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, transplanted to Japan. A poet-warrior with an oversized nose (matched only by his great heart) loves a lady. But she sees him only as a friend, so he helps another man to woo her by giving him the poetry of his own heart.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yōko Tsukasa  •  Akira Takarada  •  Keiko Awaji

Edmund Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, transplanted to Japan. A poet-warrior with an oversized nose (matched only by his great heart) loves a lady. But she sees him only as a friend, so he helps another man to woo her by giving him the poetry of his own heart.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yōko Tsukasa  •  Akira Takarada  •  Keiko Awaji

Yagyu Secret Scrolls (1957)

In the Tokugawa Era, the clan of Lord Yagyu has hidden away three scrolls containing clan secrets which, if revealed, would cause revolution and disaster for the clan. The information is divided among the three scrolls, all of which must be possessed for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Koji Tsuruta  •  Yoshiko Kuga  •  Mariko Okada

In the Tokugawa Era, the clan of Lord Yagyu has hidden away three scrolls containing clan secrets which, if revealed, would cause revolution and disaster for the clan. The information is divided among the three scrolls, all of which must be possessed for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Koji Tsuruta  •  Yoshiko Kuga  •  Mariko Okada

47 Ronin (1962)

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The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Matsumoto Hakuō I

The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Matsumoto Hakuō I

Underwater Murder (1958)

The film marked Yōko Mihara's debut as the star of Shintoho's series of ama films, a role she took over from Michiko Maeda.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshiki Onoda
CAST:  Yōko Mihara  •  Ken Utsui  •  Kyôko Yashiro  •  Masayo Banri

The film marked Yōko Mihara's debut as the star of Shintoho's series of ama films, a role she took over from Michiko Maeda.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshiki Onoda
CAST:  Yōko Mihara  •  Ken Utsui  •  Kyôko Yashiro  •  Masayo Banri

Admiral Yamamoto (1968)

As Japan joins in a political pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is appointed supreme commander of the Japanese fleet. With Japan headed inexorably toward war, Yamamoto, despite his misgivings, believes the only possible victory lies ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seiji Maruyama
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yūzō Kayama  •  Yōko Tsukasa  •  Toshio Kurosawa

As Japan joins in a political pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is appointed supreme commander of the Japanese fleet. With Japan headed inexorably toward war, Yamamoto, despite his misgivings, believes the only possible victory lies ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seiji Maruyama
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yūzō Kayama  •  Yōko Tsukasa  •  Toshio Kurosawa

Port Arthur (1980)

Depicts the bloody siege of the fortress of Port Arthur, one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world, during the Russo-Japanese War of (1904 - 1905). In the story dominated the character Lt Takeshi Kogyo (Teruhiko Aoi), teachers, and a reserve officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Teruhiko Aoi  •  Kenji Niinuma  •  Toshirō Mifune

Depicts the bloody siege of the fortress of Port Arthur, one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world, during the Russo-Japanese War of (1904 - 1905). In the story dominated the character Lt Takeshi Kogyo (Teruhiko Aoi), teachers, and a reserve officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Teruhiko Aoi  •  Kenji Niinuma  •  Toshirō Mifune

Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (1967)

The film consists of re-edited material from the original television series Ultraman. Episodes 1, 8, 26, and 27 were used for the film. They were narrated by Hikari Urano as an "Ultraman Documentary". Allegedly only one new scene was shot, and that some parts of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hajime Tsuburaya  •  Eiji Tsuburaya
CAST:  Akiji Kobayashi  •  Susumu Kurobe  •  Sandayuu Dokumamushi  •  Masaya Nihei

The film consists of re-edited material from the original television series Ultraman. Episodes 1, 8, 26, and 27 were used for the film. They were narrated by Hikari Urano as an "Ultraman Documentary". Allegedly only one new scene was shot, and that some parts of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hajime Tsuburaya  •  Eiji Tsuburaya
CAST:  Akiji Kobayashi  •  Susumu Kurobe  •  Sandayuu Dokumamushi  •  Masaya Nihei

Adventure in Kigan Castle (1966)

Osami, a soldier-of-fortune from Japan, joins with priest Ensai in a quest for the ashes of the great Buddha. Their journey takes them to a kingdom in the Middle East, where they find intrigue and romance in the court of an evil king.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Tadao Nakamaru

Osami, a soldier-of-fortune from Japan, joins with priest Ensai in a quest for the ashes of the great Buddha. Their journey takes them to a kingdom in the Middle East, where they find intrigue and romance in the court of an evil king.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Tadao Nakamaru

Farewell Rabaul (1954)

A squadron of Japanese fighter pilots realise that they are never going to win the war when they understand that Japanese military tactics have little regard for life. Seeking the companionship of any woman who will have them, they spend their days indulging in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Mariko Okada  •  Rentaro Mikuni  •  Chieko Nakakita

A squadron of Japanese fighter pilots realise that they are never going to win the war when they understand that Japanese military tactics have little regard for life. Seeking the companionship of any woman who will have them, they spend their days indulging in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Mariko Okada  •  Rentaro Mikuni  •  Chieko Nakakita

Storm Over the Pacific (1960)

Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanese raid on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and is welcomed with pride in his hometown on his return. As Japan racks up victory after victory in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūe Matsubayashi  •  Hugo Grimaldi
CAST:  Makoto Satō  •  Toshirō Mifune  •  Keiju Kobayashi  •  Misa Uehara

Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanese raid on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and is welcomed with pride in his hometown on his return. As Japan racks up victory after victory in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūe Matsubayashi  •  Hugo Grimaldi
CAST:  Makoto Satō  •  Toshirō Mifune  •  Keiju Kobayashi  •  Misa Uehara

Samurai Banners (1969)

Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife as a concubine. He then convinces the widow, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yoshiko Sakuma  •  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Yūjirō Ishihara

Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife as a concubine. He then convinces the widow, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Yoshiko Sakuma  •  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Yūjirō Ishihara

Sayonara Jupiter (1984)

In the 22nd century, scientists from an energy-depleted Earth research new fuel sources in the far corners of the solar system, where they discover an ancient alien race from Jupiter as well as the emergence of an apocalyptically dangerous black hole. Koji ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Hashimoto  •  Sakyo Komatsu
CAST:  Tomokazu Miura  •  Diane Dangely  •  Miyuki Ono  •  Rachel Huggett

In the 22nd century, scientists from an energy-depleted Earth research new fuel sources in the far corners of the solar system, where they discover an ancient alien race from Jupiter as well as the emergence of an apocalyptically dangerous black hole. Koji ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Hashimoto  •  Sakyo Komatsu
CAST:  Tomokazu Miura  •  Diane Dangely  •  Miyuki Ono  •  Rachel Huggett
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