Fujita Susumu

Other Name: 藤田進

Age: 112

Birthday: January 8, 1912

Nationality: Japanese

Gender: Male

Fujita Susumu was a Japanese film and television actor. He played the lead role in Kurosawa Akira's first feature, Sugata Sanshiro, and appeared in other Kurosawa films including The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail and The Hidden Fortress. Later, he was a supporting actor in Honda Ishiro's Mothra vs. Godzilla, among many other films. Before and during World War II Fujita was considered one of the great stars of Japanese cinema. In the post-war period he became known for supporting roles, often playing a soldier in war films. During the sixties and seventies, he played minor roles in "special effects pictures" such as Ultraman and Frankenstein Conquers the World. Fujita was born in Kurume, Fukuoka in Japan. After graduating from high school in 1929 he moved to Tokyo, where he took entrance examinations for several universities but failed to gain admission. Before returning to Fukuoka he stayed in Kyoto with Furumi Takuji, a film director from his hometown. With assistance from Furumi, he secured employment with producer Ishikawa Utaemon as an extra. He was hired as an actor by Toa Cinema in 1931 but did not appear in any films that year. In 1932 he was drafted into military service and enlisted in the 12th Artillery Division. After being discharged from the army in 1934, Fujita went to work for Makino Masahiro's Kyoto Film Recording as an audio engineer. He returned to acting in 1939 when he moved to Toho studios. At first, Fujita was a contract player appearing in minor roles, but in 1940 he co-starred in Tsuma no Baai with Irie Takako and Takada Minoru; he was praised as a sincere and genuine actor. Beginning in 1941 he played a succession of leading roles, including Shido Monogatari. In 1943 he appeared in Sugata Sanshiro, the directorial debut of Kurosawa Akira, which brought him to wide popularity. Fujita's popularity as a manly action hero was further cemented with his performance in Kato Hayabusa Sentoutai. He was in the midst of filming The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail when World War II ended. After the war, Fujita condemned his own portrayal of war heroes and considered leaving acting. However, unable to see himself in any other profession, he returned to the screen. In 1946 he appeared in Kurosawa's first post-war film, No Regrets for Our Youth, about a war-time liberal who was executed for treason. During a strike at Toho in 1948 Fujita, along with Okochi Denjiro, Hasegawa Kazuo, and other members of the so-called "Flag ten" secession union broke away to form a new studio, Shintoho (New Toho). This reorganization ended Fujita's collaboration with Kurosawa. At Shintoho, he appeared in several melodramas and action films. After his contract with Shintoho ended in 1957, Fujita returned to Toho, where he appeared primarily in supporting roles. Fujita and Kurosawa worked together again on The Hidden Fortress in 1958. Although Fujita appeared in a supporting role, it was essential to the film. He appeared in three more Kurosawa films, including Yojimbo, but only in minor roles. (Source: Wikipedia).