The Japanese entertainment industry has lost a truly marvelous talent. On January 15th, 2023, versatile character actor Noboru Mitani passed away at the age of 90. On the website Yahoo! Japan, Kyodo News reports the cause of death being “due to acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure”( Kyodo News 1). Mitani worked with an array of filmmakers, frequently appearing in the works of Kinji Fukasaku and Juzo Itami. He was also quite active in television and theatre. Tokusatsu fans may recognize him for his appearances in “Return of Ultraman,” “Ultraman Taro,” and “Space Sheriff Gavan,” while anime enthusiasts may remember him for voice acting in the series “Princess Tutu.” His wide range, colorful personality, and how real he could make his characters feel made him stand out as an actor. He also was often able to convey so much through his facial expressions alone, even in moments without dialogue.
Internationally, audiences may best remember Noboru Mitani for his role in Akira Kurosawa's film “Dodes'ka-den,” which follows the lives of various people living in the slums of Japan. In the movie, Mitani plays a beggar who, alongside his son, played by Hiroyuki Kawase, envisions what their future ideal home would be like once they escape homelessness. However, the dad's naive thinking would ultimately lead to tragic consequences later in the feature. The scenes with the homeless man and his child make for some of the most memorable sections of the movie, showing a bond between a father and his son as they hold on to optimism despite their harsh living situation. Mitani truly shines in this role thanks to the strong father/son bond he has with Kawase and how he conveys so much personality with his expressive face and calming voice. His appearance in “Dodes'ka-den” would serve as a catapult for launching his talent in the spotlight, and Mitani would go on to get a lot more work following this role.
Noboru Mitani would only work with Akira Kurosawa one other time when he provided narration for his documentary “Song of the Horse.” Ironically, this production also features narration by Hiroyuki Kawase, who acted alongside him in “Dodes'ka-den.” Following his two collaborations with Kurosawa, Kinji Fukasaku would frequently cast Mitani in many of his movies, ranging from crime features such as “Graveyard of Honor” to sci-fi pictures like “Message from Space.” He would also appear in quite a few films directed by Kon Ichikawa, including the 1976 version of the murder mystery “The Inugami Family” and various comedies made by Juzo Itami, like “Woman in Witness Protection.” The character actor would be frequently active in television as well.
Another standout performance from Noboru Mitani would be his pivotal role as Private Tsuguo Terajima from Kinji Fukasaku's nightmarish anti-war film “Under the Flag of the Rising Sun.” The film follows a widow seeking the truth regarding her husband's death during World War II. When the Japanese government denies her any information, she searches for the surviving comrades who served alongside her husband, one of them being played by Mitani. The feature is a relentless look at the horrors of war and the scars it leaves behind while also cracking down on ultra-nationalism. Mitani is brilliant as Private Tsuguo Terajima, capturing a man who was scarred by the horrors he witnessed and was shut out by society following the end of the Second World War.
Also quite impressive to consider that in many of these features he appeared in, Mitani was still a rising movie star and was acting alongside long-established talents. For example, in “Under the Flag of the Rising Sun,” he acted in a film that featured popular actors Tetsuro Tamba and Sachiko Hidari. Yet, he gave an equally fantastic performance as his famous co-stars. Noboru Mitani was able to adapt to a variety of roles, whether they be comical or dramatic. He collaborated with many of Japan's most renowned filmmakers and was a prominent face in television and theater. His legacy will continue to live on.
Bibliography:
Kyodo News, 俳優、三谷昇さんが死去 別役劇の個性派、90歳 [Actor Noboru Mitani dies at the age of 90]. Yahoo! Japan, 27 Jan. 2023, news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/b77ba5a421288b34f140c8933c753b614950d795. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.
