Susumu Fujita

was a Japanese film and television actor. He played the lead role in Akira Kurosawa's first feature, Sanshiro Sugata, and appeared in other Kurosawa films including The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail (as Togashi, commander of the border guards) and The Hidden Fortress (as General Tadokoro). Later, he was a supporting actor in Ishirō Honda'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, such as in Masaki Kobayashi's The Human Condition (film series). During the 1960s and 1970s he played minor roles in "special effects pictures" such as Ultraman and Frankenstein vs. Baragon.

Life and career

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 Takuji Furumi, a film director from his home town. With assistance from Furumi, he secured employment with producer Utaemon Ishikawa as an extra. He was hired as an actor by Toa Cinema, Yojimbo (1961) - Homma - Instructor Who Skips Town Ai to honoho to (1961) - Niimura Dobunezumi sakusen (1962) Chushingura: 47 Samurai (1962) - Yosobei Kajikawa Attack Squadron! (1963) - Yamato Commander Ito High and Low (a.k.a. The Ransom) (1963) - Chief of First Investigating Section Chintao yosai bakugeki meirei (a.k.a. Siege of Fort Bismarck) (1963) Hiken (1963) Atragon (1963) - Defense Commander Kokusai himitsu keisatsu (1964) - Meishi's Boss Kyo mo ware ozora ni ari (1964) Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) - JSDF General Dagora the Space Monster (1964) - General Iwasa Horafuki taikoki (1964) - Yoshimoto Imagawa Samurai Assassin (1965) - Tatewaki Todo Kiga Kaikyo (1965) - Police Chief Zoku shachō ninpōchō (1965) Fūrai ninpōchō (1965) Taiheiyo kiseki no sakusen Kisuka (1965) - Akitani Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965) - Osaka Police Chief Zero faita dai kūsen (1966) Nippon ankokugai (1966) Nihon ânkokugai (1966) Rampaging Dragon of the North (1966) Bosū wa ore no kenjū de (1966) Japan's Longest Day (1967) - Colonel Toyojiro Haga - CO Imperial Guards 2nd Infantry Regiment Ultraman (1967) Admiral Yamamoto (1968) - Chūichi Nagumo Furesshuman wakadaishō (1969) Battle of the Japan Sea (1969) - Kamimura Hikonojō Hiko shonen: Wakamono no toride (1970) - Jiro Iwami - Boy Nora-neko rokku: Onna banchō (1970) The Militarists (1970) - Osami Nagano Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) - Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi Shiosai (1971) Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Dai-Dassou (1971) Shin abashiri bangaichi: Arashi yobu shiretoko-misaki (1971) Bokyo Komori-uta (1972) The Gate of Youth (1975) - Yabe Tora Nihon no jingi (1977) Fuyu no hana (1978) - Ryokichi Sakata Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle (1979) Shikake-nin Baian (1981) - Hanemon Otowaya The Imperial Navy (1981) - Koshirō Oikawa Kaikyō (1982) Namidabashi (1983) Detective Story (1983) - Gozo Kunizaki Mori no mukougawa (1988) Roppongi banana boys (1989) - Tayama (final film role)