Yoshio Harada

was a Japanese actor and singer, known for his portrayals of rugged and complex antiheroes. and his film debut in 1968 with Fukushū no uta ga kikoeru. He came to fame appearing in New Action films at Nikkatsu playing youthful rebels. Among his features for Nikkatsu was the 1971 exploitation film, Stray Cat Rock: Crazy Riders '71 (aka Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71) for director Toshiya Fujita where he played the son of a yakuza boss.

Leaving the Haiyūza in 1971, Shôwa kayô daizenshû (2003) – Hirota – the Shop Owner in Gunma Kantoku kansen (2003) Tengoku no honya – koibi (2004) – Yamaki The Face of Jizo (2004) – Takezou Izo (2004) Heaven's Bookstore (2004) – Mamoru Ohama Drawing Restraint 9 (2005) – Flensing Deck Crew Azumi 2 (2005) Aegis (2005) – Koichiro Kajimoto Uôtâzu (2006) – Owner Hana (2006) – Junai Onodera Nightmare Detective (2006) – Keizo Oishi Nippon no jitensha dorobô (2006) Dororo (2007) – Jukai Jitsuroku Rengo Sekigun: Asama sanso e no michi (2007) – (voice) Orion-za kara no shôtaijô (2007) – Tomekichi Senba – old Little DJ: Chiisana koi no monogatari (2007) – Yuji Takasaki Tamio no shiawase (2008) – Nobuo Kanzaki Still Walking (2008) – Kyohei Yokoyama Hotaru no haka (2008) – Maichi Kaicho of Nishimiya Ultra Miracle Love Story (2009) – Dr. Misawa Ôgonka: Hisureba hana, shisureba chô (2009) Zatoichi: The Last (2010) – Genkichi Rosuto kuraimu: Senkô (2010) I Wish (2011) – Wataru (Grandfather's Friend) Someday (2011) – Yoshi Kazamatsuri (final film role)

Television Haru no Sakamichi (1971) – Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun (1975–1976) Natsu ni Koisuru Onnatachi (1983) – Daisuke Mizushima Seibu Keisatsu PART-III Final Special Daimon Dies! Men Forever (1984) --Reiji Fujisaki Dokuganryū Masamune (1987) – Mogami Yoshiaki Suna no Utsuwa (2004) - Chiyokichi Motoura The Waste Land (2009) – Ichizō Daimon Hi no Sakana (2009) – Shozō Murata Kokosei Restaurant (2011) – Sadatoshi Muraki

Awards and nominations A veteran of over 80 films, Harada won the best actor award at the 1990 Blue Ribbon Awards for Ronin-gai and Ware ni Utsu Yōi Ari. He had earlier won the Blue Ribbon best supporting actor prize in 1975 for Matsuri no junbi. He also won the best actor prize at the Mainichi Film Awards in 1997 for Onibi, and the Hochi Film Award for best supporting actor in 1989 for Dotsuitarunen. He was twice nominated for the Best Actor Japanese Academy Award and won the award for best supporting actor at the 11th Yokohama Film Festival for Dotsuitarunen and Kiss yori kantan.

He received a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government in 2003.