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- Actress
- Producer
- Executive
Principal is the elder daughter of Ree (née Veal) and Victor Rocco Principal. Her paternal grandparents were Italian, while her mother's family was from Gordon, Georgia, and South Carolina. Her father, a United States Air Force sergeant, was often transferred to different duty stations, so the family constantly moved, and Victoria grew up in London, Florida, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, and Georgia, among other places. She and her sister attended 17 different schools. Victoria's acting career began when she made a commercial at age five, and she began modeling in high school. She enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College, and wanted to study chiropractic medicine. However, being seriously injured in a car crash at age 18 made her refocus her energy on her love of acting. She moved to New York City, where she worked as a model and actress. She then studied at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1971.
Her first film was as a Mexican mistress in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), starring Paul Newman. Four years later, she became so disappointed with her career that she quit acting and spent the next three years working as an agent. In 1978, she planned on going to law school and later become a studio executive, but Aaron Spelling offered her a year's tuition to accept a role in the pilot of Fantasy Island (1977). She agreed, and soon after that, she landed the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing on CBS' long-running soap opera Dallas (1978). She left the series after nine years, and began her own production company, Victoria Principal Productions. She continues to work as an actress and producer, and has also created a line of skin care products and written three books about beauty and skin-care.- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Sonny Chiba was born as Sadao Maeda in Fukuoka, Japan on January 22, 1939. His father was a military test pilot. During his youth, he had an interest in both theater & gymnastics. He was talented enough to make the Japanese Olympic Team until a chronic back injury ended his career. However, he took a strong interest in karate under the guidance of the Mas Oyama during college & soon earned his first black belt. However, his life changed again when he was discovered during a talent search by Toei Studios in 1960. He soon began his screen career under the name Shinichi Chiba, appearing as the space chief in Uchu Kaisoku-ken. Over the next decade, he busied himself w/ appearances in Japanese crime thrillers, steadily building a reputation for playing hard men of few words & direct actions.
With his proficiency in karate, judo & kenpo, he took advantage of the early 1970s martial arts boom sparked by Bruce Lee. He starred in The Street Fighter (1974), playing a mercenary style street thug who would do anything for a price & take on anyone, even the yakuza. The approach of the film was quite different from the Bruce Lee films in that Lee only eliminated his enemies when he was defending his friends or his honor. Instead, he was only aiming for a fistful of dollars for his deadly services & would engage in mortal combat for the highest bidder, although this often clouded his judgement to his own detriment. The only person the Street Fighter respects is his martial arts teacher, karate master Masaoko who manages to easily out smart & out fight him. Upon its release, the film was criticized for its excessive violence.
A sequel quickly followed w/ him back in Return of the Street Fighter (1974), which was then followed by a third Street Fighter movie starring Etsuko Shihomi in the gritty Sister Street Fighter (1974). There was a fourth & final film in the series Gyakushu Satsujin ken.
He had firmly established himself as a key anti-hero of Asian martial arts cinema who said little & used his fists to sort out his troubles. With the demand high from fans, he remained busy on screen for the next 20 years, starring in numerous Japanese film & TV productions w/ an emphasis on bruising fights, samurai swords, yakuza gangsters & beautiful girls in trouble.
Outside of Japan, the Street Fighter film series has achieved enduring popularity through many midnight cult screenings. Their style heavily influenced Quentin Tarantino. He has used strong references & imagery from the Street Fighter movies in several of his films including True Romance (1993) and Pulp Fiction (1994). When he came around to casting for Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), he was eager to have Chiba accept the key role of the hot headed & sometimes humorous Okinawan sword maker Hanzo Hattori. He continued to be a major figure & influence in the world-wide passion in martial arts movies for over 3 decades, contributing to the genre by encouraging & training young hopefuls seeking to make their mark on screen.
He passed away on August 19, 2021.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ken Takakura was a Japanese actor best known for his brooding style and the stoic, honorable presence he brought to his roles.
Known as the "Clint Eastwood" of Japan, Takakura gained his streetwise swagger and tough guy persona watching yakuza turf battles over the lucrative black market and racketeering in postwar Fukuoka. This subject was covered in one of his most famous movies, Brutal Tales of Chivalry (1965) in which he played an honorable old-school yakuza among the violent post-war gurentai.
A graduate of the prestigious Meiji University in Tokyo, Takakura happened by an audition in 1955 at the Toei Film Company, and decided to look in. Toei found a natural in Takakura as he debuted with Denkô karate uchi (1956) (Lightning Karate Blow) in 1956. As luck would have it, Japan experienced a boom in gangster films in the 1960s as the Japanese people struggled with the generational differences between those raised in pre-war and post-war Japan and these were Takakura's stock in trade. His breakout role came in 1965 playing a ex-con antihero in Abashiri Prison (1965). By the time he left Toei in 1976, he had appeared in over 180 films.
Takakura gained international recognition after starring in the 1975 Sydney Pollack sleeper hit The Yakuza (1974) with Robert Mitchum and is probably best known in the West for his role in Ridley Scott's Black Rain (1989) in which he surprises American cops played by Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia by showing he can speak English. He again proved himself bankable to Western audiences in the 1992 Fred Schepisi comedy Mr. Baseball (1992) starring Tom Selleck.
While he slowed down a bit in his older years, he remained active. His later films included Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005), by Chinese director Yimou Zhang.- Kanna Hashimoto was born on 3 February 1999 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Sailor Suit and Machine Gun: Graduation (2016), Gintama Live Action the Movie (2017) and Assassination Classroom (2015).
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Eihi Shiina was born on 3 February 1976 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress and director, known for Audition (1999), Sky High (2002) and Tokyo Gore Police (2008).- Actress
- Art Department
Born Tsuru Kawakami, Tsuru emigrated to the U.S. in 1903 with her aunt and uncle, who were in the theater business. She found work on stage before moving to film. She worked in L.A., then moved to San Francisco and New York before returning to California. At a time when even in her home country female leads were non-existent, she garnered top billing in a series of films by Thomas H. Ince, who had seen her on stage in L.A., including 1913's "The Oath of Tsuru San". She met her future husband Sessue Hayakawa on the set of O Mimi San (1914). They married in 1914 and went on to star together several times. She retired from acting 10 years later to raise her adopted children and only returned once, which was just prior to her death. This last performance was her sole speaking role.- Animation Department
- Writer
- Director
Masaaki Yuasa was born on 16 March 1965 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for Mind Game (2004), Lu Over the Wall (2017) and Adventure Time (2010).- Ishibashi Ryo (Ryo Ishibashi) was born on July 20, 1956, in Fukuoka City, Kyushu, Japan. Being a multi-talented star, and an international celebrity, Ryo Ishibashi has starred in many TV programs, and movies both within his native Japan, and abroad. He began his celebrity career when he started his own rock band the ARB (Alexiander's Ragtime Band) in 1977, which made their recording debut on October 29, 1978. He released over a dozen records with the band until their breakup in 1990. Ryo Ishibashi started his acting career in 1986 when he became acquainted with the late actor Yûsaku Matsuda (who was also internationally known for his co-starring role with Michael Douglas in the movie Black Rain (1989)). He made his movie debut in Matsuda's movie "Ahomance" in which ARB's 13th single "After 45" was used as its theme song. Ryo Ishibashi has been concentrating on his acting career since his split with ARB in 1990, and has appeared in several movies outside his native country Japan, and became an internationally recognized celebrity.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Mizuki Yamamoto was born in Fukuoka on July 18, 1991. She began working as a model in 2009, modeling exclusively for CanCam Magazine. She won the Tokyo Supermodel Contest later that year and made her television debut in 2011 in Fuji TV's serial drama Shiawase Ni Naroyo ('Let's Become Happy'). The following year, she appeared in her first film, The Kirishima Thing, a high school drama that won that year's Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year. She had already started appearing in product commercials when she began hosting NTV's show, Woman On The Planet in 2012. Not allowing life to get in the way of her studies, she graduated from Meiji University with a life science degree. She attended her graduation ceremony in a hakama she herself had designed. She is signed with the Incent talent agency. She cites playing tennis, reading manga and watching anime as hobbies.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Ihara Tsuyoshi was born on November 6, 1963, in Kokura, Kyushu. He grew up in Osaka, and after graduating high school, he joined JAC (Japan Action Club) which is headed by Shin'ichi Chiba (aka Chiba Shinichi), which is a company of stunt and action actors. He made his debut in 1983 in a stage drama called "The Midnight Party." Since then, he has appeared in many commercials, TV drama, and movies such as "Kochira Hon Ikegami-sho," "Koino Jikan," "Shiawase ni naritai," "Magari kado no kanojyo," "Kowloon de aimasho," and NHK's Taiga drama "Sinsengumi" etc. He continues to be a popular actor starring in both serious and comical roles.- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Lily Franky was born on 4 November 1963 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor and writer, known for Shoplifters (2018), Like Father, Like Son (2013) and The Devil's Path (2013).- Actor
- Music Department
- Editor
Kappei Yamaguchi was born on 23 May 1965 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor and editor, known for One Piece (1999), Death Note (2006) and Inuyasha (2000).- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Daughter of a Chinese woman, who spent her childhood in Nishi Ku (Fukuoka City). When she was in elementary school, her parents divorced and she went to live with her mother, who ran a little restaurant. Being a child she practiced karate in junior high school, represented Kyushu in several competitions and finally won the woman national karate championship. During her attendance in the Nippon College of Health and Physical Education for women, where she studied physical education, she saw the film "Young Master" (1980), directed and starring Sing Lung, and decided enrolling JAC (Japan Action Club) to become a stuntwoman. She finally changed her name to "Oshima" and debuted in the TV series "Super Electron Bio-Man" in 1984. At that time one part of JAC, "Asia Action", became independent and based in Hong Kong and Yukari decided to leave Japan. Chinese director Hung Kam-Bo gave her a bit part in the martial arts film "Shanghai Express" in 1986 and thus she began a career in Hong Kong until 1994, when after more than 20 Chinese films and a divorce from star Cheng Ho-Nam she established herself in the Philippines and changed her name for the second time to "Cynthia Luster" (Sincere Raster). Here she would participate in more than 20 films.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Kenshô Ono was born on 5 October 1989 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for A Silent Voice: The Movie (2016), Vinland Saga (2019) and Starmyu (2015). He has been married to Kana Hanazawa since 2020.- Mio Imada is a Japanese actress and model from Fukuoka. Imada began her acting and modeling career in 2015 after being labeled "Prettiest Girl in Fukuoka" by a local advertising agency. Her acting big break was in 2018 when she was cast as Airi Maya for the notable Japanese drama series Boys Over Flowers Season 2.
- The very brief acting career of Misa Uehara might've never been were it not for the stubbornness of the man who directed her in her screen debut. When it came time to cast the role of Princess Yukihime for Akira Kurosawa's samurai adventure picture The Hidden Fortress (1958), hundreds of women-trained professionals and young starlets alike-auditioned, and were consistently rejected. Kurosawa, ever loyal to his vision, wasn't seeking an experienced talent or a bombshell with marquee value; and in the end, he put out a nationwide call, alerting all Toho employees to keep their eyes peeled for "a girl with a fresh and princess-like dignity" who had "the intensity of a samurai's daughter."
Twenty-year-old Misa Uehara, then studying at Bunka Women's Junior College, was visiting the school's former president in Nagoya, who took her to see The Antarctic Continent (1957) at a local Toho-owned theater. What began as an innocent night at the movies ended up starting a pivotal chapter in her life. A theater employee caught sight of Uehara and alerted the manager, who contacted Toho's main office, and word eventually got around to Kurosawa that they'd found his princess. "When I returned to Tokyo," the actress recalled many decades later, "Mr. [Hiroshi] Nezu of the Kurosawa team got hold of me and asked me to come to the studio." Kurosawa was more than pleased with his ingénue, particularly with her "miraculous" eyes, and he instructed his staff to model Uehara's makeup after a Noh mask. To prepare herself, Uehara took equestrian classes, and she was coached in acting by Eiko Miyoshi, who would play her lady-in-waiting in the film. And despite Kurosawa's reputation as something of a tyrant, Uehara had nothing but respect for her director and greatly enjoyed the experience of filming.
Uehara never worked for Kurosawa again, but she did make eight more films at Toho, working under a number of reputable directors including Hiroshi Inagaki, Shue Matsubayashi, and Kihachi Okamoto. Twice more-in The Three Treasures (1959) and Saga of the Vagabonds (1959)-she would play a princess; she also became something of a regular in the films of Okamoto, acting in three of his films, including his 1959 Desperado Outpost. In the early 1960s, Misa Uehara retired.
Even though she never made a second film with him, Uehara would eventually reunite with Kurosawa-along with her The Hidden Fortress co-stars Minoru Chiaki and Kamatari Fujiwara-in 1981, when all four appeared in a Fuji-TV program devoted to their movie. As they looked back on the shoot, Uehara continued to show, all these decades later, nothing but complete respect and admiration for Kurosawa. Despite the short length of her career, she was forever grateful for the fond memories making his movie had given her. - Koshi Mizukami was born on 12 May 1999 in Fukuoka, japan. He is an actor, known for Ano hana ga saku oka de, kimi to mata deaetara (2023), Meet Me After School (2018) and Out (2023).
- Mio Takaki was born on 31 December 1960 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Ultraman: Tiga (1996), Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000) and Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna: Warriors of the Star of Light (1998). She has been married to Takashi Kutara since 2013.
- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tetsuya Nakashima was born on 2 September 1959 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Confessions (2010), Kiraware Matsuko no isshô (2006) and Kamikaze Girls (2004).- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Naomi Tani was born on 20 October 1948 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress and director, known for Flower and Snake (1974), Skin of Roses (1978) and Sei no koroshi-ya (1972).- Originally from Kurume in Fukuoka, Japan, Rena began her career as a model and actor, appearing in local television commercials before getting her big break at the age of 17 when she was cast as the lead role in the movie "Ganbatte Ikimashou" in 1997. The following year, Rena won several awards for her debut performance, including "Best New Actress" from Kinema Jumpo Top 10 (a prestigious award in Japan). Rena has since gone on to star in various films and television programs, winning multiple awards for her work. While her native tongue is Japanese, Rena is also fluent in Chinese and has enjoyed an active TV, film, and stage career, acting in both languages. Rena is now based in Tokyo.
- Yutaka Matsushige was born on 19 January 1963 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2005), Ringu (1998) and The Princess Blade (2001).
- Animation Department
- Art Department
- Director
Yutaka Nakamura was born on 22 December 1967 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director, known for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001), Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) and Escaflowne: The Movie (2000).- Yuki Sakurai was born on 10 February 1987 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Where Florence Sleeps (2016), Tag (2015) and Sankaku Mado no Sotogawa wa Yoru (2021).
- Tôru Abe was born on 28 March 1917 in Fukuoka, Japan. He was an actor, known for Tokyo Story (1953), Shogun (1980) and Yomigaeru kinrô (1979). He died on 18 July 1993.
- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Gakuryû Ishii was born on 15 January 1957 in Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Labyrinth of Dreams (1997), Enjeru dasuto (1994) and Electric Dragon 80.000 V (2001).- Actress
- Additional Crew
Fukuoka born Yoshida Yo entered the acting profession in her mid-20s, but has since managed to garner both silver screen and television roles, appear on stage (where she got her start), in radio drama as well as win several awards, among others an award at the International Drama Festival in Tokyo for best supporting actress in 2015 for her role as Baba Reiko in Hero. She also provided the voice for Naruse Izumi in The Anthem Of The Heart cartoon. Yoshida can play the piano and lists vintage kimono and scuba diving as special interests. She has been available to endorse products and do commercial work for, among others, oil companies, financial services' companies, pharmaceutical firms, soba noodles and janitorial services.- Angela Harry was born in Fukuoka, Japan. She is known for Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II (1997), V.I.P. (1998) and Baywatch Nights (1995).
- Mahiro Takasugi was born on 4 July 1996 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Gaim (2013), Kamen Rider Movie War Full Throttle: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim (2014) and Kamen Rider Movie War the Fateful Sengoku Battle: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard (2013).
- Art Department
- Director
- Animation Department
Hiroyuki Morita was born on 26 June 1964 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director, known for The Cat Returns (2002), Akira (1988) and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004).- Mabuki Andô was born on 30 March 1969 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Final Fantasy XIII (2009), Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011) and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (2007).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Issei Ogata was born on 22 February 1952 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Silence (2016), Yi Yi (2000) and The Sun (2005).- Director
- Art Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kôtarô Tamura was born on 26 September 1980 in Fukuoka, Japan. Kôtarô is a director and assistant director, known for Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2020), Wolf Children (2012) and Noragami (2014).- Sayaka Yamaguchi was born on 14 February 1980 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Rebirth of Mothra (1996), Rebirth of Mothra II (1997) and Rebirth of Mothra III (1998).
- Writer
- Director
- Art Department
Leiji Matsumoto was born on 25 January 1938 in Fukuoka, Japan. He was a writer and director, known for Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years (1985), Space Battleship Yamato (1974) and Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: Warriors of Love (1978). He was married to Miyako Maki. He died on 13 February 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.- Yuka Itaya was born on 22 June 1975 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for A Stranger of Mine (2005), Avec mon mari (1999) and Sky High (2002). She has been married to Hirohiko Furuta since 22 February 2007. They have one child.
- Denden was born on 23 January 1950 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Cold Fish (2010), Sake-Bomb (2013) and Godzilla 2000 (1999).
- Animation Department
- Art Department
- Director
Shinji Aramaki was born on 2 October 1960 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director, known for Harlock: Space Pirate (2013), Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007) and Ultraman (2019).- Denjirô Ôkôchi was born on 5 February 1898 in Iwaya-mura, Chikujo-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan [now Buzen City, Fukuoka Prefecture]. He was an actor and writer, known for No Regrets for Our Youth (1946), Sanshiro Sugata (1943) and Oatsurae Jirôkichi kôshi (1931). He died on 19 July 1962.
- Actor
- Music Department
Ken'ichi Ogata was born on 29 March 1942 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984), Inuyasha (2000) and Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato: Warriors of Love (1978).- Actress
Mika Hijii was born on 13 October 1983 in Iizuka, Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for Ninja (2009), Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013) and Alien vs. Ninja (2010).- Actress
- Music Department
- Composer
Yukari Tamura was born on 27 February 1976 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress and composer, known for Steins;Gate (2011), Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: The Movie (2013) and Project X Zone (2012).- Kenji Hamada was born on 12 April 1972 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Engine Sentai Go-onger (2008), Kamen Rider Movie War Mega Max: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO (2011) and Kamen Rider Movie War Core: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider OOO & W Featuring Skull (2010). He has been married to Junko Takeuchi since 2006. They have two children.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Born in August of 1937, Japanese actor from Kitakyushu, Kenji Utsumi, is affiliated with the independent animation studio Ken Production. He is married to fellow voice actress Michiko Nomura and has received a lifetime achievement award at the third Seiyu Awards.
He is best known for his roles in Buronson's Fist of the North Star (as Raoh), Dr. Slump Arale-chan (as Senbei Norimaki), Zodd The Immortal in Kentarou Miura's Berserk, the Dragon Ball series (as Shenron, Commander Red, Recoome and the Tenkaichi Budakai announcer) as well as co-starring in Fullmetal Alchemist (as Alex Louis Armstrong).- Actress
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Momo Asakura was born on 25 June 1994 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress, known for O Maidens in Your Savage Season (2019), High School Fleet (2016) and Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (2020).- Actress
- Director
Hitomi Kuroki was born on 5 October 1960 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is an actress and director, known for Dark Water (2002), Lost Paradise (1997) and Keshin (1986).- Yôji Matsuda was born on 19 October 1967 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor, known for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Princess Mononoke (1997) and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006).
- Animation Department
- Director
- Art Department
Hiroshi Hamasaki was born on 30 December 1959 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director, known for Ninja Scroll (1993), Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) and Perfect Blue (1997).- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Masao Adachi was born on 13 May 1939 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for Sain (1963), Yûheisha - terorisuto (2007) and Datai (1966).- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Yûji Ueda was born on 15 June 1967 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998), Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Rurouni Kenshin (1996). He is married to Omi Minami.