Photo: 平凡出版 (Heibon Shuppan) / キングレコード (KING RECORD CO., LTD.) / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I'll be honest, Hitoshi Ueki is one of those guys I find oddly comforting. He's the "Sudara Bushi" man, the grinning face of postwar Japan's irresponsible-salaryman comedy, and that "I know I should quit but I just can't" hook still makes me smile decades later. As part of Crazy Cats he could sing, swing through jazz, act, and clown all at once, which is a frankly absurd amount of talent in one Nagoya-born guy. What gets me, though, is the contrast: by all accounts he was actually a quiet, earnest, dutiful man offstage, and the whole carefree charmer thing was pure craft. That tension is what makes him land for me. He aged into a wonderfully understated character actor too, and that 1993 honor felt well earned. A genuine original.
Overview
Hitoshi Ueki (December 25, 1926 – March 27, 2007) was a Japanese entertainer born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, who built a career spanning singing, acting, jazz performance, composition, and comedy. He is best known for his signature comedic persona and his appearances in the Crazy Cats film series, as well as television dramas including The Hangman and Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari. He attended Toyo University, and in 1993 was awarded the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho) in recognition of his contributions to the arts.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hitoshi Ueki
- Name (Japanese)
- 植木等
- Reading
- うえき ひとし
- Born
- December 25, 1926 – March 27, 2007
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Tiger (Tora)
- Origin
- Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 165 cm
- Occupation
- Singer / Actor / Jazz Musician / Composer / Comedian
2. Background
- University
- Toyo University
Awards & achievements
- 1993 — Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho)
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable Work | Ueki Hitoshi no Sore Yuke Don Don | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | The Hangman (Za Hangman) | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | Crazy Cats Films (Kuriji Eiga) | — | Unknown |
| Notable Work | Gyakufunsha Kazoku | — | Unknown |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A4%8D%E6%9C%A8%E7%AD%89
Frequently asked questions
When was Hitoshi Ueki born?
December 25, 1926 – March 27, 2007.
Where is Hitoshi Ueki from?
Hitoshi Ueki is from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
What does Hitoshi Ueki do?
Hitoshi Ueki works as Singer, Actor, Jazz Musician, Composer, Comedian.
How tall is Hitoshi Ueki?
Hitoshi Ueki is 165 cm.
What is Hitoshi Ueki known for?
Notable works include Ueki Hitoshi no Sore Yuke Don Don, The Hangman (Za Hangman), Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari.
Singer — see all → · Actor — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.