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Photo of Hitoshi Ueki

Photo: 平凡出版 (Heibon Shuppan) / キングレコード (KING RECORD CO., LTD.) / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Hitoshi Ueki

Postwar Japan's beloved comic entertainer and Crazy Cats star

December 25, 1926 – March 27, 2007 · Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

  • From Aichi Prefecture
  • Singer
  • Actor
  • Jazz Musician

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.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

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
Origin
Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Blood type
AB
Height
165 cm
Active years
1946 - 2007
Occupation
Singer / Actor / Jazz Musician / Composer / Comedian

2. Background

University
Toyo University

Awards & achievements

  • 1993 — Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho)

3. Works & records

Works summary

Appearances
173 (1955–2007)
By year
1955: 1, 1957: 1, 1959: 1, 1960: 2, 1961: 2, 1962: 7, 1963: 8, 1964: 5, 1965: 1, 1966: 4, 1967: 2, 1968: 1, 1970: 4, 1971: 2, 1972: 1, 1973: 7, 1974: 5, 1975: 4, 1976: 6, 1978: 4, 1979: 2, 1980: 5, 1981: 1, 1982: 8, 1983: 3, 1984: 3, 1985: 3, 1986: 6, 1987: 9, 1988: 2, 1989: 2, 1990: 4, 1991: 8, 1992: 6, 1993: 2, 1994: 2, 1995: 3, 1997: 5, 1998: 1, 1999: 2, 2000: 2, 2002: 1, 2003: 1, 2004: 1, 2005: 1, 2006: 1, 2007: 2
Debut work
初恋カナリヤ娘

Filmography / notable works

CategoryTitle
Notable WorkUeki Hitoshi no Sore Yuke Don Don
Notable WorkThe Hangman (Za Hangman)
Notable WorkNagoya Yomeiri Monogatari
Notable WorkCrazy Cats Films (Kuriji Eiga)
Notable WorkGyakufunsha Kazoku

5. About this entry

Tags

  • From Aichi Prefecture
  • Singer
  • Actor
  • Jazz Musician
Last updated
2026-08-26

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Works and profile fields sourced from Wikipedia reflect content as of 2026-08-26. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Hitoshi Ueki born?

Born December 25, 1926.

When did Hitoshi Ueki die?

Died March 27, 2007, aged 80.

Where was Hitoshi Ueki from?

Hitoshi Ueki was from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

What did Hitoshi Ueki do?

Hitoshi Ueki worked as Singer, Actor, Jazz Musician, Composer, Comedian.

How tall was Hitoshi Ueki?

Hitoshi Ueki was 165 cm.

What was Hitoshi Ueki's blood type?

AB.

When was Hitoshi Ueki active?

1946 - 2007.

What was Hitoshi Ueki known for?

Notable works include Ueki Hitoshi no Sore Yuke Don Don, The Hangman (Za Hangman), Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari.

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