Photo: Georges Seguin (Okki) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Kenji Ohba is a name that means a great deal to anyone raised on Japanese tokusatsu. As the stuntman-turned-actor behind Retsu Ichijouji in Space Sheriff Gavan, he embodied a kind of physical, bodily heroism that CGI can never quite replicate. What I admire most is the range of his journey, from Denziman and Legend of the Eight Samurai all the way to Tarantino's Kill Bill, carrying the spirit of Japanese action onto a global stage. He passed this year, but the metallic gleam of those heroes hasn't dimmed for me. Performers who risk their bodies for genuine spectacle deserve lasting applause, and Ohba absolutely earned his.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kenji Ōba
- Name (Japanese)
- 大葉健二
- Reading
- 不明
- Born
- February 5, 1955 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Goat
- Origin
- Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / impresario / stunt performer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Space Sheriff Gavan | — | |
| Notable work | Kill Bill: Volume 1 | — | |
| Notable work | Legend of the Eight Samurai | — | |
| Notable work | Igano Kabamaru | — | |
| Notable work | Kōtarō Makaritōru! | — | |
| Notable work | Denshi Sentai Denziman | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Kenji Ōba born?
Born February 5, 1955 (age 71).
Where is Kenji Ōba from?
Kenji Ōba is from Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
What does Kenji Ōba do?
Kenji Ōba works as actor, impresario, stunt performer.
What is Kenji Ōba known for?
Notable works include Space Sheriff Gavan, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Legend of the Eight Samurai.
Actor — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.