Photo: Georges Seguin (Okki) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Kenji Ōba was an actor, impresario and stunt performer. Kenji Ōba was born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan on February 5, 1955. Death is recorded on May 6, 2026, at the age of 71. The listed height was 170 cm. Credited works include Space Sheriff Gavan, Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Legend of the Eight Samurai.
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.
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.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kenji Ōba
- Name (Japanese)
- 大葉健二
- Reading
- おおば けんじ
- Born
- February 5, 1955 – May 6, 2026
- Origin
- Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 170 cm
- Occupation
- actor / impresario / stunt performer
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Goat
- Blood type
- A
- Active years
- 1971 - 2018
2. Works & records
Works summary
- Appearances
- 68 (1971–2018)
- By year (titles with a known year)
- 1971: 1, 1973: 1, 1974: 1, 1975: 3, 1976: 3, 1977: 1, 1978: 4, 1979: 1, 1980: 2, 1981: 5, 1982: 1, 1983: 3, 1984: 4, 1985: 1, 1986: 3, 1987: 4, 1993: 1, 1999: 1, 2003: 2, 2006: 2, 2007: 1, 2008: 4, 2011: 2, 2012: 1, 2013: 1, 2015: 1, 2016: 2, 2017: 3, 2018: 3, year unknown: 6
- Debut work
- Kamen Rider
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| 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 |
3. Links
- Xhttps://x.com/ohbayougo
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji%20Ohba
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E8%91%89%E5%81%A5%E4%BA%8C
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736403
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
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 Kenji Ōba born?
Kenji Ōba was born on February 5, 1955.
When did Kenji Ōba die?
Kenji Ōba died on May 6, 2026, aged 71.
Where was Kenji Ōba from?
Kenji Ōba was from Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
What did Kenji Ōba do?
Kenji Ōba worked as actor, impresario, stunt performer.
How tall was Kenji Ōba?
Kenji Ōba was 170 cm tall.
What was Kenji Ōba's blood type?
Kenji Ōba's blood type was A.
When was Kenji Ōba active?
Kenji Ōba was active from 1971 to 2018.
What was Kenji Ōba known for?
Kenji Ōba's notable works include Space Sheriff Gavan, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Legend of the Eight Samurai.
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