Photo: 平凡出版株式会社 Heibon Shuppan Co., Ltd. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Shintaro Katsu commands my deep respect as a true force of Japanese cinema. Born in Tokyo, he defined the Zatoichi series and roamed across the Akumyo, Hoodlum Soldier, and Hanzo the Razor films, while also singing, directing, writing, and producing. His acting never felt boxed in by technique; it carried a raw, sensual, dangerous presence that burned straight into the frame, earning him a Mainichi Best Actor award. Though he died in 1997, no one has quite replicated his untamed, deeply human magnetism. He remains, in my view, one of the irreplaceable treasures of postwar Japanese film.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Shintarō Katsu
- Name (Japanese)
- 勝新太郎
- Reading
- 不明
- Born
- November 29, 1931 – June 21, 1997
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Goat
- Origin
- Tokyo, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer / film director / writer / film producer / screenwriter
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Golden Arrow Award
- Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8B%9D%E6%96%B0%E5%A4%AA%E9%83%8E
Frequently asked questions
When was Shintarō Katsu born?
November 29, 1931 – June 21, 1997.
Where is Shintarō Katsu from?
Shintarō Katsu is from Tokyo, Japan.
What does Shintarō Katsu do?
Shintarō Katsu works as singer, film director, writer, film producer, screenwriter.
Singer — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-24
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.