Susumu Fujita
Susumu Fujita was a Japanese film and television actor. He played the lead role in Akira Kurosawa's first feature, Sanshiro Sugata, and appeared in other Kurosawa films including The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail and The Hidden Fortress. Later, he was a supporting actor in Ishirō Honda's Mothra vs. Godzilla, among many other films.
Before and during World War II Fujita was considered one of the great stars of Japanese cinema. In the post-war period he became known for supporting roles, often playing a soldier in war films, such as in Masaki Kobayashi's The Human Condition (film series). During the 1960s and 1970s he played minor roles in "special effects pictures" such as Ultraman and Frankenstein vs. Baragon.
Life and career
Fujita was born in Kurume, Fukuoka in Japan. After graduating from high school in 1929 he moved to Tokyo, where he took entrance examinations for several universities, but failed to gain admission. Before returning to Fukuoka he stayed in Kyoto with Takuji Furumi, a film director from his home town. With assistance from Furumi, he secured employment with producer Utaemon Ishikawa as an extra. He was hired as an actor by Toa Cinema, but did not appear in any films that year. In 1932 he was drafted into military service and enlisted in the 12th Artillery Division. After being discharged from the army in 1934, Fujita went to work for Masahiro Makino's Kyoto Film Recording as an audio engineer. He returned to acting in 1939, when he moved to Toho studios.
At first, Fujita was a contract player appearing in minor roles, but in 1940 he co-starred in Tsuma no baai with Takako Irie and Minoru Takada; he was praised as a sincere and genuine actor. Beginning in 1941 he played a succession of leading roles, including Shido monogatari. In 1943 he appeared in Sanshiro Sugata, the directorial debut of Akira Kurosawa, which brought him to wide popularity. Fujita's popularity as a manly action hero was further cemented with his performance in Kato Hayabusa Sentoutai. He was in the midst of filming The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail when World War II ended.
After the war, Fujita condemned his own portrayal of war heroes and considered leaving acting. However, unable to see himself in any other profession, he returned to the screen. In 1946 he appeared in Kurosawa's first post-war film, No Regrets for Our Youth, about a war-time liberal who was executed for treason.
During a strike at Toho in 1948 Fujita, along with Denjiro Ōkochi, Kazuo Hasegawa and other members of the so-called "Flag ten" secession union broke away to form a new studio, Shintoho. This reorganization ended Fujita's collaboration with Kurosawa. At Shintoho, he appeared in several melodramas and action films.
After his contract with Shintoho ended in 1957, Fujita returned to Toho, where he appeared primarily in supporting roles. Fujita and Kurosawa worked together again on The Hidden Fortress in 1958. Although Fujita appeared in a supporting role, it was essential to the film. He appeared in three more Kurosawa films, including Yojimbo, but only in minor roles.
Selected filmography
Hataraku ikka - Genji's fellow worker Shanhai rikusentai - Marine N.C.O. Ribbon o musubu fujin Byakuran no uta: zenpen: kōhen Moyuru ōzora Tsuma no baai Kaigun bakugekitai Okumura Ioko Nessa no chikai - Chen SuyanShidō monogatari - Shintaro SagawaSeishun no kiryū - MurakamiMidori no daichi Haha wa shinazu Hawaii Mare okikaisen - YamashitaSanshiro Sugata - Sanshiro SugataWakaki hi no yorokobi - Naotaro FujitaNeppū Himetaru kakugo - Navy officerKato hayabusa sento-tai Raigekitai Shutsudō Raigekitai shutsudo Nichijō no tatakai Kanjōkai no bara Sanshiro Sugata Part II - Sanshiro SugataNihon kengō den - Yagyu Tajima-no-kamiKita no san-nin - KakutaKoi no fuunjî The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail - TogashiUrashima Tarō no kōei - Goro UrashimaMinshū no Teki Those Who Make Tomorrow - FujitaReijin - Shinichi TazawaNo Regrets for Our Youth - Ruykichi NogeAru yo no Tonosama A Thousand and One Nights with Toho Kâkedashî jidaî Hana hiraku - Machiko yori - Teruhiko KuwaiIssun-boshi Ikiteiru gazō - Yutaka NambaraShirozukin arawaru - SentaKirare no Senta Mori no Ishimatsu - IshimatsuUmi no G-men Kai Jo G-Men Sasameyuki - Minoru MimakiHi no tori Netsudeichi Ginza Sanshiro Jiyuu gakko - Hei-sanBungawan soro Avalanche - Kōsuke KijimaHimeyuri no tō - Dr. OkaKenbei Senkan Yamato - Jiro NomuraWaga koi no lila no kokage ni Hana to ryū - Dai-ichi-bu: Dōkai-wan no rantō - Kingorō TamaiHana to ryū - Dai-ni-bu: Aijō ruten - Kingorō TamaiHorafuki tanji - Farmer TanjiSensuikan Rogō imada fujōsezu Nihon yaburezu Hana to ryu Non-chan kumo ni noru - Nobuko's fatherAi no rekishi - Ichirō KaibaraHokkai no hanran - Atsuo KurodaSilver Snake Iwashiya Revenge of the Pearl Queen - Kenji AsamuraRōnin-gai - Gonbei HoroAwa odori naruto no kaizoku Escapade in Japan - Kei TanakaJirochō gaiden: Ōabare jirochō ikka The Mysterians - Gen. MoritaMeiji tennō to Nichiro daisensō Satsujinki: Kumo-otoko - Kogorō AkechiThe Hidden Fortress - General Hyoe TadokoroKumo-otoko no gyakushū - Kogorō AkechiSongokū Submarine I-57 Will Not Surrender The Human Condition - Naruto NitōheiWatashi wa kai ni naritai Kunisada Chūji - Magistrate Jubei MatsuiStorm Over the Pacific The Bad Sleep Well - DetectiveYatarō gasa - Boss DaihachiShii no tsūisekishâ The Story of Osaka Castle - Katsuyasu SakakibaraYojimbo - Homma - Instructor Who Skips TownAi to honoho to - NiimuraDobunezumi sakusen Chushingura: 47 Samurai - Yosobei KajikawaAttack Squadron! - Yamato Commander ItoHigh and Low - Chief of First Investigating SectionChintao yosai bakugeki meirei Hiken Atragon - Defense CommanderKokusai himitsu keisatsu - Meishi's BossKyo mo ware ozora ni ari Mothra vs. Godzilla - JSDF GeneralDagora the Space Monster - General IwasaHorafuki taikoki - Yoshimoto ImagawaSamurai Assassin - Tatewaki TodoKiga Kaikyo - Police ChiefZoku shachō ninpōchō Fūrai ninpōchō Taiheiyo kiseki no sakusen Kisuka - AkitaniFrankenstein vs. Baragon - Osaka Police ChiefZero faita dai kūsen Nippon ankokugai Nihon ânkokugai Rampaging Dragon of the North Bosū wa ore no kenjū de Japan's Longest Day - Colonel Toyojiro Haga - CO Imperial Guards 2nd Infantry RegimentUltraman Admiral Yamamoto - Chūichi NagumoFuresshuman wakadaishō Battle of the Japan Sea - Kamimura HikonojōHiko shonen: Wakamono no toride - Jiro Iwami - BoyNora-neko rokku: Onna banchō The Militarists - Osami NaganoTora! Tora! Tora! - Rear Admiral Tamon YamaguchiShiosai Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Dai-Dassou Shin abashiri bangaichi: Arashi yobu shiretoko-misaki Bokyo Komori-uta The Gate of Youth - Yabe ToraNihon no jingi Fuyu no hana - Ryokichi SakataUltraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle Shikake-nin Baian - Hanemon OtowayaThe Imperial Navy - Koshirō Oikawa Kaikyō Namidabashi Detective Story - Gozo KunizakiMori no mukougawa Roppongi banana boys - Tayama