Masahiko Tsugawa

Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦)
Tsugawa in 2005
Born
Masahiko Katō

(1940-01-02)2 January 1940
DiedAugust 4, 2018(2018-08-04) (aged 78)
Other namesMasahiko Makino
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film director
  • critic
Years active1945–2018
AgentGrandpa Pro Productions
Spouse
Yukiji Asaoka
(m. 1973⁠–⁠2018)
FatherKunitaro Sawamura

Masahiko Tsugawa (津川 雅彦, Tsugawa Masahiko), born Masahiko Katō (加藤 雅彦 Katō Masahiko; January 2, 1940 – August 4, 2018) was a Japanese actor and director.

Career

Tsugawa was born January 2, 1940, in Kyoto, Japan.[1] After acting as a child, he made his major debut at 16 in the Kō Nakahira film Crazed Fruit in 1956.[2] Tsugawa's family was deeply rooted in the film industry since before his birth. Tsugawa attended school until dropping out of Waseda University Graduate School to pursue acting.[3]

Tsugawa gained popularity playing villain roles in TV jidaigeki drama series as the Hissatsu series[3][4] and appeared in films like Otoko wa tsurai yo: Watashi no Tora-san and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. He became a favorite actor of director Juzo Itami, appearing in nearly all his films since Tampopo.[1][2]

In television, Tsugawa portrayed Tokugawa Ieyasu five times,[2] including in the 2000 Aoi Tokugawa Sandai[1] becoming the oldest lead actor in a Taiga drama.[5]

Tsugawa recently debuted as a director under the pseudonym Makino Masahiko with his film Nezu no Ban.[1] He chose this name because he is the nephew of the Japanese director Masahiro Makino, his mother's brother. Legend has it that Tsugawa was so awed by the director while watching him at work as a young child that he asked if he could use Makino as his last name should he ever be a director, because of the similarities of the first names.[3]

Tsugawa comes from an illustrious film family. His older brother Hiroyuki Nagato was an actor.[1] His wife Yukiji Asaoka was an actress. His grandfather is the director Shōzō Makino, his father, Kunitarō Sawamura, and his mother, Tomoko Makino, were both actors.[1] His aunt and uncle through his father are the actors Sadako Sawamura and Daisuke Katō.

Tsugawa died on August 4, 2018, due to heart failure.[1] He was 78.[2]

Filmography

Director

  • Asahiyama Zoo Story: Penguins in the Sky (2009)

Film

Television

Dubbing

Awards and honors

Honor

Awards

  • 1982 Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actor
  • 1986 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination for Hitohira no yuki
  • 1987 Mainichi Film Award Best Actor
  • 1987 Hochi Film Award Best Supporting Actor nomination for A Taxing Woman
  • 1988 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination for Wakarenu riyu
  • 1988 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting actor for A Taxing Woman[12]
  • 1993 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination Bokuto kidan
  • 1994 Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Supporting Actor
  • 1995 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination for Shudan-sasen
  • 1999 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination for Puraido: Unmei no toki
  • 2014 Hochi Film Award Best Supporting Actor nomination for 0.5mm

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Masahiko Tsugawa 知恵蔵mini「津川雅彦」の解説". KOTOBANK. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "津川雅彦さん、突然死だった…退院予定日直前に 死去当日も朝食ペロリ". サンスポ. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "甘いもの好きが原因?糖尿病治療中の津川雅彦さん". 病ナビ. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "私の職務履歴書「第19回 映画監督・演出家 マキノ雅彦の場合」". 宅ふぁいる便. オージス総研. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  5. ^ "16年大河は"三谷戦国"主役候補に役所広司、佐藤浩市ら". スポニチ. May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "徳川家康". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. ^ "宮本武蔵". Haiyaku Jiten. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "独眼竜政宗". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  9. ^ "八代将軍吉宗". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ "華麗なる一族". MBS. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "リトルプリンス 星の王子さまと私". Fukikaeru. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  12. ^ 第 11 回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品 (in Japanese). Japan Academy Prize. Retrieved 2010-12-16.