Acting

Akira Yamada

Born — Died

1932-09-13 — 2003-02-27

Place of birth

Taipei, Taiwan

Known for

Acting

Credits

47 titles

Known for

Seven Samurai poster
8.5

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.

Seven Samurai

1954

Rodan poster
6.5

Mining engineer Shigeru investigates the disappearance and death of his fellow coworkers when prehistoric nymphs are discovered emerging from the mines. After an attack on the local village, Shigeru heads deeper into the mines only to make a more horrifying discovery in the form a prehistoric flying creature. Soon a second monster appears as the two converge in Fukuoka.

Rodan

1956

Mothra poster
7.2

Shipwreck survivors found on the presumably uninhabited Infant Island leads to a scientific expedition that discovers a surviving native population along with the Shobijin, tiny twin fairy priestesses of the island's mythical deity called Mothra. After the fairies are kidnapped by an exploitative businessman named Clark Nelson, Mothra sets out to rescue them.

Mothra

1961

Chûshingura poster
7.1

After their lord is tricked into committing ritual suicide, forty-seven samurai warriors await the chance to avenge their master and reclaim their honor.

Chûshingura

1962

The H-Man poster
5.8

When a narcotics deal goes sour and a suspect disappears, leaving only his clothes, Tokyo police question his wife and stake out the nightclub where she works.

The H-Man

1958

The Human Vapor poster
7.1

A failed science experiment gives a librarian the ability to turn into a gaseous substance. He goes on to rob banks to fund his dancer girlfriend's career, killing those who interfere. Now Tokyo's most wanted criminal, can authorities stop him?

The Human Vapor

1960

Film credits

1960s · 23 titles

Mothra poster
7.2

Shipwreck survivors found on the presumably uninhabited Infant Island leads to a scientific expedition that discovers a surviving native population along with the Shobijin, tiny twin fairy priestesses of the island's mythical deity called Mothra. After the fairies are kidnapped by an exploitative businessman named Clark Nelson, Mothra sets out to rescue them.

Mothra

1961

Chûshingura poster
7.1

After their lord is tricked into committing ritual suicide, forty-seven samurai warriors await the chance to avenge their master and reclaim their honor.

Chûshingura

1962

The Human Vapor poster
7.1

A failed science experiment gives a librarian the ability to turn into a gaseous substance. He goes on to rob banks to fund his dancer girlfriend's career, killing those who interfere. Now Tokyo's most wanted criminal, can authorities stop him?

The Human Vapor

1960

Gorath poster
6.3

In 1976, a drifting star named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although it is smaller than Earth, its enormous mass is enough to destroy the planet totally. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after the ship is drawn into the star, with a later mission barely escaping the same fate. However, Astronaut Tatsuma Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. Unable to destroy the invading star, Earth's scientists undertake a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move the planet out of Gorath's path before it is too late.

Gorath

1962

Varan the Unbelievable poster
4.5

In an effort to find an economic means of purifying salt water, a joint U.S.-Japanese military command is set up on an isolated Japanese island where an unusual salt water lake is situated. However, their purifying experiments arouse the prehistoric monster Obaki from hibernation at the lake's bottom, and it proceeds to attack Japan. Although made by a U.S. independent film company, this film was based on a Japanese Toho monster film of 1958, "Daikaiju Varan", from which all of the monster effects scenes and a few incidental dramatic shots were edited into it.

Varan the Unbelievable

1962

The Retreat from Kiska poster
8.4

In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When word arrived of an impending attack by an overwhelming force of Americans, the Japanese Navy attempted one of the most daring and unlikely evacuations in military history. This is that story.

The Retreat from Kiska

1965

Interpol Code 8 poster
7.5

Agent Jiro Kitami attempts to stop a smuggling ring from shipping arms to Vietcong guerrillas.

Interpol Code 8

1963

The Lovelorn Geisha poster
6.9

A woman and her daughter are in love with the same man, a chef at the restaurant that the mother manages. He is slightly crippled from frostbite in his years in Siberian labor camps and considers himself 'already dead'.

The Lovelorn Geisha

1960

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Young Salesman: Sanshiro Sebiro

1960

Women Called 'Wives' poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Women Called 'Wives'

1963

The Gambling Samurai poster
6.9

Chuji Kunisada returns to his home village to find that Jubei Matsui, the corrupt magistrate, has been responsible for virtually destroying Kunisada's family. A final tragedy leads Kunisada to join with a band of rogues living in the forest in robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, always with an eye toward avenging himself on Magistrate Matsui.

The Gambling Samurai

1960

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo poster
7.7

Hidejirō is sent to prison after killing the boss of a rival family. After being released, he discovers that his family has scattered and he is taken in by a company of quarry workers, whose boss has a strict code of non-violence. When the rival family tries to take over the company and kills their boss, Hidejirō must choose between his promise of non-violence and his yakuza code of revenge...

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo

1969

Young Guy in Hawaii poster
6.5

Fourth entry in Toho's Wakadaishō series directed by Jun Fukuda and released on a simultaneous screening with Matango. Filmed on location in Hawaii.

Young Guy in Hawaii

1963

Sir Galahad in Campus poster
7.0

The first instalment in Toho's popular Wakadaishō (Young Guy) series.

Sir Galahad in Campus

1961

Pride of the Campus poster
8.3

Young Yuichi (Kayama) romances Sumiko (Hoshi) while helping out at his family's restaurant, singing in a band, and preparing for an important boxing tournament.

Pride of the Campus

1962

Konto 55: Mankind's Weaknesses poster
NR

A Toho film featuring the comedy duo Konto 55, (コント55号), comprised of comedians Kinichi Hagimoto and Jiro Sakagami.

Konto 55: Mankind's Weaknesses

1969

Ginza Tomboy poster
NR

A rebellious heiress clashes with gangsters, dodges an arranged marriage, and unexpectedly falls for a principled lawyer as her father confronts past corruption and starts anew.

Ginza Tomboy

1960

College Champ poster
7.5

Yuuichi Tanuma, our young hero, is a senior at Kyonan University and captain of the marathon team. His parents run a sukiyaki restaurant back in his hometown. When his allowance stops coming in, Yuuichi moves back in with his folks to work part-time. He has his eyes set on nationals in the fall, until one day he runs into a young woman who's fallen into trouble with the Lightning Gang...

College Champ

1962

Sequel Western King, Eastern Leader poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Sequel Western King, Eastern Leader

1965

Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten poster
NR

1962 Japanese movie

Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten

1962

Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū poster
NR

1962 Japanese movie

Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū

1962

Hiroshi Moriya Sandogasa: I Want to Weep poster
9.0

A wandering swordsman helps a doll maker and his fiancée fight against a ruthless gang in a small town. As tensions escalate, epic duels and betrayals lead to a final showdown that shifts the balance of power. The swordsman departs, leaving a lasting impact on those he helped.

Hiroshi Moriya Sandogasa: I Want to Weep

1961

More Than 10,000 Women But... poster
NR

A newlywed couple moves into an apartment complex where each family faces everyday problems.

More Than 10,000 Women But...

1966

1950s · 24 titles

Seven Samurai poster
8.5

A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.

Seven Samurai

1954

Rodan poster
6.5

Mining engineer Shigeru investigates the disappearance and death of his fellow coworkers when prehistoric nymphs are discovered emerging from the mines. After an attack on the local village, Shigeru heads deeper into the mines only to make a more horrifying discovery in the form a prehistoric flying creature. Soon a second monster appears as the two converge in Fukuoka.

Rodan

1956

The H-Man poster
5.8

When a narcotics deal goes sour and a suspect disappears, leaving only his clothes, Tokyo police question his wife and stake out the nightclub where she works.

The H-Man

1958

Varan poster
5.8

When a rare species of butterfly is found in a mysterious valley in Japan, a pair of entomologists go to investigate and find more. They discover Varan, a giant monster, who decides to leave the valley and head straight for Tokyo.

Varan

1958

Densuke's 'Making Ends Meet' poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Densuke's 'Making Ends Meet'

1959

The Eagle of the Pacific poster
7.8

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, a brilliant tactician, is a loyal subject of the emperor, despite his grave misgivings about leading Japan's navy into war with the United States. He opposes the attack on Pearl Harbor, but, overruled, he leads his forces to the best of his ability.

The Eagle of the Pacific

1953

Desperado Outpost poster
6.3

When Sergeant Okubo's brother is murdered at a Japanese outpost in Northern China during the Second World War, Okubo poses as a war correspondent and seeks out his brother's killer.

Desperado Outpost

1959

Beast Man Snow Man poster
4.9

Three competing parties all race against time to track down an elusive creature known only as the Snowman.

Beast Man Snow Man

1955

Three 'Black Crow' Wives poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Three 'Black Crow' Wives

1959

Ôban poster
9.0

A young country boy leaves his village for Tokyo, where he begins to work as a stock trader. First part (of four) of the film adaptation of Bunroku Shishi's novel, Oban.

Ôban

1957

The Man Who Came to Port poster
10.0

An Ishiro Honda film.

The Man Who Came to Port

1952

Frame of Snow poster
10.0

During a winter visit to her grandfather’s mountain home, a young saleswoman becomes entangled in love and jealousy among visiting skiers. After heartbreak and tragedy in the snow, she departs renewed, ready to begin again.

Frame of Snow

1955

Father is a Soft-Hearted Person: The Night Before His Daughter's Wedding Day poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Father is a Soft-Hearted Person: The Night Before His Daughter's Wedding Day

1958

Story of a Detective's Assistant poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Story of a Detective's Assistant

1957

The Red Light Military Base poster
9.0

Story about a poor Japanese woman living near an American army base who resorts to prostitution.

The Red Light Military Base

1953

How the Bell of Liberty Rings poster
NR

Set during Japan's Bakumatsu period, the film follows Fukuzawa Yukichi, a poor samurai's son who defies societal norms to study Dutch and English. Despite facing opposition from his family and nationalist factions, he founds Keio University, becoming a key figure in Japan's modernization amid political turmoil.

How the Bell of Liberty Rings

1954

Mother and Son poster
8.0

An Ishiro Honda film.

Mother and Son

1955

Father is a Soft-Hearted Person: There are Five Men and Seven Women in the Family poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Father is a Soft-Hearted Person: There are Five Men and Seven Women in the Family

1958

So Deep in My Heart poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

So Deep in My Heart

1955

Fox and Raccoon poster
9.0

A group of hustling peddlers swindle rural towns with fake goods, facing betrayals, close calls, and constant setbacks as they chase survival and dream of a better future.

Fox and Raccoon

1959

In Self-Defense poster
NR

A young detective tries to determine whether a mysterious death was the result of murder or self-defense.

In Self-Defense

1958

Pure Love poster
NR

Toshiro, a naval reserve student, is a kamikaze pilot. Unsure of how long he will live, Toshiro had no intention of marrying. However, after witnessing the deaths of his comrades and experiencing air raids, he decides to marry his lover, Teruko. But one day, while piloting a kamikaze plane in place of his comrades, Toshiro's plane's wing is shot out during a fierce aerial battle.

Pure Love

1956

Three Dolls in Ginza poster
NR

In this sequel to Three Dolls in College, the three friends continue their adventures and get into a rockabilly club in Ginza.

Three Dolls in Ginza

1959

A Young Boss Tries Really Hard poster
NR

A college football star gets caught in a scandal involving a geisha teacher, endangering his team’s season and his family’s honor—until a last-minute comeback restores both.

A Young Boss Tries Really Hard

1959