Shin Kishida

was a Japanese actor best known for his memorable supporting roles in films and television series.

Childhood

Kishida was born at Kawakita General Hospital (Kawakita Sogo Byoin) in Asagaya in Suginami, Tokyo. His uncle was playwright Kunio Kishida, and actress Kyoko Kishida and children's author Eriko Kishida were his first cousins. He lived on Honmachi street in Nakano until the age of five, and in 1944 he enrolled in Yumoto Elementary School (Yumoto Shogakko) in Hakone, Kanagawa, where he was sent to live as part of a wartime evacuation of children from major cities. He returned to Tokyo in 1947, and transferred to Kudan Elementary School (Kudan Shogakko) in Chiyoda ward. After graduating from Kojimachi Junior High School (Kojimachi Chugakko, where he became friends with future politician Koichi Kato) and Kaijo High School (Kaijo Koko), he took a year off from his studies before entering the English literature department of Hosei University. However, he dropped out in his second year after deciding to become an actor.

Entry into show business

In 1961 Kishida joined a drama study group attached to the Bungakuza theater troupe. The following year he joined Bungakuza as an apprentice and became a fully-fledged member in 1965, but left in early 1966 to form the theater group Rokugatsu Gekijo (June Theater) with his wife Chiho Yuki, Katsumi Matsumura and others, and subsequently concentrated on film and television work.

Acting career

Kishida is probably best known for playing Hammer-esque vampires in Toho's "Chi o Suu" film series. Many Japanese fans regard Kishida and Christopher Lee as the quintessential screen vampires. Coincidentally, Kishida appeared alongside Shigeru Amachi, a pioneer of the Japanese vampire role in Nobuo Nakagawa's "The Lady Vampire" (Onna Kyuketsuki, 1959), in the 6th episode of television period drama "Mushuku Samurai" in 1973.

Kishida appeared in several works by Tsuburaya Productions including "Return of Ultraman" (Kaette kita Urutoraman) and "" (Kaiki Daisakusen), and notably stated that "I was raised by Tsuburaya". He also wrote screenplays under the name Shin Akekawa, such as episode 35 of "Return of Ultraman", "Zankoku! Hikari Kaiju Purizuma". Kishida’s design for the light-inspired Prisma monster is widely regarded as the most beautiful of the second wave of Ultraman monsters, and features in many books on the subject. As Shin Kishida he also wrote a script for episode 12 of 30-minute children’s show "Fireman" (Magma Man) that employed several extremely unique and experimental flourishes.

Kishida also worked frequently with director Kihachi Okamoto, and was a key figure in his latter works. His sidesplitting portrayal of a garish suit-wearing enemy yakuza captain in "Dainamaito Dondon" and his turn as an eerie secretary to a political mastermind in Blue Christmas (the epitome of his stated desire to appear in brief supporting roles that change the tone of an entire film) are some of his most representative work.

He also formed a celebrated partnership with Akio Jissoji, a former colleague from his days working for Tsuburaya. His 1977 film "Utamaro’s World" (Utamaro: Yume to Shiriseba) was probably frequent supporting actor Kishida’s only lead role in a major production (although he does not headline the film), and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

From time to time, he deliberately shaved his head and wore a wig for his roles in the television series "Kizudarake no Tenshi" and "Tantei Monogatari". For a scene in the 5th episode of "Kizudarake no Tenshi" where his character is forced to apologize by a mob boss played by Yoshi Kato, Kishida suddenly takes off his wig and prostrates himself before him. According to crew members on set at the time, Kishida’s actions were entirely improvised and shocked everyone present. In a guest appearance as 'Phantom Thief #103' in the 13th episode of "Tantei Monogatari", he engages in a fencing duel with star Yusaku Matsuda towards the end. A thrust by Matsuda’s character connects with the Phantom Thief’s hair, ripping off his wig and exposing his bald pate with the number 103 neatly written on it.

Marriage

In 1964 Kishida married actress Chiho Yuki (who later changed her stage name to Kirin Kiki), an actress who joined Bungakuza at the same time as he did. They divorced in 1968 and Kishida later remarried, but this too ended in divorce. He was subsequently involved with actress Kazuyo Mita.

Influence

A regular in the works of directors Kihachi Okamoto, Akio Jissoji and Tatsumi Kumashiro, Kishida was revered by many actors including Kenichi Hagiwara, Yutaka Mizutani and Yusaku Matsuda. Fellow Bungakuza actor Daigo Kusano was his lifelong best friend.

Shintaro Katsu also praised him highly for his talent and character, and appeared alongside him in several films. Kishida also worked as an instructor for Katsu’s acting school "Katsu Academy", where his students included Kazuki Kosakai and Lou Oshiba.

Actor Asao Kobayashi, who co-starred with Kishida in "Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan" (Taiyo Sentai Sanbarukan), was so overcome by the shock of Kishida’s sudden death that he took a hiatus from acting and left show business permanently a few years later.

Personal information

Kishida’s blood type was AB and his height was 169cm. His hobbies included butterfly collecting, scotch whisky collecting, oil painting, golf, and jazz music appreciation (he was the owner of an extensive record collection). He was a 3rd degree black belt in Kendo, and also played baseball.

At one point he also managed a bar in Roppongi, and his penchant for student baseball saw it become a regular haunt for famous university baseball players.

Death

On 28 December 1982 at 4:59am, Kishida died of esophageal cancer at the age of 43. Shortly after news of Kishida's passing, television reruns of his final tokusatsu series "Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan" began in the Tokyo area, and his first appearance in the opening episode of the series was accompanied by a memorial message.

External links

*en icon imdb name|id=0457223|name=Shin Kishida
*jmdb name|id=0067900|name=岸田森 (Shin Kishida)