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Hisashi Igawa

Hisashi Igawa

Actor · Born November 17, 1936 (89) · Shenyang, Occupied Manchuria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hisashi Igawa (井川比佐志 born 17 November 1936) is a Japanese actor who has appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Dodesukaden, Ran and Madadayo. He starred in Abe Kōbō's production of The Man Who Turned Into A Stick, a surrealist play, in 1969.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 17, 1936 (89)
From
Shenyang, Occupied Manchuria
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 151 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 11% in 30 days

What are Hisashi Igawa's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
30%
Bonds
19%
Society
13%
Survival
12%
Self
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
5%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 7 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 12 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 5
Ally
2 of 5
Mentor
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
16
Tense
13
Contemplative
10
Warm
5
Elegiac
4
Other
20

How their films linger

Haunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Hisashi Igawa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hisashi Igawa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

151 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Midnight Diner 2(2016)

    as Tetsuruo Ogawa

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Foujita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Have a Song on Your Lips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Toshio Nakamura

  • Marginal Village Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Oouchi Kazuo

  • A Samurai Chronicle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Climbing to Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Bunji

  • Villain(2010)

    as Katsuji Shimizu

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Ordinary Miracles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 11 episodes · as Shiro Tazaki

  • Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • 星ひとつの夜 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Naitou Shosuke

  • Kitokito! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Yujiro

  • Tannka(2006)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Star Reformer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Kanji Shimizu

  • The Professor and His Beloved Equation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Housekeeper Agent

  • Yamato(2005)

    as The Chairman

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Haru and Natsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Tokuji

  • Christmas in August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • For the coming day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Half a Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Farewell, Kuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Tokujiro Okouchi

  • On-yado Kawasemi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 28 episodes · Actor

  • An Autumn Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Susumu Horie

  • Letter from the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Sayuri's father

  • Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Hotoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Tetsuzo

  • The Firefly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • After the Rain(1999)

    as Kihei Ishiyama

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Chiipu Rabu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Bullet Ballet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Shooter

  • Who Do You Think You Are? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 11 episodes · as Shoji

  • Friendship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Sada(1998)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Saabisu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • The 8-Tomb Village (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Tom Cat Holmes' Deduction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Lost in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Editor Yabe

  • Goodbye for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Asian Blue: Ukishima-maru Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Masayoshi Yasuda

  • Last Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Deep River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Isobe

  • Fusa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • 47 Ronin(1994)

    as Okuda

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Watari-gawa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Loss of Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 12 episodes · as Hisa Sudo

  • Hi no Ataru Basho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Koya Choken-bou oboegaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Madadayo(1993)

    as Takayama

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Bring Me the Head of Shichiemon! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • The Oil-Hell Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Luminous Moss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Prosecutor

  • Basara: The Princess Goh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Tokugawa Ieyasu

  • A Letter from Myself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Nakibokuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Harikomi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Rhapsody in August(1991)

    as Tadao

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • War and Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Yuta Hanafusa

  • Kamigata Kugaizoshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Boiling Point(1990)

    as Otomo

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Dreams(1990)

    as Nuclear Plant Worker

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Graduation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Let Him Rest in Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Rikyu(1989)

    as Soji

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Yun’s Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Ryokichi Tagami

  • Trinacria: Porsche 959 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Hassai Sensei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 150 episodes · as 父・辰吉

  • The Story of Hachikō(1987)

    as Maekawa

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Story of Jiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as 勘作

  • Actress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Isoya

  • The Hall of the Crying Deer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Black Board (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Vice-principal

  • Lost in the Wilderness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Osamu Uemura

  • House on Fire(1986)

    as Tsubono

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Tailor-Made Shirt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Tampopo(1985)

    as Running Man

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ran(1985)

    as Shuri Kurogane

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • 国東物語 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Stepsisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 28 episodes · as Ryusaku Matsumoto

  • The Cold-Hearted Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Hole in the Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Konnichiwa Hânesu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Nishijima Tetsukichi

  • The Legend of Sayo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Kikuzo

  • Eternal Monument (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Army Surgeon Oka

  • Willful Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Fifth Movement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • An Ocean to Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Gyougyou

  • Demon Pond(1979)

    as The Carp

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Gassan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Iwakura

  • Glowing Autumn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Kijima

  • Double Suicide of Sonezaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Kyuemon

  • Village of Eight Gravestones(1977)

    as Kanji Igawa

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Love and Adventures of Kuroki Taro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Far Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Corporation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Reporter Tahara

  • The Village (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Fossil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Funazu

  • Main Line to Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Song of the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Waga seishun no toki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Gate of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Onna: Sono Ai no Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Woman Who Took the Local Paper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • The Class of the Sewage Canal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Home from the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Seiichi Ishizaki

  • The Long Darkness(1972)

    as Tetsuro's brother

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Summer Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Ota

  • Fossil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 8 episodes · as Funazu

  • The Wolves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator

  • Kataashi no ēsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Battle of Okinawa(1971)

    as Koichi Ito

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Cliff of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as the boxer

  • Men and War II: Land of Love and Sorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Park

  • Dodes'ka-den(1970)

    as Masuo Masuda

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Where Spring Comes Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Seiichi

  • Will to Conquer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Kawada Koichirō

  • Tora-san's Runaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as 刚

  • Tora! Tora! Tora!(1970)

    as Lt. Mitsuo Matsuzaki (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Steel Edge of Revenge(1969)

    as Takeuchi Shinjiro

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Young People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Sakurai

  • Witness of Hiroshima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • It's Tough Being a Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Japan's Longest Day(1967)

    as Kempeitai Lieutenant

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • ゴメスの名はゴメス (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Organized Violence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • A Thousand Suspects (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Zatoichi's Pilgrimage(1966)

    as Eigoro

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Face of Another(1966)

    as Man with Mole

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Wild Geese (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Cash Calls Hell(1966)

    as Motoki

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Man on Boat

  • Homicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Three Outlaw Samurai(1964)

    as Mosuke

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Desperate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Detective Tokumochi

  • Fight of the Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Zoku ôsho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Matsushima

  • Pressure of Guilt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct: Backing Investigation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Harakiri(1962)

    as Retainer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Pitfall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Otsuka

  • This Madding Crowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • 八幡鳩九郎 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Big Shots Die at Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity(1959)

    as Masui Ittôhei

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Romance of a Ferry Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Jose Torres (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Narrator

  • The Story of Pure Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Goro

  • The Living Koheiji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Takuro

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 151 titles from 1957 to 2022; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Yamato (2005)

$39M worldwide

Highest rated

Harakiri (1962)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ran (1985)

Film career

19572022

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1962Screen debut· Pitfall
  • 1962First top-billed film· Pitfall

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting151 of 151: 151 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score89th

By decade

1950s5 · acting1960s27 · acting1970s31 · acting1980s26 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 5% of 22 roles
62678792

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Hisashi Igawa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 89th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 87th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 30 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Tannka (2006)

61st percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 78/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Hisashi Igawa's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles27–87 · median 72 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles3–71 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 12 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 6 · minimalMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 60 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Hisashi Igawa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hisashi Igawa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tatsuya Nakadai shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles