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Kenji Imai

Kenji Imai

Actor · Born March 31, 1932 (94) · Kanagawa, Japan

Kenji Imai was born on 31 March 1932 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He is an actor, known for Yakuza Graveyard (1976), The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979) and Kôdo nanasen metoru: kyôfu no yojikan (1959).

Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 31, 1932 (94)
From
Kanagawa, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
6 on MovieCove · 150 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 32% in 30 days

What are Kenji Imai's films like?

Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
32%
Bonds
24%
Survival
24%
Power
15%
Self
6%

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 0 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 1 · Intense 3

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

Steady 0 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 2 · 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 0 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 4

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 0 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Melancholic
3
Dread
1
Absurd
1
Thrilling
1

How their films linger

Bittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

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 Kenji Imai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 6 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Fandor (2).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kenji Imai'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

150 credits, 6 with a MovieCove page.

  • Sunday Horror Series Best Selection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Another XX: Matori Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • The Key(1997)

    as Soma Hiroshi

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Peanuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Black Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Brutal Insanity of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Fujisaki

  • The Edo Murders: Sasachi's Greatest Triumph (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Cockroach Trading Company's Hilarious Tale: The Five Hundred Million Yen Blues of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as First Managing Director

  • Lady Ramboh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Assassin's Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Pro Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kenzo Idogaki

  • Super Gun Lady: Police Branch 82 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Masato Amamiya , Research Bureau of Cabinet Officer

  • The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Teenage Years: Keiko’s Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • The Killing Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Oyama

  • Raping! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Medium-sized city Detective A

  • Sometimes... Like a Prostitute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Gorô

  • Winter's Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Tomikichi Ishii

  • The Okinawa War of Ten Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • I Can Hear the Sound of Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Special Crime Investigation Front (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Okano

  • Japan's Don(1977)

    as Genzo Bun

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Yakuza Code Still Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Shibata

  • A Kawachi Rascal's Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Ryūichi Fushimi

  • Yakuza Graveyard(1976)

    as Shunji Matsunaga

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Racketeer Ishimatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • The Machine Gun Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • The International Gang of Kobe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Tetsufumi

  • Karate Bullfighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Gambling Den Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Sugitani

  • Japan's Violent Archipelago: The Keihanshin Murder Corps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Graveyard of Honor(1975)

    as Masaji Aoki

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Violent Fraternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Homeless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Isokichi

  • The Last Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Black Panther Bitch M (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Kawashima

  • Third Generation Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Tattooed Hitman(1974)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Yakuza of the Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gondo

  • The Viper Brothers: The Blackmailers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Girl Boss: Escape From Reform School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Koike

  • Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Sentarô Ishihara - Vice-principal teacher

  • Quarreling with Yakuza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Eight Men to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Yashi Okami

  • Outlaw Killers: Three Mad Dog Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Shiga

  • Woman His Prey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • A Yakuza Has His Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Rogue of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Delinquent Boss: Alley Dog Commando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Wandering Wolf: Ryu the Branded Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Delinquent Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • The Gambler's Counterattack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Kizaki

  • Human Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Maki

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Kanto Drifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Sympathy for the Underdog(1971)

    as Mad Dog Jiro

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Step on the Gas! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Yuasa

  • Pay Off Your Debt! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Terror in the Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Yasoshima

  • A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Code Between Brothers: All New (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Kanto Street Peddlers: Clan Violent Loyalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Tsuyoshi Ishido

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Resurrection of the Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Murder in the Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Manager Gondo

  • Watch Out, Crimson Bat! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Ex Convict: Sword Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • 前科・仮釈放 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Quick-draw Okatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Shiozaki

  • Outlaw: Kill! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Takamatsu Hirakawa

  • Farewell, My Beloved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Fangs of a Female (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Duel in the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Shimazo Hondo

  • Army Intelligence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Shoda

  • Code of Chivalry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

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

    as Nakagawa

  • The Chivalrous Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Glorious Fights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Shingo Kitajima

  • Game of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Ito

  • The Pretty Jade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Dash to the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Continental Drifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Women Doing Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Shinobi No Mono 6: The Last Iga Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Tale of Japanese Burglars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Young detective

  • Taking the Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct: Missing Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Detective Mitamura

  • The Shogun's Vault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • An Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct: Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Detective Mitamura

  • An Impudent Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Gang Loyalty and Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Element of Surprise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 21 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Mid-August Commotion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Tsutomu Mihara

  • Utau myōjō seishun ga ippai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Zankokuna tsuki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Tales of President Mito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Kakuya Atsumi

  • The Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Love School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • 新婚シリーズ　最初が肝心 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • 新婚シリーズ　月給日は嫌い (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • South Pacific Waves Are High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Tale of a Company Boss 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Shizuo Ikeno

  • Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Taichi

  • The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Like Fire is My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • A Fishwife's Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Futaridake no taiyō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Whirlwind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Kotama(as Syunji Imai)

  • Police Precinct: 15 Year Old Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Botchan yarō seizoroi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • If You're Man Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Stragglers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Challenge Beneath the Waves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Hunting Opium-Eaters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 14 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • 続べらんめぇ芸者 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Speed Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Murderer Must Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Four Hours of Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Co-pilot Hara

  • Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Eyes of Mother and Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Happy Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Sister with Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Shunta Sekiguchi

  • With Songs in My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Midair Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • 三代目 魚河岸の石松 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Monsoon Son Pt.2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Monsoon Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Jet Air Base 101 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Shuji Sato

  • Police Precinct: The Left-Handed Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 68th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 150 titles from 1956 to 2019; peak year 1976.

Highest rated

Sympathy for the Underdog (1971)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

The Key (1997)

Film career

19562019

Peak 1976 · at the high point of their film career. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting150 of 150: 150 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

By decade

1950s15 · acting1960s66 · acting1970s56 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s9 · acting2010s1 · acting

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.

How do Kenji Imai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 6; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 82nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 6 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 6 titles divides audiences: 4 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed2

Most loved · actor

Sympathy for the Underdog (1971)

Midcredits 89th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 84, 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.

Who does Kenji Imai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kenji Imai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kinji Fukasaku shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers