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Akiji Kobayashi

Akiji Kobayashi

Actor · Died August 27, 1996, aged 65 · Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan

Akiji Kobayashi (小林昭二, Kobayashi Akiji, September 6, 1930 – August 27, 1996), sometimes credited as Shōji Kobayashi, was a Japanese actor. He attended Nihon University College of Art, but withdrew before completing his degree and joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1949. He made his film debut with Satsujin Yogisha in 1952. He is best known in the West for portraying the role of Captain Toshio Muramatsu in the 1966-1967 television series, Ultraman. From 1983-84, he appeared in the popular television detective series Seibu Keisatsu. His other notable television role was Tōbei Tachibana ("Oya-san") in several series of the Kamen Rider franchise. He was one of Kon Ichikawa's favorite actors, appearing in 12 Ichikawa films. His final film appearance was Yatsuhaka-mura as Head of a Factory directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1996. He was the official dubbing artist of John Wayne and Richard Crenna. Kobayashi died of lung cancer in Yokohama on August 27, 1996, ten days before his 66th birthday.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 6, 1930
Died
August 27, 1996 (aged 65)
From
Yodobashi ward, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 103 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 27Down 23% in 30 days

What are Akiji Kobayashi's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
27%
Bonds
18%
Survival
16%
Society
14%
Power
11%
Self
9%
Ideas
6%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 2 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 6

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 2

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 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 3 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Thrilling
8
Melancholic
5
Absurd
3
Warm
2
Other
4

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

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 Akiji Kobayashi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Akiji Kobayashi'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

103 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page.

  • Master Swordsman Hirate Miki - Duel in Tone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion(1996)

    as Senior sergeant

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Revive! Ultraman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Ultraman Zearth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Fisherman

  • Getting Any?(1994)

    as Chief of World Defence Force

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • 47 Ronin(1994)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Ie Naki Ko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Kogarashi Monjirō Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Kamen Rider SD: Strange?! Kumo Otoko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Toubei Tachibana (voice)

  • Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth(1992)

    as Yuzo Tsuchiashi

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Run, Melos! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Dionysus II (voice)

  • Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah(1991)

    as Yuzo Tsuchiashi

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Noh Mask Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Tales of the Bizarre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Detective

  • Like the Clouds, Like the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Konton

  • Afternoon When Flowers Fell(1989)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Black Rain(1989)

    as Katayama

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Ultraman: Terror on Route 87 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Toshio Muramatsu

  • The Men Who Made Ultraman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Kamen Norider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 71 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • Death Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Desperate Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Inoue

  • Bakumatsu seishun graffiti: Ronin Sakamoto Ryoma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Hanazuki

  • The Empty Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Kojika Monogatari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 52 episodes · as ペニー

  • The Makioka Sisters(1983)

    as Seitaro Jinba

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Kaikyô(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lady on 6th Street: Taste of Honey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Kodera

  • Suspicion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Chief of Police, Ishihara

  • Karate Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Asst Chief Fuji

  • Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • The Black Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Lonely Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Yuki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Jinjii (voice)

  • Koto: The Ancient City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Shogun Assassin(1980)

    as Lord Kurogawa

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Seibu Keisatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 50 episodes · as Minami Choutaro

  • The Tale of Jean Valjean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Jean Valjean (voice)

  • Immortal Kamen Rider Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Tobei Tachibana

  • The Shogun Assassins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Ultraman: Great Monster Decisive Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Toshio Muramatsu

  • The House of Hanging (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Sannosuke

  • The 47 Ronins of Ako (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 36 episodes · as Hara Soemon

  • Urutoraman(1979)

    as Captain Toshio Muramatsu

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Attack, Jun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 71 episodes · Actor

  • Queen Bee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Detective Kogure

  • Fushoku no kōzō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Okawa

  • Utamaro's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Devil's Island(1977)

    as Takezo

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Lullaby to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Koreya Kusakabe (manager)

  • The Inugami Family(1976)

    as Kokichi Inugami

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Kagestar: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Inspector Tonda

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

    Show 34 episodes · as Inspector Keibu Tonda

  • All Together! Seven Kamen Riders!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Tōbei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider Stronger: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Tôbei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider Stronger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 39 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider Amazon: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Tōbei Tachibana

  • Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Tobei Tachibana (archive footage)

  • Kamen Rider Amazon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 24 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • Five Riders vs. King Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Tobei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 35 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron Mutants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Tobei Tachibana

  • Internal Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Kamen Rider V3: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Tōbei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider V3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 52 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • The Woman Who Calls for Corpses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice(1972)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril(1972)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Daigoro vs. Goliath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Hitoshi Suzuki

  • Professional Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kamen Rider vs. Ambassador Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Tōbei Tachibana

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx(1972)

    as Ozunu Kurokuwa

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Kamen Rider vs. Shocker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Tobei Tachibana

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance(1972)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Pirates of Buban (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Return of Ultraman: Terror of the Waterspout Monsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Captain Takamura

  • Mandala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 5 - The Mystery of the Skull Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Go Go Kamen Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Tobei Tachibana

  • Kamen Rider(1971)

    Show 248 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Kamen Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 98 episodes · as Tobei Tachibana

  • This Transient Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Prison Break (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • The Curse of the Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Naosuke

  • Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 52 episodes · Actor

  • Operation: Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 26 episodes · as Taizo Machida

  • The Return of the Filthy Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Capt. Toshio Muramatsu

  • Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series(1966)

    Show 39 episodes · as Captain 'Cap' Toshio Muramatsu

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Birth of Ultraman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Toshio Muramatsu

  • The Father of Ultra Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • The Pornographers(1966)

    as Man at the Party

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Pleasures of the Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Mari's pimp

  • 宇宙少年ソラン (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 96 episodes · as ワイラー

  • Kwaidan(1964)

    as (segment "In a Cup of Tea") (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

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

    Actor

  • Youth of the Beast(1963)

    as Tatsuo Nomoto

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Intruders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Ichiro Honma

  • Harakiri(1962)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Foundry Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Hei-san

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

    as Nonaka Shôi

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 103 titles from 1959 to 1997; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)

$36M worldwide

Highest rated

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Kamen Rider (1971)

Film career

19591997

Peak 1992 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting103 of 103: 103 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score84th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s18 · acting1970s46 · acting1980s21 · acting1990s17 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
596979

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 Akiji Kobayashi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 84th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Afternoon When Flowers Fell (1989)

84th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 39. 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 Akiji Kobayashi's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 47 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Akiji Kobayashi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Akiji Kobayashi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kazuki Ōmori shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers