Do you remember the movie "Black Rain"? I'd like to tell you about the greatest actor Yusaku Matsuda who played Mr. Sato in that movie. Many fans still keep on loving him.


Biography
Filmography
TVgraphy
Words
Photo Album
Discography
Japanese Links

News


Yusaku's son Ryuhei Matsuda became an actor. His debut was "Gohatto" derected by Nagisa Ohshima who is well known by "Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence", co-star with Takeshi Kitano.
Yusaku is still poplar among young generation especially TV series "Tantei Monogatari". Two episodes from TV series are edited as a MOVIE, it released on February 1998.
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Biography


Yusaku Matsuda was born in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture (Southwest part of Japan, next to Hiroshima) in August 25, 1950. In 1968, he moved to San Francisco depended on his aunt who lived there, and studied at high school. But he was too busy for part-time job than study, finally he decided to return. When he was in collage, he joined small performance group and acting studio. He met a girl who also attended the acting class and started living together. They got married in 1975, having a daughter.

Spring of 1972, he passed an examination of famous dramatic company "Bungaku-za". Soon he was chosen as new member for popular TV series "Taiyo ni hoero"(it means Bark at the sun), same time he passed an audition and stared in a SF action movie "Ohkami no monsyo"(it means Emblem of a wolf).

When he left this famous TV series, his role was a cop and killed by a coward, his dying performance was remarkable and sensational. The sequence became a legend of Japanese TV drama's history.

People took him granted for action star and offered much the same kind of roles. He loved action program pictures that he watched a lot in his childhood. From 1979 to 1980, he stared in TV series "Tantei Monogatari"(it means Detective Story) with familiar movie staff and actors. It was funny and showed his charm maximum. Even now this program re-broadcasting and also releasing video tapes and Laserdiscs. And this term, he held internal concert tour as a singer.(1980&81)

When he made a movie "Yaju Shisubesi"(it means Beast must die), he created ghastly character with losing wait about 10kg in spite of he was so slim by nature. This movie was his turning point. After that he spreaded his fields, and tried describe a character more deeper. In that term, he stared in "Kagerou-za""Kazoku Game (The Family Game)""Sorekara (And Then)", and also experienced direction in "A Homans"(1986). His private life was in confusion, he had divorced and got married to an actress Miyuki Kumagai (now Matsuda) in 1985. They have two sons and a daughter.

Fall of 1988, he took audition for American film which will be taken in Japan. The name of the role he got was Sato in "Black Rain". He was really excited, assimilated the way of Hollywood film-making, and enjoyed shooting. He made friends with co-star Andy Garcia. This film was opened in Japan on October 7, 1989. We thought "Yusaku came back to action movie!" but it was more than that, his performance was surpreme. The moment I believed next his film could be foreign film.

I'll never forget the morning of November 7, 1989. TV news caster said "Last evening, Mr.Yusaku Matsuda died of cancer." I was astonished, stunned, taken aback...the shock was indescribable. This sad news shook whole Japan. For my generation, he was nothing but a hero. Sad thing that I have to use past tense now. Perhaps you have same feeling as me if you've loved River Phoenix, Ayrton Senna, or someone who's gone too early.

Anyway he is still living in my heart. Surely FOREVER.

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Filmography

Year Title Memo
1973 Ohkami no MonsyoDebut. Violence action of Werewolf in high school.
1974 Tomodachi Educational movie for kids about pollution.
1974 Ryoma AnsatsuHistorical hero. Typical art theater guild touch.
1974 Abayo DachikouHoodlums run all lengths of licentiousness.
1976 Bouryoku KyoushitsuA Teacher's confliction in violent school.
1976 Hitogoroshi Coward samurai's comedy. Very unique for him.
1977 Ningen no Shoumei (Proof of the Man)Co-stared with George Kennedy
1978 Mottomo Kiken na YugiHe did professional assassin. Comical hard action
1978 Satsujin YugiSequel. Many fans loved this character.
1979 Midarekarakuri (The Murder in Doll House)Based on a mystery novel about private detective.
1979 Oretachi ni Haka wa naiGreedy confliction of punks. Action.
1979 Yomigaeru KinrouBased on well known hard-boiled novel.
1979 Syokei Yugi Sequel. It became harder and more serious.
1980 Rape Hunter Nerawareta OnnaCameo for a close director. Soft Pornography
1980 Bara no HyoutekiCameo for a close director.
1980 Yaju ShisubesiSame author as"kinrou",with high quality addition
1981 Yokohama B.J . BluesA private detective who also blues singer.
1981 Kagerou-zaVery beautiful Art film.
1983 Kazoku Game (The Family Game)One of his best picture as wired tutor.
1983 Tantei MonogatariIdol actress's support. Different from TV series.
1985 Sorekara (And Then)Based on a classic novel. Old fashioned romance.
1985 A Homansu Based on a SF comics. Also direction.
1988 Arasigaoka(Wuthering Heights)Adapted to the middle ages Japan.
1988 Hana no RanAbout 1910's literary people in Japan.
1989 BLACK RAINHis last movie.
1998 TV Tantei Monogatari Special EditionTwo episodes from TV series.
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TVgraphy (Pick Up)

Broadcast Title Memo
73/7/20-8/30 Taiyo ni hoero Debut. Police detective of homicide.
74/10/ 4-75/ 3/28 Akai Meiro He supported popular idol who stard in.
75/ 4/ 2-75/ 9/24 Oretachi no Kunsyo Police detective's buddy story.
77/ 4/ 5-78/ 3/28 Daitokai Part2 Police detective. Action.
79/ 9/18-80/ 4/ 1 Tantei Monogatari Private Detective Comedy.
82/ 9/12-82/10/10 Sin Jiken-Doctor Stop Co-stared with Tomisaburo Wakayama.
84/ 1/15-84/ 3/18 Sin Yumechiyo Nikki Famous TV series. He dud amnesia guy.
84/ 9/29 Onnagoroshi Aburanojigoku Costume play. Based on Chikamatsu's.
89/10/ 7 Kareinaru Tsuiseki With Florence Joyner(Gold Meddalist)
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Discoraphy

76.7.25 Matsuriura
76.8.25 U-turn

80.5. 1 Touch
81.5.21 Heardest Day
81.11.21 Hardest Night Live
82.11.21 Interior
85.3.21 DE Ja-Vu
87.4.21 D.F. Nuance Band
90.2.21 Yusaku Matsuda 1978-1987
Lyrics in English
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Japanese Links

OFFICIAL SITE

In Japan, actor and actress fan pages are not so many conpare with US.
However Yusaku sites are a lot.

YAHOO! JAPAN category



k-nyan@geosities.com
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