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.
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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.
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.
Year | Title | Memo |
1973 | Ohkami no Monsyo | Debut. Violence action of Werewolf in high school. |
1974 | Tomodachi | Educational movie for kids about pollution. |
1974 | Ryoma Ansatsu | Historical hero. Typical art theater guild touch. |
1974 | Abayo Dachikou | Hoodlums run all lengths of licentiousness. |
1976 | Bouryoku Kyoushitsu | A 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 Yugi | He did professional assassin. Comical hard action |
1978 | Satsujin Yugi | Sequel. 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 nai | Greedy confliction of punks. Action. |
1979 | Yomigaeru Kinrou | Based on well known hard-boiled novel. |
1979 | Syokei Yugi | Sequel. It became harder and more serious. |
1980 | Rape Hunter Nerawareta Onna | Cameo for a close director. Soft Pornography |
1980 | Bara no Hyouteki | Cameo for a close director. |
1980 | Yaju Shisubesi | Same author as"kinrou",with high quality addition |
1981 | Yokohama B.J . Blues | A private detective who also blues singer. |
1981 | Kagerou-za | Very beautiful Art film. |
1983 | Kazoku Game (The Family Game) | One of his best picture as wired tutor. |
1983 | Tantei Monogatari | Idol 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 Ran | About 1910's literary people in Japan. |
1989 | BLACK RAIN | His last movie. |
1998 | TV Tantei Monogatari Special Edition | Two episodes from TV series. |
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) |
76.7.25 Matsuriura |
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 |
In Japan, actor and actress fan pages are not so many conpare with US.
However Yusaku sites are a lot.