Yoshio Harada (原田 芳雄, Harada Yoshio; 29 February 1940 – 19 July 2011) was a Japanese actor and singer, known for his portrayals of rugged and complex antiheroes. He received a variety of accolades, including a Japan Academy Film Prize, two Blue Ribbon Awards, two Hochi Film Awards, and five Kinema Junpo Awards.
Harada also was a blues musician, releasing a number of records throughout his career.
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Life and career
Born in Tokyo, Harada joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1966 and made his television debut in 1967 with "Tenka no seinen" and his film debut in 1968 with Fukushū no uta ga kikoeru. He came to fame appearing in New Action films at Nikkatsu playing youthful rebels. Among his features for Nikkatsu was the 1971 exploitation film, Stray Cat Rock: Crazy Riders '71 (aka Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71) for director Toshiya Fujita where he played the son of a yakuza boss.
Leaving the Haiyūza in 1971, he appeared in films made by many directors, including Seijun Suzuki, Shūji Terayama, Azuma Morisaki, Kihachi Okamoto, Rokurō Mochizuki, Jun Ichikawa, Hirokazu Koreeda and Kōji Wakamatsu, but he was particularly favored by Kazuo Kuroki and Junji Sakamoto. He starred in many independent films, including those of the Art Theatre Guild. According to the critic Mark Schilling, Harada was "a favorite of generations of Japanese helmers for his rugged features, low, rumbling voice and distinctive presence, with shades of darkness and wildness that made him a natural for antihero roles in his youth." Harada also appeared in many television dramas.
Honours
Medal with Purple Ribbon (2003)
Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2011)
Death
He died on 19 July 2011 from colorectal cancer. His last starring film was Someday, and it was at a press conference for that film on 11 July that he made his last public appearance.
Selected filmography
Television
Haru no Sakamichi (1971) – Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Tsūkai! Kōchiyama Sōshun (1975–1976)
Natsu ni Koisuru Onnatachi (1983) – Daisuke Mizushima
Seibu Keisatsu PART-III Final Special Daimon Dies! Men Forever (1984) --Reiji Fujisaki
Dokuganryū Masamune (1987) – Mogami Yoshiaki
Suna no Utsuwa (2004) - Chiyokichi Motoura
The Waste Land (2009) – Ichizō Daimon
Hi no Sakana (2009) – Shozō Murata
Kokosei Restaurant (2011) – Sadatoshi Muraki
Awards and nominations
A veteran of over 80 films, Harada won the best actor award at the 1990 Blue Ribbon Awards for Ronin-gai and Ware ni Utsu Yōi Ari. He had earlier won the Blue Ribbon best supporting actor prize in 1975 for Matsuri no junbi. He also won the best actor prize at the Mainichi Film Awards in 1997 for Onibi, and the Hochi Film Award for best supporting actor in 1989 for Dotsuitarunen. He was twice nominated for the Best Actor Japanese Academy Award and won the award for best supporting actor at the 11th Yokohama Film Festival for Dotsuitarunen and Kiss yori kantan.
He received a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Japanese government in 2003.