Koichi Ose
Koichi Ose (大瀬 康一, Ōse Kōichi, born October 27, 1937), born as Kazunari Ōse (大瀬 一靉, Ōse Kazunari)
Life
Born in
Career
Ose’s career began in 1958 when he starred as the hero in the tokusatsu TV series Gekko Kamen (Moonlight Mask), before landing the leading role as Shintaro in The Samurai.
Ose got the part of Gekko Kamen when producer Shunichi Nishimura went to the Toei movie lot and picked him from some photographs, then interviewed him on the spot. At the time there were three candidates for the part, but the actor needed to have clear cut features which would be easy to draw so Ose was chosen.[2]
Through Gekko Kamen, Ose gained popularity with children as the mysterious masked hero despite the fact his face was hidden by a mask and his identity kept secret to preserve the mystery.
After The Samurai, Ose acted in about 20 feature films including some period pieces and gangster films, until his sudden retirement in 1969.[3]
Ose was also a recording artist. One of the singles released in English was called Lonely Night.[3]
Australian tour
The Samurai was the first Japanese produced series shown on Australian television and the Australian press gushed about Ose as Shintaro.
Ose first saw the extent of his popularity when he was mobbed at airports in both Sydney and Melbourne by fans wearing homemade kimono, brandishing ninja stars fashioned from cardboard or tin can lids, and waving Samurai bubble gum wrappers with his picture on them.[3]
Personal life
Ose retired from acting in 1969 and from 1971 he concentrated on managing an acting agency until 1977 when he finally left show business altogether.[6] He ran a promotion and property development company that included a golf course and a chain of noodle shops called "Goninbayashi" (five musical).[3]
Ose married award winning actress,
Major TV roles
- Moonlight Mask (1958–1959)
- The Samurai (TV series) (1962–1965)
- Eye of the Jaguar (1959)
References
- ISBN 978-4-7747-5934-0.
- ^ a b c PARDON ME, BUT YOUR SHURIKEN IS IN MY NECK: the phenomenon in Japan
- ^ a b c d e Samurai
- ^ Australian Women's Weekly,31 March 1965 "Flynn of the Orient" - Sheila Sibley: "but Shintaro! Ah, there was a man! The Errol Flynn of the Orient"
- ^ TV Week 13 February 1965, "its hero, Shintaro, a warrior whose face and bravery I have fallen in love with".
- ^ a b c d Koichi Ose - Biography
- ^ Hizuru Takachiho
- ^ Hizuru Takachiho - Awards