is a Japanese actor and singer. His nickname is .

Biography

Kobayashi attended

Meiji University , abbreviated as Meiji (明治) or Meidai (明大'')'', is a private research university located in Chiyoda City, the heart of Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1881 as Meiji Law School (明治法律学校, ''Meiji Hōritsu Gakkō'') by three Meiji-er ...

but left before graduating. He became an actor at

Nikkatsu is a Japanese entertainment company known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio, founded in 1912 during the silent film era. The name ''Nikkatsu'' amalgamates the words Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally ...

and made his film debut with "Ueru Tamashii" directed by Yuzo Kawashima in 1956. He solidified his popularity with such films as ''Nangoku Tosa o Ato ni Shite'' (''A Farewell to Southern Tosa'') and starred in the '' Wataridori series'' and "Senpūji" ("Whirlwind Child") film series. Kobayashi, along with Yujiro Ishihara and others, formed the core of Nikkatsu Action's golden age. Kobayashi produced and starred detective tv drama series ''Target Men'' in 1971. In 1972, he left Nikkatsu and signed with Toei film. There he starred in many yakuza films, including Battles Without Honor and Humanity series. In 1989, Kobayashi made his director debut with ''Haru kuru Oni''.

Marriage

Kobayashi was married to popular singer

Misora Hibari is the debut album of Japanese singer-songwriter Sachiko Kanenobu, released on September 1, 1972 by URC (Underground Record Club) Records. Joni Mitchell, Donovan and Pentangle were among Kanenobu's influences. The songs have been described as ...

in 1962, but the marriage ended in divorce two years later in 1964. He remarried actress Kyōko Aoyama in 1967, and she later died in 2020.

Music

Kobayashi debuted in 1958 with the single ''Onna wo Wasurero''. He sang some of the theme songs from his movies such "Gitā o Motta Wataridori" ("The Guitar-toting Rambler") and "Ginza Maitogai" ("Ginza's Whirlwind Child"), which became hits. In addition to those songs, he also performed the song "Jidōsha Shō Ka" ("Auto Show Song") (which, in 2005, was featured in

Asahi Breweries is a Japanese global beer, spirits, soft drinks and food business group headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo. In 2019, the group had revenue of JPY 2.1 trillion. Asahi's business portfolio can be segmented as follows: alcoholic beverage business ( ...

' "Cocktail Partner" commercial) and comical songs like "Koi no Yamanotesen" ("The

Yamanote Line The Yamanote Line ( ja, 山手線, Yamanote-sen) is a loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban c ...

of Love") and a few songs of the

enka is a Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern ''enka'', however, is a relatively recent musical form, which adopts a more traditional musical style in its vocalism than '' ryūkōka'' music, ...

variety, such as "Mukashi no Namae de Dete imasu" ("I'm Going by My Old Name"),"Tsuite kuru kai" ("Will you follow me?") and "Atsuki Kokoroni" in 1986.

Selected filmography

;Films * '' Shori-sha'' (1957) cameo * ''

Kawakami Tetsuharu monogatari sebangō 16 , literally: ''Story of Tetsuharu Kawakami: number 16'', is a 1957 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Eisuke Takizawa. The film is about Japanese baseball player Tetsuharu Kawakami. Cast * Shinoda Yoshihiro (信田義弘) as Tetsuharu ...

'' (1957) * '' Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate'' (1957) * '' Rusty Knife'' (1958) * '' Young Breasts'' (1958) * '' Zesshō'' (1958) *Wataridori Series ** '' The Wandering Guitarist'' (1959) ** ''Kuchibue ga Nagareru Minatomachi'' (1960) ** ''Naked Youth -A Story of Cruelty'' (1960) ** ''Sword and Devotion'' (1960) ** ''The Spook Cottage'' (1960) ** ''The Rambler under the Southern Cross'' (1961) ** ''Ōunabara wo Yuku Wataridori'' (1961) ** ''Kitakikōyori Wataridori Kitae Kaeru'' (1962) * '' Kanto Wanderer'' (1963) * '' Our Blood Will Not Forgive'' (1964) * '' The Flower and the Angry Waves'' (1964) * '' Black Tight Killers'' (1966) * ''

Retaliation Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...

'' (1968) * ''Zoro Me no San Kyōdai'' (1972) * '' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War'' (1973) * '' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics'' (1974) * '' Bannai Tarao'' (1978) * '' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode'' (1974) * ''Conquest'' (1982) * ''Haru kuru oni '' (1989) (Directed) * ''Shura noDensetsu'' (1992) * ''Don he no Michi'' (2003) ;Television * ''Target Men'' (1971) * ''Tabigarasu Jiken Cho'' (1980) * ''Gennosuke Yonaishicho'' (1981) * ''Ryūkyū no Kaze'' (1993) * ''Netafurishiteiru Otokotachi'' (1995)

Golf

He is a professional golf player. He belongs to the International Sports Promotion Society.

References

External links

Official website
* * * 1938 births Living people Japanese male actors Japanese male singers Musicians from Setagaya Meiji University alumni {{Japan-actor-stub