Acting
Apr 24, 1924
Manabu Morita
Acting
Biography
He was one of the regular actors who appeared in Daiei films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He appeared in over 100 films, including uncredited ones, and left a lasting impression playing many strong supporting and minor roles.
Feature Films (154)
1962 Japanese movie based on the Crazy Cats smash hit single, "Sudara Festival", sung by Hitoshi Ueki.
Sudara Festival: I Understand, but I can't Stop
A young man named Kijima who works as a pianist in a small bar is surprised when one of the customers asks if he won't pretend to be the fiance of his sister. He is even more surprised when he is offered a million yen to play this apparently harmless role. Actually, it is anything but harmless. Both the customer and his sister are involved in a jewel robbery in which they have double-crossed two of their accomplices who are now out of prison and thirsting for revenge.
Back Stairways
Pu Zhe, younger brother of the Emperor of Manchukuo, marries Ryuko, daughter of an aristocratic family. To the surprise of all, a deep love between Pu Zhe and Ryuko develops and is put to the test when Japan loses the war.
The Wandering Princess
Magistrate Toyama no Kin-san is ordered to catch the phantom thief Nezumi Kozo, who is robbing daimyo and wealthy townspeople. Under the name of Nezumi Kozo, there is a small wholesaler Jiro. And once Toyama and Jiro, when they were young, were comrades who spent all their time gambling and having fun with women in the Yushima Tenjin area...
The Phantom Thief Nezumi Kozo and the Tattooed Judge
Ayako Wakao portrays a downtown rice ball shop girl whose heart is set on her business. Involved in her life are three young men—stage actor Goro, businessman Kokichi and Sanpei Pachinko.
Triangle Moods
Akiko lives with her brother Toshio in suburban Tokyo working in different companies. One day, Toshio loses 500,000 yen which he was holding for his section chief, and as he is unable to return the money, tries to kill himself. Akiko determines to obtain the money by selling her chastity and soon becomes the mistress of Hasegawa, for 500,000 yen. Hasegawa gives her the money but does not make advances. Before she became Hasegawa's mistress Akiko was in love with Wake, who works in the same Company. Gradually Akiko begins to develop a liking for Hasegawa and in turn, her love for Wake gradually weakens...
Akiko
Television & Series (2)
A shikakenin was an under-the-cover trade that undertook killing in Edo. Hanemon of Otowa, an agency that introduced laborers and maids, was also one of these. Katsugoro Iseya was a timber dealer who had come in as a client. His target was the constructions magistrate Hanno, and the Tatsumiya who sipped on the benefits. Hanemon who had a stong code towards killing, where he would only kill those who do no good to be in the world, accepts this request. Baian Fujieda, a needle doctor would carry out the killing. However, the professional killer Baian fails to bring down Tatsumiya. Hanemon then looks to another shikakenin, the ronin Sanai Nishimura for the role. Although Sanai's ability with the sword is good, he lives poorly in a tenement, and accepts this commission on the condition that it is kept a secret from his wife and child. Here, they close in on Hanno and Tatsumiya again...
Professional Killers
Chiba Shusaku: Kendo Masshigura is a Japanese period drama that aired on the TBS network from November 2, 1970 to August 30, 1971 in the "Brother Gekijo" slot. It ran for 44 colour episodes of 30 minutes each. Based on Sohachi Yamaoka's novel "Chiba Shusaku", it depicts the youth of Chiba Shusaku, founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school of swordsmanship. A hot-blooded young man who calls himself Shusaku enters the dojo of Asari Matashichiro and, through encounters with all kinds of people, grows rapidly both in swordsmanship and in character. Produced by TBS and Shochiku. Rerun on the Japanese CS channel Jidaigeki Senmon Channel from March 17, 2025.