Original Chanbara (Sword Fighting) Archives

Chiezo Kataoka

Stage name

Chiezo Kataoka
Real name

Masayoshi Ueki
Nickname

Chie-san, the great man of the mountains
Date of birth

March 30, 1903
Date of death

Died on March 31, 1983, at age 80
Debut starring work

May 6, 1927
Banka Jigoku: Part 1 – filmed by Makino Production Omuro
Best works
  • Musashi Miyamoto in Musashi Miyamoto (1929, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Tasuke Isshin in Isshintasuke (1930, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Chutaro of Banba in Mabuta no Haha (1931, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Mohei Komagata in Ippon Gatana Dohyoiri (1931, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Nisemono in Kokushi Muso (1932, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • The samurai Yataro (Ryanko no Yataro) in Yataro Gasa (1932, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Kakita Akanishi and Kai Harada in Akanishi Kakita (1936, Kataoka Chiezo Productions)
  • Reizaburo Asai in Oshidori Uta Gassen (1939, Nikkatsu)
  • Bannai Tarao in Nanatsu no Kao (Seven Faces) (1946, Daiei)
  • Kosuke Kindaichi in Sanbon Yubi no Otoko (The Man with Three Fingers) (1947, Toyoko Eiga)
  • Minoru Eto in Nippon G-Men (1948, Toyoko Eiga)
  • Kinshiro Toyama (Toyama no Kin-san) in The Tattooed Judge: Okaranbu no Maki (1950, Toyoko Eiga)
  • Gonpachi in Chiyari Fuji (Blood Spear Fuji) (1955, Toei)
  • Ryunosuke Tsukue in Daibosatsu Touge (1957, Toei)
  • Shinzaemon Shimada in 13-nin no Shikaku (Thirteen Assassins) (1963, Toei)
History
  • 1912: At the age of nine, he joined Kataoka Shonen Geki theatrical group under the leadership of Nizaemon Kataoka XI. Was given the stage name Juhachiro Kataoka.
  • After the theatrical group was disbanded, he became Nizaemon's direct disciple under the stage name Chiezo Kataoka.
  • 1923: Debut as a lead actor in Ogasawara Productions' Sanshoku Sumire under the stage name Susumu Ueki.
  • 1927: Joined Makino Production Omuro Studio through an introduction by Sanjugo Naoki of the Union Film Artists' Association.
  • May 1927: Became a star with his first starring hit under the stage name Chiezo Kataoka in Banka Jigoku.
  • May 1928: Left Makino Production and founded Kataoka Chiezo Productions. The first work Tenka Taiheiki was filmed in the same year.
  • January 1929: Kataoka Chiezo Productions Sagano Studio was completed in Sagano, Kyoto Prefecture. Formed an alliance with Nikkatsu in May.
  • April 1937: Kataoka Chiezo Productions disbanded after filming Matsugoro Midareboshi, and all employees joined Nikkatsu Kyoto Studio.
  • 1942: Nikkatsu merged with Daiei through wartime integration and Chiezo remained with Daiei afterward.
  • 1948: Left Daiei.
  • 1949: Transferred to Toyoko Eiga and became a director.
  • 1951: Toyoko Eiga was merged to form Toei, and Chiezo became a director.

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