Life and career Susumu Fujita

susumu fujita in sanshiro sugata

fujita born in kurume, fukuoka in japan. after graduating high school in 1929 moved tokyo, took entrance examinations several universities, failed gain admission. before returning fukuoka stayed in kyoto takuji furumi, film director home town. assistance furumi, secured employment producer utaemon ishikawa extra. hired actor toa cinema in 1931, did not appear in films year. in 1932 drafted military service , enlisted in 12th artillery division. after being discharged army in 1934, fujita went work masahiro makino s kyoto film recording audio engineer. returned acting in 1939, when moved toho studios.

at first, fujita contract player appearing in minor roles, in 1940 co-starred in tsuma no baai (妻の場合) takako irie , minoru takada; praised sincere , genuine actor. beginning in 1941 played succession of leading roles, including shido monogatari (指導物語). in 1943 appeared in sanshiro sugata, directorial debut of akira kurosawa, brought him wide popularity. fujita s popularity manly action hero further cemented performance in kato hayabusa sentoutai (加藤隼戦闘隊). in midst of filming men tread on tiger s tail when world war ii ended.

after war, fujita condemned own portrayal of war heroes , considered leaving acting. however, unable see himself in other profession, returned screen. in 1946 appeared in kurosawa s first post-war film, no regrets our youth, war-time liberal executed treason.

during strike @ toho in 1948 fujita, along denjiro Ōkochi, kazuo hasegawa , other members of so-called flag ten secession union broke away form new studio, shintoho (new toho). reorganization ended fujita s collaboration kurosawa. @ shintoho, appeared in several melodramas , action films.

after contract shintoho ended in 1957, fujita returned toho, appeared in supporting roles. fujita , kurosawa worked again on hidden fortress in 1958. although fujita appeared in supporting role, essential film. appeared in 3 more kurosawa films, including yojimbo, in minor roles.