Jun Tazaki (田崎 潤, Tazaki Jun, 28 August 1913 – 18 October 1985), born Minoru Tanaka, was a Japanese actor best known for his various roles in kaiju films produced by Toho, often portraying scientists or military personnel.[1]

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Jun Tazaki
田崎 潤
Jun Tazaki with Michiko Saga in Gero no Kubi (1955)
Born	Minoru Tanaka (1913-08-28)28 August 1913
Died	18 October 1985(1985-10-18) (aged 72)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948–1985
Known for	Kaiju films

Career

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Tanaka began his career as a traveling stage actor in the 1930s, performing under both his birth name and various stage names. In 1950, he changed his name to Jun Tazaki when he appeared in Shintoho's film Sasameyuki. After initially holding only small film roles, Tazaki gradually gained popularity and began playing larger roles in films produced by Toho in the 1960s. Akira Kurosawa frequently cast Tazaki in his films, but Ishirō Honda also considered him a favorite. Toho's science fiction films, particularly those directed by Honda, featured him throughout the 1960s as an authority figure with a moustache. As well as playing stern but benevolent father figures, Tazaki played villains with a ruthless streak. His defining role came in Honda's Atragon, in which he portrayed the embittered World War II veteran Hachiro Jinguji, forced to engage the submarine Gotengo, to combat an invasion by the underwater-dwelling Muans. In the 1970s, Tazaki stopped taking science fiction roles, but he continued to act until 1985, when he died of lung cancer.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

• 1965: Taikōki
• 1966: Minamoto no Yoshitsune
• 1966: Ultra Q – Director General Sakamoto
• 1969: Ten to Chi to – Takeda Nobutora
• 1973: Kunitori Monogatari
• 1973: Jumborg Ace
• 1974: Kamen Rider X – Professor Keitarou Jin (Keisuke's father)
• 1983: Tokugawa Ieyasu – Shimazu Yoshihiro

References