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Chishu Ryu

りゅう ちしゅう

Ryuu Chishuu

Pen Names: Chishu Ryu（Used as actor name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1904-05-13 （Tamana District, Tamamizu Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan）
Died
1993-03-16 （Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan） age 88
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Jodo Shinshu (Honganji sect)

Career

Occupations
actor
Active Years
1928-1992

Education

Kumamoto Prefectural Tamana Middle School
Country: Japan
Ryukoku University
Country: Japan
Dropped out
Toyo University
Indian Philosophy Department
Country: Japan
Entered to succeed temple but did not actually succeed

Awards

Japan Academy Prize - Chairman's Special Award
1994
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor
1952
Work: 'Inochi miwashi', 'Wagaya wa tanoshi'
Organization: Japan Film Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor
1949
Work: 'Te o tsunagu kodomo'
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor
1952
Work: 'Inochi miwashi', 'Umi no hanabi'
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
1971
Work: 'Kazoku'
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Award Special Prize
1991
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: 受賞
Purple Ribbon Medal
1967
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette
1975
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
NHK Broadcasting Culture Award
1985
Organization: NHK
Result: 受賞
Kikuchi Kan Prize
1987
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize Executive Committee
Result: 受賞
Yamaji Fumiko Film Achievement Award
1987
Organization: Yamaji Fumiko Film Award Executive Committee
Result: 受賞
Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Award
1988
Organization: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Result: 受賞
Kawakita Award
1990
Organization: Kawakita Memorial Film Culture Foundation
Result: 受賞
Elan d'or Prize Special Award
1994
Organization: Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

There Was a Father

1942 film

A film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, starring Chishu Ryu.

familyfather figure

Tokyo Story

1953 film

A masterpiece Japanese film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, featuring Chishu Ryu.

familylife

The Flavor of Sanma

1962 film

A film co-starring Shima Iwashita, with Chishu Ryu playing the father role.

family

Dreams

1990 film

A film directed by Wim Wenders, featuring Chishu Ryu in his later years.

Style & Themes

Literary Style
rustic and straightforward line deliveryacting that leverages Kumamoto dialect
Recurring Motifs
father figureaged rolesJapanese family

Health

  • bladder cancer
    晩年
    Suffered health issues but continued working until the end.

Legacy

A representative actor of Japanese cinema, regularly appearing in Yasujirō Ozu's works. He established the Japanese father figure through aged roles and continues to be highly regarded posthumously.

Museums

  • Tamana City Historical Museum Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture Opened in 2023

Academic Societies

  • Japan Film Actors Association

Archives

  • Grave site at Jofukuji Temple, Kita Kamakura

In Popular Culture

  • Biographical drama aired as the 30th installment of Kumamoto Television's local heroes documentary series

Quotes

  • Men born in the Meiji era do not cry.
    Source: Words of Chishu Ryu

Trivia

  • Had a distinctive strong Kumamoto dialect.
  • Appeared in many Yasujirō Ozu works and established the Japanese father figure.