Japanese Literary Awards

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Takeshi Kusaka

くさか たけし

Kusaka Takeshi

Pen Names: Kusaka Akira (legal name)（Legal / birth name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1931-02-24 （Toshima, Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2017-05-15 （Spain (while recuperating)） age 86
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
actor, voice actor, narrator, stage performer
Active Years
1954-2017
Affiliations
Gekidan Shiki (founding member)
Influenced By
Michio Kato, Keita Asari
Influenced
Nachi Nozawa, Michio Hasama

Education

Keio University (left before graduation)
Faculty of Letters / Department of French Literature
Period: 1950s–1953 (在学、1953年中退)
Country: Japan
Left university in 1953 for financial reasons
Keio Senior High School
Country: Japan
Attended Keio affiliated schools

Awards

Arts Festival Prize (Encouragement Prize)
1965
Work: (TV drama "Wakare")
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Kinokuniya Theatre Award
1977
Organization: Kinokuniya (sponsor)
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education Award)
1991
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1996
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (4th class)
2002
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Equus

Theatre (stage play)

A psychological play by Tom Stoppard. Kusaka performed prominent roles in stage productions.

psychologyreligionhuman relationships

The Merchant of Venice

Theatre (Shakespeare)

A Shakespearean classic. A representative repertoire title staged by companies including Gekidan Shiki.

justiceprejudicerevenge

Hikarigoke

Theatre

A play performed repeatedly over years. Kusaka collapsed during a performance in Nagoya but later recuperated and returned to the stage.

human dramarebirth

Amadeus (dubbing)

1984 Film (dubbing)

Provided the Japanese dubbing for Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) in the film 'Amadeus', receiving acclaim for his performance.

musicjealousyartist's anguish

Style & Themes

Literary Style
deep, resonant voicegravity in performance rooted in classical theatre
Recurring Motifs
reinterpretation of classicsweighty character portrayals

Health

  • aspiration pneumonia
    2017
    Developed while recuperating in Spain in 2017 and led to his death
  • fell ill during a stage performance
    名古屋公演時（年不詳、後に療養）
    after recuperation he returned to the stage

Legacy

As a founding member of Gekidan Shiki, he had a major impact on contemporary Japanese theatre, working extensively as a stage actor and dubbing performer. His deep voice and weighty acting influenced subsequent generations.

Archives

  • NHK Archives (contains appearance records)

Quotes

  • So skilled — what an incredible job.
    Source: Nachi Nozawa (comment on Kusaka's dubbing; cited in interviews)

Trivia

  • Nickname: "Gyobutsu"
  • Height 168 cm, weight 60 kg (from cited sources)
  • One of the founding members of Gekidan Shiki