Koji Tsuruta
Known for
Koji Tsuruta, born in Hamamatsu in 1924, was one of the great male stars of postwar Japanese cinema and, above all, the dignified face of the yakuza film. After early leading-man years at Shochiku and Toho, he became a linchpin of Toei s ninkyo eiga cycle, playing stoic outlaws bound by giri and code. In parallel he sang popular enka records, cementing his cross-media stardom. Grave, quiet, and radiating an old-fashioned masculine honour, Tsuruta shaped a whole generation s idea of the gangster hero.
Koji Tsuruta
92 Movies
3 Series
Koji Tsuruta, born in Hamamatsu in 1924, was one of the great male stars of postwar Japanese cinema and, above all, the dignified face of the yakuza film. After early leading-man years at Shochiku and Toho, he became a linchpin of Toei s ninkyo eiga cycle, playing stoic outlaws bound by giri and code. In parallel he sang popular enka records, cementing his cross-media stardom. Grave, quiet, and radiating an old-fashioned masculine honour, Tsuruta shaped a whole generation s idea of the gangster hero.
Movies
Plays Umihebi-no-Asanosuke
Law in Ghost Island
1961
Plays 菊川志郎
Gang vs. G-Men: Safe Breakers
1963
Plays Shiro Kikukawa
Gang vs. G-Men
1962
Plays Eijiro Onishi
A Scarred Life 2: Blood Will Tell
1972
Plays Itsuki Masaji
The Biggest Gamble
1969
Plays Kōjirō Kogarashi
Gamblers: The Raid
1968
Plays Noboru Okada
The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice
1952
Plays Kojiro Sasaki
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
1956
Plays Senshiro
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
1958
Plays Kojiro Sasaki
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
1955
Plays Chojiro Inagami
Code Between Brothers 6
1967
Plays Senzo Shigemune
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
1977
Plays Tetsuo Tsukamoto
Japan Organized Crime Boss
1969
Plays Taro Toki
Saga of the Vagabonds
1959
Plays Yabetora
Gate of Youth
1981
Plays Otomo
Domineering
1982
Plays Shuhei Tatsumi
Japan's Don
1977
Plays Masuo Gunji
Sympathy for the Underdog
1971
Plays Shûtaro Kazama
Red Peony Gambler: Gambler's Obligation
1968
Plays Lt. Tomonari
The Storm of the Pacific
1960
Plays Inagaki Chokichi
Gambler's Legacy
1969
Plays Bandit Chieftain
Desperado Outpost
1959
Plays Tetsuo Maruyama
The Last Gunfight
1960
Plays Tahara
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963
Plays Kin'emon Okano
The Loyal 47 Ronin
1958
Plays Senshiro
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
1957
Plays Masaru Kirioka
The Secret of the Telegian
1960
Plays Noriyuki Yasutaka
Dog of Fortune
1979
Plays Asajiro Kikuchi
Blood of Revenge
1965
Plays Ryuji Kashigawa
A Wad of Notes
1970
Plays Gondo
Eleven Gangsters
1963
Plays Tabikiyo
The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang
1972
Plays Ryuta Komatsu
The Big Boss
1959
Plays Takao Sugata
The Last True Yakuza
1985
Plays Shinjirô Nakai
Big Time Gambling Boss
1968
Plays First Lieutenant Jinnouchi
Classmates
1967
Plays Shogun Ieshige
Killer's Mission
1969
Plays Kikutaro Yuki
Red Peony Gambler: Here to Kill You
1971
Plays Chojiro Inagami
Code Between Brothers 5
1967
Plays Naojiro Oshima
Three Gamblers
1967
Plays Isokichi Yoshida
Japan's Most Chivalrous
1966
Plays 'Hong Kong Joe'
Flower, Storm and Gangster
1961
Plays Joji Tsukuba
Okoma, the Orphan Gambler
1971
Plays Kuroki
The Challenge
1962
Plays Kuroki
Bloodstained Clan of Honor
1970
Latest Trailers
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The Imperial Navy
Full Filmography
The Last True Yakuza
Takao Sugata
1985
Film
Domineering
Otomo
1982
Film
Gate of Youth
Yabetora
1981
Film
Dog of Fortune
Noriyuki Yasutaka
1979
Film
Down with The Big Boss
Eikichi Arita
1979
Film
Ōgon no Hibi
Sen no Rikyū · 51 episodes
1978–
TV
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
Senzo Shigemune
1977
Film
Japan's Don
Shuhei Tatsumi
1977
Film
The Roads Men Travel
Shintaro Yoshioka · 12 episodes
1976–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koji Tsuruta still alive?
Koji Tsuruta passed away on June 16, 1987 at age 62.
What are the most famous roles of Koji Tsuruta?
Koji Tsuruta is best known for roles in Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple, Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island, The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice.
How many movies has Koji Tsuruta been in?
Over a 39-year career (since 1948), Koji Tsuruta has appeared in 92 movies and 3 TV shows.
What was Koji Tsuruta's first movie?
The career of Koji Tsuruta began with Yūkyō no mure (1948).
What is Koji Tsuruta's most recent movie or series?
Koji Tsuruta's most recent release is The Tailor-Made Shirt, which premiered on January 11, 1986.
What TV shows has Koji Tsuruta appeared in?
On television, Koji Tsuruta has appeared in The Roads Men Travel, Ōgon no Hibi, The Lion Era, The Tailor-Made Shirt.
Koji Tsuruta
1924-12-06 · Hamamatsu, Japan
Eiichi Ono (小野 榮一, Ono Eiichi, December 6, 1924 – June 16, 1987), better known by his stage name Kōji Tsuruta (鶴田 浩二, Tsuruta Kōji), was a Japanese actor and singer. He appeared in almost 260 feature films and had a unique style of singing.