Ken Ogata

Ken Ogata was a legendary Japanese actor, born July 20, 1937, in Tokyo. He’s well known for his numerous film roles, particularly Shohei Imamura’s Vengeance is Mine and The Ballad of Narayama. He also enjoyed a long career in television, from his breakthrough role in the 1965 drama “Taikoki” to the lead of the 1982 “Chushingura.” Ogata passed away at the age of 71, on October 5th, 2008, shortly after finishing his role in the TV drama “Garden of the Winds.” His long-term contribution to acting has been recognized by the Japanese government with high-ranking awards such as the Order of the Rising Sun. —AnimEigo