Jun Tazaki

Description
Jun Tazaki was a Japanese actor whose career spanned from the late 1940s until his death in 1985. He was born Minoru Tanaka on August 28, 1913, and over the course of his professional life, he became a familiar face in Japanese cinema, particularly known for his work in kaiju films produced by Toho Studios, where he often portrayed scientists or military personnel.

While he is best remembered as a live-action film actor, Tazaki did perform voice work, which is the focus of this profile. He is known for providing the voice of the character Keitaro Jin in the 1974 television series Kamen Rider X. This role was a dual performance, as he also appeared on-screen as the character in a live-action capacity. In the series, Keitaro Jin is a robotics genius whose consciousness is transferred into an artificial intelligence known as Jin Station, a role also voiced by Tazaki. His other major voice role is that of Fukutarō Fukuyama in the anime series Fuku-chan. He portrayed the character of Fukutarō, who is also referred to as Grandpa.

His career in film was extensive and included work with acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa, who frequently cast him. He was also a favorite of director Ishirō Honda. Tazaki's defining film role is often cited as the embittered World War II veteran Hachiro Jinguji in Honda's 1963 film Atragon. His filmography includes roles in numerous notable movies, including High and Low, The War of the Gargantuas, Destroy All Monsters, and Gate of Hell. In the 1970s, he stepped away from science fiction roles but continued to act in other genres until his death from lung cancer in 1985.
All Characters