Masahiko Tsugawa
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Masahiko Tsugawa, (津川雅彦 Tsugawa Masahiko, real name: Masahiko Kato (加藤雅彦 Katō Masahiko) born January 2, 1940 in Kyoto, Japan) is a famous Japanese actor and director.
He made his debut at the age of 16 in the Nakahira Ko film Kurutta kajitsu in 1956. Tsugawa's family was heavily involved in the film industry since before his birth. Tsugawa attended school until dropping out of the Waseda University Graduate School to pursue acting alone.
He gradually grew in popularity and appeared in films like Otoko wa tsurai yo and Godzilla. He was eventually adopted as one of director Juzo Itami's favourite actors, and went on to appear in nearly every one of his movies since Tampopo.
Tsugawa recently debuted as a director under the pseudonym Makino Masahiko with his film Nezu no Ban. He chose this name because he is technically related to the Japanese director Makino Masahiro through his mother. Legend has it that Tsugawa was so awed by the director while watching him at work as a young child that he asked if he could use Makino as his last name should he ever be a director, because of the similarities of the first names.
His older brother Hiroyuki Nagato is an actor. His wife Yukiji Asaoka is an actress.
He is still acting today.
[edit] Awards
- 1999 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination for Puraido: Unmei no toki
- 1995 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination for Shudan-sasen
- 1993 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination Bokuto kidan
- 1988 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting actor for Marusa no onna
- 1988 Japanese Academy Awards Best Actor nomination for Wakarenu riyu
- 1986 Japanese Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor nomination for Hitohira no yuki
- 1982 Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actor
