Akira Kobayashi

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Akira Kobayashi (小林旭, Kobayashi Akira^?, born November 3, 1938 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor. His nickname is Maitogai (マイトガイ, guy with "might"^?).

[edit] Actor

He successfully became an actor in the Nikkatsu Corporation. He attended Meiji University but left before graduating. Kobayashi made his debut in 1959 in the film Nangoku Tosa o Ato ni Shite (A Farewell to Southern Tosa). He also starred in the TV series "Wataridori" ("Rambler") and "Senpūji" ("Whirlwind Child"). Kobayashi, along with Yujiro Ishihara and others, were the responsible for Nikkatsu Corporation's golden age.

[edit] Singer

Kobayashi sang two of the theme songs from his movies, "Gitā o Motta Wataridori" ("The Guitar-toting Rambler") and "Ginza Maitogai" ("Ginza's Whirlwind Child"), which became hits.

In addition to those songs, he performed the song "Jidōsha Shō Ka" ("Auto Show Song") (which, in 2005, is featured in Asahi Breweries' "Cocktail Partner" commercial) and comical songs like "Koi no Yamanotesen" ("The Yamanote Line of Love") and some songs of the enka variety, such as "Mukashi no Namae de Deteimasu" ("I'm Going by My Old Name").