Fujita Susumu

Fujita Susumu was a powerful actor who rose to fame as the star of Kurosawa Akira's debut film, Sanshiro Sugata (1943). His portrayal of the title character established his "tough guy" persona, a stoic and morally upright hero that resonated with wartime audiences. He reprised the role in Sanshiro Sugata: Part Two (1945) and continued to collaborate with Kurosawa in films like The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail (1945) and The Hidden Fortress (1958), where he played the rival General Tadokoro.

In the post-war era, Fujita became a familiar face in Toho's tokusatsu productions, often cast as high-ranking military officials due to his commanding presence. He played General Morita in The Mysterians (1957), the Defense Commander in Atragon (1963), and led the JSDF task force in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964).

Fujita appeared in over 180 films throughout his career, transitioning to television roles in his later years. He passed away in 1990 from liver cancer.