Kuninori Kodo

Kuninori Kodo

Original Name 高堂 国典
Birth Name Saichiro Tanikawa (谷川 佐市郎)
Born January 29, 1887
Takasago, Hyogo, Japan
Died January 22, 1960 (72)

Born before the turn of the century, by the time Japanese film hit its stride Kodo was well advanced in years and as such frequently played aged, senior characters. He did a number of films for Akira Kurosawa, particularly as the village chief living in the mill in Seven Samurai (1954). That same year he played the village chief explaining the legend of the monster in Godzilla.

His name is often misread as “Kokuten” Kodo, and he was allegedly addressed as such on set. He was wont to respond to those mispronouncing his name with a forceful “KUNINORI!”

Original Name 高堂 国典
Birth Name Saichiro Tanikawa (谷川 佐市郎)
Born January 29, 1887
Takasago, Hyogo, Japan
Died January 22, 1960 (72)

Born before the turn of the century, by the time Japanese film hit its stride Kodo was well advanced in years and as such frequently played aged, senior characters. He did a number of films for Akira Kurosawa, particularly as the village chief living in the mill in Seven Samurai (1954). That same year he played the village chief explaining the legend of the monster in Godzilla.

His name is often misread as “Kokuten” Kodo, and he was allegedly addressed as such on set. He was wont to respond to those mispronouncing his name with a forceful “KUNINORI!”