Hidari Bokuzen

Descended from a long line of village priests in Saitama.

Supported himself through high school by working as a milk delivery boy, newspaper delivery boy, and construction worker.

Originally desired to become a dancer, but pivoted to acting when his local dancing troupe disbanded. He joined a theater company and toured China in 1926.

Developed gangrene in both legs in 1935. He accepted the painful condition rather than amputate his legs and risk his acting career. The condition contributed to his hunched posture and geriatric performances in later films. He required crutches for normal movement.

He played a drunken old man in the first Gamera film in 1965, which featured as an episode on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the 90s. His character's impeccably delivered [dubbed] line, "It must have been one of those flying saucers I've heard them talk about so much about lately," became a recurring joke on MST3K.