Kubo Akira

Originally performing under his birth name Yamauchi Yasuyoshi, Kubo Akira began his career as a child actor on stage before joining any studio. He signed with Toho in 1952 at the age of 16 and made his screen debut that same year in Maruyama Seiji's coming-of-age drama Shishunki ("Adolescence"). In a move that would define his public persona, he adopted the name of his character from that film—Kubo Akira—as his permanent stage name.

Kubo became a versatile player for the studio, appearing in prestigious Kurosawa Akira films like Throne of Blood (1957) and Sanjuro (1962). However, he is most beloved by genre fans for his energetic performances in Toho's science fiction output. He played the inventor Torii Tetsuo in Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), the reporter Maki Goro in Son of Godzilla (1967), and the heroic Captain Yamabe in the kaiju extravaganza Destroy All Monsters (1968). Interestingly, he was reportedly a top contender for the lead role of Hayata in Ultraman (1966) before the part went to Kurobe Susumu.

Following Space Amoeba (1970), Kubo transitioned largely to television, where he frequently played villains—a stark contrast to his heroic film roles. He made a celebrated return to the genre with a cameo as the captain of the Kairyu-maru in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) and later appeared in the independent production The Great Buddha Arrival.