Kusakawa Naoya

Kusakawa was born in Manchuria during the Japanese occupation, and spoke fluent Chinese. He became an exclusive contract actor for Toho in 1959 and appeared in a variety of films, usually as a villain or a henchman.

Throughout the 1960s, he featured in numerous Toho productions across genres, from Kurosawa Akira’s samurai classic Yojimbo to science fiction and kaijû films such as King Kong vs. Godzilla, where he played a newspaper reporter, and Destroy All Monsters, in which he portrayed a special police officer. His supporting roles often added depth to ensemble casts, showcasing his versatility in bit parts and guest appearances.

Kusakawa dropped out of acting in 1970 when Toho’s exclusive contract system was dissolved. According to fellow actor Amamoto Hideyo’s memoirs, he became a priest after retiring from the film industry.