Miki Norihei

Miki narrowly avoided the draft during World War II due to a clerical error on his draft card. He graduated from Nihon University in 1947 with a law degree. When he entered the entertainment industry, he navigated a series of complications regarding his stage name. His birth name, "Tadashi," was often misread as "Noriko," a female name. He initially adopted "Miki Tadashi," but a misprint in a theater program listed him as "Miki Norihei," the name he retained for the rest of his career.

He made his film debut in 1950 and became an exclusive Toho actor in 1956. Miki appeared in numerous comedies and musicals, becoming one of Japan's most recognizable actors. He was often mistaken for fellow actor Omura Kon, with whom he frequently co-starred. Miki also had a prolific voice acting career for Momoya Animation; his recurring role in the Sukeroku Hen series of commercials lasted 40 years, from 1958 through 1998, and was taken over by his son after his death in 1999.