
Masaaki Tachibana

Masaaki Tachibana
Original Name | 橘 正晃 |
Born | March 18, 1925 |
Died | Unknown |
Ubiquitous, well-liked, Toho-exclusive actor, nicknamed “Bana” on set. Tachibana joined Toho in 1950 and remained until the contract system collapsed in 1970. He appeared in numerous sci-fi films and is perhaps best known as the unintentionally funny, doomed reporter going down with Tokyo Tower in the original Godzilla (1954). Tachibana reportedly covered his face in olive oil so he appeared hot and sweating during his takes. He based his performance on similar news coverage of the Fukui earthquake a decade earlier when reporters continued reporting from the scene at great personal risk.
Tachibana’s date of death is unknown, although comments made by suit actor Haruo Nakajima indicate he may have passed away in 2007 or 2008 (at approximately 82 or 83 years of age).
Original Name | 橘 正晃 |
Born | March 18, 1925 |
Died | Unknown |
Ubiquitous, well-liked, Toho-exclusive actor, nicknamed “Bana” on set. Tachibana joined Toho in 1950 and remained until the contract system collapsed in 1970. He appeared in numerous sci-fi films and is perhaps best known as the unintentionally funny, doomed reporter going down with Tokyo Tower in the original Godzilla (1954). Tachibana reportedly covered his face in olive oil so he appeared hot and sweating during his takes. He based his performance on similar news coverage of the Fukui earthquake a decade earlier when reporters continued reporting from the scene at great personal risk.
Tachibana’s date of death is unknown, although comments made by suit actor Haruo Nakajima indicate he may have passed away in 2007 or 2008 (at approximately 82 or 83 years of age).
- Seven Samurai (1954)...Bandit
- Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)...Villager
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954)...Doomed Reporter
- Godzilla Raids Again (1955)...Policeman
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)...Okinaga Samurai
- Rodan (1956)...Policeman
- The Mysterians (1957)...Policeman, Soldier
- The H-Man (1958)...Waiter
- The Secret of the Telegian (1960)...Crime Scene Investigator
- The Human Vapor (1960)...Reporter
- Mothra (1961)...Reporter
- The Last War (1961)...Reporter, Security Guard
- Sanjuro (1962)...Samurai Reading Notice
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)...Reporter
- High and Low (1963)...Train Crew
- Atragon (1963)...Atragon Crew
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)...Soldier
- Dogora, the Space Monster (1964)...Soldier
- Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)...Reporter
- Monster Zero (1965)...Scientist
- The Adventures of Taklamakan (1966)...Pesil Villager
- War of the Gargantuas (1966)...Reporter
- King Kong Escapes (1967)...Soldier
- Destroy All Monsters (1968)...Military Advisor
- Latitude Zero (1969)...Reporter
-
Seven Samurai (1954)
...Bandit -
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)
...Villager -
Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1954)
...Doomed Reporter -
Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
...Policeman -
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
...Okinaga Samurai -
Rodan (1956)
...Policeman -
The Mysterians (1957)
...Policeman
...Soldier -
The H-Man (1958)
...Waiter -
The Secret of the Telegian (1960)
...Crime Scene Investigator -
The Human Vapor (1960)
...Reporter -
Mothra (1961)
...Reporter -
The Last War (1961)
...Reporter
...Security Guard -
Sanjuro (1962)
...Samurai Reading Notice -
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
...Reporter -
High and Low (1963)
...Train Crew -
Atragon (1963)
...Atragon Crew -
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
...Soldier -
Dogora, the Space Monster (1964)
...Soldier -
Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)
...Reporter -
Monster Zero (1965)
...Scientist -
The Adventures of Taklamakan (1966)
...Pesil Villager -
War of the Gargantuas (1966)
...Reporter -
King Kong Escapes (1967)
...Soldier -
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
...Military Advisor -
Latitude Zero (1969)
...Reporter