Tsutomu Yamazaki

Yamazaki graduated from Haiyuza Theatre Company and joined Bungakuza in 1959. He made his film debut in Kihachi Okamoto's Daigaku no sanzôkutachi in 1960. In 1961, he received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. In 1963, he appeared in Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. He worked with Kurosawa twice more: in the director's next film, 1965's Red Beard, then fifteen years later, in Kagemusha. In 1973, he appeared jidaigeki television drama Hissatsu Shiokinin and he played the same role in Shin Hissatsu Shiokinin again in 1977. He also starred in number of Juzo Itami's films, including his role as a trucker who resembles John Wayne in Tampopo (1985). He co-starred in The Ramen Girl (2008) with Brittany Murphy. He also played a supporting role in Yōjirō Takita's Departures.