Kamatari Fujiwara

**Kamatari Fujiwara** (*born Yasue Shigeo*, 15 January 1905 – 21 December 1985) was a prolific Japanese stage and film actor whose career spanned more than five decades, encompassing over two hundred screen appearances. Emerging from the vibrant Asakusa operatic scene of the Taishō era, he first gained public attention performing satirical sketches with Ken'ichi Enomoto's New Casino Folies, a troupe that epitomised the *ero‑guro‑nansensu* aesthetic of the time. His transition to cinema came with the 1933 debut in *Ongaku kigeki – Horoyui jinsei*, the inaugural production of P.C.L. (later Toho), marking the start of a longstanding relationship with the studio. Though he briefly faced pressure from nationalist authorities to alter his name, Fujiwara steadfastly retained his artistic identity, a testament to his independent spirit. In 1936 he married actress Sadako Sawamura, a union that lasted a decade before their divorce in 1946.

Fujiwara became a quintessential character actor, renowned for embodying the ordinary Japanese citizen—*petty, conservative, and modest*—and turning this everyday persona into a celebrated specialty. His collaborations with cinematic masters such as Akira Kurosawa, Mikio Naruse, Yasujirō Ozu, and Heinosuke Gosho cemented his legacy; notable performances include Senkichi in Kurosawa’s *Ikiru* (1952), the peasant sidekick in *The Hidden Fortress* (1958)—a role later cited as inspiration for the iconic droids C‑3PO and R2‑D2 in *Star Wars*—and memorable turns in *Seven Samurai*, *Yojimbo*, and *Red Beard*. Fujiwara also embraced television in the 1950s, appearing in series like *Ayu no uta*. Recognized for his contributions, he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class, in 1981. His final screen appearance was in Juzo Itami’s *The Funeral* (1984), concluding a distinguished career that left an indelible imprint on Japanese cinema.