Susumu Terajima

Susumu Terajima (寺島進), born on 12th November 1963, is a renowned Japanese actor, best known for his portrayal of yakuza figures - especially in films directed by Takeshi Kitano. Born in Fukagawa, downtown of Tokyo, he is the second of three sons to a tatami craftsman. His interest in acting began at a young age, greatly influenced by an action-comedy movie, Truck Yarou. Despite his parents' disapproval, he pursued his dreams of acting, enrolling at Mifune Art Academy. During his struggling years, Terajima did odd jobs, even working as a stuntman, until he landed his first minor role in a film directed by Yusaku Matsuda. He came into limelight after his extraordinarily bold portrayal of a character in Kitano's Sonatine, which was his breakthrough performance. Since the success of Sonatine, Terajima has enjoyed a thriving career playing versatile roles in television and films, including lead appearances in films like Hirokazu Kore-eda's After Life and Sabu's The Blessing Bell (2002). Apart from his on-screen magic, he also showcases his talent in voice acting, having given voice to characters in popular video games like Yakuza 2 (2006), Yakuza Kenzan (2008), and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (2017).