Akio Isono

Akio Isono (75)

1910-10-20 - 1986-01-21 | Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Akio Isono (October 20, 1910 – January 21, 1986) was born in Tsurumi, near Yokohama in 1910. His family ran a newspaper sales business. In 1917, at the age of seven, he became a pupil of Hanayanagi Shotaro, who was known as a great actor of the new school, and trod the boards for the first time in child roles at the Hongoza theater. After that he went on to perform in theaters run by Shochiku. In 1921, he performed in his first leading film role in Yamagureru under the direction of Ushihara Kiyohiko, and he then alternated leading roles on the stage with those at Shochiku Pictures. In 1925, he became an exclusive actor for Shochiku Cinema, Kamata Studios and starred in a number of films. Isono, together with Mitsui Hideo and Abe Shozaburo, won great popularity as the Yotamono Trio. The Yotamono Trio appeared in a series of movies, beginning with the 1931 film Reijo to Yotamono. In 1932, his excellent performance in the film Arashi no Naka no Shojo, directed by Shimazu Yasujiro, won great critical acclaim. In 1943, he left Shochiku and joined the theater company Warai no Okoku. After the war, he continued to appear in supporting roles, mainly for Shochiku, but from the late 1960s he began appearing exclusively in TV dramas. His gentle and humorous acting style won him great acclaim. He died of lung cancer at 8:18 a.m. on January 21, 1986, at the Ofuna Kyosai Hospital in Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He was 75 years old.

On Movies

  • Zero Focus
  • Pfc. Story - The Divine Tempest
  • The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
  • The Young Avenger
  • Flying in the Air
  • I Will Buy You
  • The Rose on His Arm
  • 続二等兵物語 南方孤島の巻
  • Story of Second Class Private, Sequel
  • The Bronze Monster
  • Always in My Heart Part 3
  • Love Letter
  • Always in My Heart Part 2
  • Mole Alley
  • Carmen's Innocent Love
  • Hibari's Circus: The Sad Little Dove
  • Carmen Comes Home
  • The Woman Who Holds the Key
  • Okinu and Banto
  • The Story of Tank Commander Nishizumi
  • The Masseurs and a Woman
  • Mother and Child
  • The Lights of Asakusa
  • Lady Doctor Kinuyo
  • Men vs. Women
  • Okoto and Sasuke
  • Lumberjack and Lady
  • Our Neighbor, Miss Yae
  • Street Without End
  • The Genealogy of Women
  • The Layabout and Seabathing
  • Apart from You

On Series

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