Kazuo Hasegawa
Born to a sake brewing family in Kyoto, he first appeared on stage at age five in a theater run by his family as a side business. In 1918, he became a student of Nakamura Ganjirō I and performed kabuki in the Kansai region. He joined the Shochiku studio in 1927 and made his film debut in Chigo no kenpō under the name Chōjirō Hayashi. His good looks and graceful fighting style made him a major jidaigeki star, and he appeared in more than 120 films for Shochiku in 11 years, with the best works being directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa. He moved to the Toho studio in 1937. On 11 November 1937, however, he was attacked by ruffians and his face slashed with razor blades. According to the historian Daisuke Miyao, "Even though there was no clear evidence, it was widely assumed that this violent incident was Shochiku's retaliatory measure against Hayashi's so-called betrayal." He recovered and changed his stage name to his real name, Kazuo Hasegawa. Hasegawa appeared in many successful films for Toho, including several "national-policy pictures with Chinese settings," such as Song of the White Orchid (1939) and China Night (1940), with co-star Ri Koran. He moved to Daiei Film in 1950 and continued appearing in the popular Zenigata Heiji series. He also appeared in many classic films including Kozaburo Yoshimura's The Tale of Genji (1951), Kinugasa's Gate of Hell (1953), and Kenji Mizoguchi's The Crucified Lovers (1954). He was appointed to Daiei's board of directors in 1957. To celebrate his 300th film, Hasegawa appeared in a new version of Yukinojō henge (known abroad as An Actor's Revenge) in 1963, directed by Kon Ichikawa. He left Daiei that year and continued to appear on stage and television, including starring in the second NHK Taiga drama Akō Rōshi in 1964. He also directed the Takarazuka Revue version of The Rose of Versailles in 1974.
Filmography (145 Appearances)
Zoku hebi hime dōchū
Akō Rōshi
An Actor's Revenge
The Great Wall
The Demon of Sendai's Castle
Nakayoshi ondo: Nippon ichi dayo
Sabakareru Echizen no kami
The Casebooks of Zenigata Heiji: The Beautiful Shark
Mito Komon’s Journey to Ezo
Zenigata Heiji Case Files: Enma's Nightly Ledger
晴小袖
風来物語 あばれ飛車
Scars of Honor
The Last Betrayal
Jirocho Fuji 2: The Chivalrous
The Demon of Mount Oe
The Casebooks of Heiji Zenigata: Beautiful Spider
The Two Musashis
風来物語任侠篇
Utamaro, Painter of the Woman
Actor Shark
The Ghost of Yotsuya
Jirocho Fuji
The Gaijin
The Woman and the Pirate
Gambler and the Princess
Ambush at Iga Pass
Nichiren and the Great Mongol Invasion
Hana no yukyo-den
Inochi wo Kakeru Otoko
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Shogun's Holiday
The Magnificent Five
Secret of Naruto
Ninjō misui
Floating Vessel
Daiei Studio is Bustling
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: The Cursed Coin
Tsukigata Hanpeita
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: The Human-Skin Spider
Zangiku monogatari
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: The Dead Beauty in the Bathhouse
Three Women Around Yoshinaka
Migratory Birds of the Flowers
Tôjûrô no koi
A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love
Chikamatsu Monogatari
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: Ghost Lord
Tekka bugyō
Shirazu no Yatarō
Hana no nagadosu
Yoidore nitōryū
A Samurai's Love
Hana no sando gasa
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Kiniro no ōkami
Omatsuri hanjiro
Gate of Hell
Hana no kenkajō
An Heir's Place
Coming Up of Kodokan
Asama no karasu
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Karakuri yashiki
One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds
Dedication of the Great Buddha
Kantarou zukiyo-uta
Furisode kyōjo
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Jigoku no mon
Zoku Shurajō Hibun: Hiryū no Maki
Castle of Carnage
治郎吉格子
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Koibumi dōchū
The Man from the Moon
Orizuru kasa
Lantern Under a Full Moon
The Tale of Genji
Zenigata Heiji
Tsuki no wataridori
Judge of the Ashuras
The Scarlet Bat
Oni azami
Phoenix
Senryō hada
Rain on Jogashima
Hebi hime dōchū
Koga Manshion
Ashi o aratta otoko
Case Files of Zenigata Heiji: Heiji Covers All of Edo
Yūkyō no mure
Ghosts Die at Dawn
The Devil of Edo
Lord for a Night
Hinoki Butai
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
I Believe I Am Being Followed
Harbor of Life
The Way of Drama
Idaten Kaido
The Sculpture of Master Choji
音楽大進軍
Kantaro of Ina
Dance of the Capital
Omokage no machi
Onna keizu
The Man Who Waited
A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
The Battle of Kawanakajima
Dancers of Awa
Iemitsu and Hikoza
The Seven Changes of a Paper Crane (Part 2)
The Seven Changes of a Paper Crane (Part 1)
The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday
Oath on the Burning Sands
Zoku Hebihimesama
The Burning Sky
The Snake Princess
China Night
Song of the White Orchid
The Fighting Firemen
Blizzard Ronin
Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro
Tojuro's Love
Banchō sarayashiki
The Siege of Osaka
Yukinojō henge, Kanketsu-hen
The Palanquin Carrier Magistrate
An Actor's Revenge
The Groom Talks in His Sleep
My Elder Brother
With a Single Sword Bale
Genpei the Carp
Two Lanterns
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki
Rikugun Daikoshin
The Golden Demon
Reimei izen
Nogitsune Sanji
Kurotegumi Sukeroku
Tôribêyama shinjû
Kaitō Samimaro
Kagaribi
Castle of Wind and Clouds
Chronicles of a Sea Country
Benten kozo
Demon Thistle