1. Overview
Daisaku Shinohara (篠原 大作Shinohara DaisakuJapanese, July 4, 1933 - February 1, 2016) was a distinguished Japanese actor and voice actor whose career spanned several decades, leaving a significant mark on the Japanese entertainment industry. Born in Hokkaido, Shinohara cultivated a diverse professional journey from the stage to television, film, and extensive voice work. Known for his versatility, he contributed to numerous live-action dramas and films, while also becoming a prolific voice artist in anime, video games, and dubbing foreign productions. His career highlights his enduring presence and wide-ranging talents in Japanese media.
2. Life and Career
Daisaku Shinohara's life and career were characterized by a deep engagement with various forms of acting, from theatrical performances to his impactful voice work across diverse media.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Daisaku Shinohara was born on July 4, 1933, in Hokkaido, Japan. His birth name was 篠原 孝雄Shinohara TakaoJapanese. He pursued higher education at Meiji University, laying the groundwork for his future career in performance. Shinohara's blood type was O. He stood at a height of 69 in (174 cm) and weighed 148 lb (67 kg).
2.2. Career Beginnings and Affiliations
Shinohara commenced his professional acting career in 1954. In April of that year, he joined Gekidan Budou no Kai (劇団ぶどうの会), where he made his stage debut in the play "Mizudoro" (水泥棒) as the character Suesuke. His dedication to theater led him to depart from Gekidan Budou no Kai in February 1961. Following this, he co-founded a new theatrical troupe, Gekidan Kaze (劇団風), alongside Hajime Yamada and his future wife, Keiko Hanagata.
Throughout his extensive career, Shinohara was affiliated with several talent agencies. His professional journey saw him associated with Rindou Production (りんどうプロダクション) and Ryu no Kai (竜の会). He later joined the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society before ultimately affiliating with 81 Produce, where he remained until his passing. Beyond his credited roles, Shinohara was also a notable narrator for various programs, including the television series "Kaiketsu Lion-Maru" and "Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsa-tai". He frequently appeared in television dramas, often portraying announcer characters. In addition to his acting commitments, Shinohara actively participated in reading performances, co-hosting "Futari Rōdokukan" (ふたり朗読館) with his wife, Keiko Hanagata.
2.3. Personal Life
Daisaku Shinohara was married to Keiko Hanagata, a fellow voice actress. Their marriage was a significant aspect of his personal life, and she passed away in 2015, preceding him in death. He was a father to two sons. Outside of his professional endeavors, Shinohara maintained a personal interest in tennis, which he listed as a special skill.
2.4. Death
Daisaku Shinohara passed away on February 1, 2016, at the age of 82. His death followed a period of medical treatment for an unspecified illness.
3. Filmography
Daisaku Shinohara built a comprehensive filmography across live-action roles in television, film, and stage, as well as an extensive career in voice acting for animated productions, video games, and dubbing.
3.1. Live-action roles
Shinohara's live-action performances spanned a wide array of television dramas, feature films, and stage plays, including work in the tokusatsu genre.
3.1.1. Television drama
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Itooshi Koibito-tachi | NHK | |||
| 1971 | Nantatte 18-sai! | TBS | Episode 14 | ||
| 1975 | Kōfuku yuki | Narrator | TBS / Daiei Television | ||
| 1976 | Taiyō ni Hoero! | Meteorological Agency Official (Ep. 201), Kikuchi Surgical Hospital Doctor (Ep. 214), Kazuo Numata (Ep. 316), Television voice (Ep. 701), Interview Program Host (Ep. 707) | NTV / Toho | Episodes 201, 214, 316, 666, 701, 707, 708 | |
| 1977 | Morimura Seiichi Series: Fushoku no Kōzō | MBS / Toei | |||
| 1977 | Nihon no Sengo | Jiju Irie Sukemasa | NHK | Episode 6 "Kuni no Ayumi: Sengo Kyōiku no Makuaki" | |
| 1979 | Tokusō Saizensen | TV Asahi | Episodes 127, 186, 344, 396, 430 | ||
| 1979 | Uwasa no Keiji Tommy to Matsu | TBS / Daiei Television | Season 1, Episode 17 "Kin Suki Tommy Suki, Matsu Kirai" | ||
| 1979 | Kao Ai no Gekijo: Kita no Yado kara | TBS / Shochiku | |||
| 1979 | Kinpachi-sensei | Eiji Sonoda (Emi Sonoda's father) | TBS | 1st Series, Episode 10 "Joseito Gundan Asa-gaeri" | |
| 1980 | Hashire! Nekketsu Keiji | Aisumi High School Teacher | TV Asahi / Katsu Production | Episode 24 "Seishun ni Kick Off" | |
| 1980 | Rekishi no Namida | Imperial Court Steward Irie Sukemasa | TBS / TV Man Union | ||
| 1980 | Totsuzen no Ashita | Kawai Hospital Doctor | TBS | Episode 12 "Tsuite Ikimasu" | |
| 1981 | G-Men '75 | TBS / Toei | Episode 315 "Dokubō no Naka no Hanayome" | ||
| 1981 | Shin Kaikyō Monogatari | TV Asahi | Episode 10 | ||
| 1981 | Gen'nosuke Yonaoshicho | Narrator | NTV / Kokusai Hoei | ||
| 1982 | Nerawareta Gakuen | Fuji TV | Episode 2 | ||
| 1982 | The Suspense: Sanji Bus Guide no Satsui | TBS | |||
| 1983 | Soap Jō Momoko Series 2: Seibo Momoko no Junan | TBS | |||
| 1983 | Getsuyō Wide Gekijō: Hikiniage Wagako o Korosareta Haha no Fukushū! | TV Asahi | |||
| 1983 | Tokugawa Ieyasu | Ashikaga Yoshiaki | NHK | Taiga drama | |
| 1984 | Sanga Moyu | NHK | Taiga drama | ||
| 1983 | Doyō Wide Gekijō: Muta Keijikan Jiken File: Jiken no Me Shinanoji ni Ita Onna, Osananajimi ni Korosareru | TV Asahi | |||
| 1985 | Doyō Wide Gekijō: Nerawareta Shachō Ichizoku: Kekkon Zenya no Nazo Moeta Nioku-en! | TV Asahi | |||
| 1986 | Doyō Wide Gekijō: Yamamura Misa Suspense: Kyōto Furin Ryokō Satsujin Jiken | TV Asahi | |||
| 1986 | Doyō Wide Gekijō: Shindai Kyūkō "Ginga" Satsujin Jiken | TV Asahi | |||
| 1986 | Shitetsu Ensen 97 Funsho | TV Asahi / Kokusai Hoei | Episode 84 "Ai no Tōbō Safari de Chon | " | |
| 1987 | Roppongi Dandy Omiyasan | ABC | Episode 1 "Onna Keiji Han ga Hatsudō! Rokoku no Mansion ni Sumu Dokushin Otoko ga Korosareteita Jiken" | ||
| 1987 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Nanashi no Tantei 3: Ai no Fukushū Revenge | NTV | |||
| 1987 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Rokugatsu no Hanayome Series 1: Kinjirareta Kekkon | NTV | |||
| 1987 | Doyō Wide Gekijō: Nishimura Kyōtarō Travel Mystery: Raichō Kyūgō Satsujin Jiken | TV Asahi | |||
| 1988 | Hagure Keiji Junjō-ha | TV Asahi / Toei | Season 1, Episode 10 "Bijinzume!? Kekkon Sagi ni Naita Otoko" | ||
| 1988 | Seicho Matsumoto Special: Yasashī Chihō | NTV | |||
| 1988 | Otoko to Onna no Mystery: Satsui Aru Onna no Gosan | Fuji TV / Daiei Television | |||
| 1988 | Otoko to Onna no Mystery: Wana no Naka no Onna | Fuji TV / Daiei Television | |||
| 1989 | Kayō Super Wide: Onnatachi no Oshare na Fukushū Yokohama-Yokosuka - Yugashima Onsen | TV Asahi | |||
| 1989 | Daigishi no Tsumatachi II | TBS | Episode 7 "Jiken", Episode 8 "Jinmei wa Chikyū yori mo Omoshi" | ||
| 1989 | Gorilla Keishichō Sōsa Dai 8 Han | TV Asahi / Ishihara Pro | Episode 36 "Sweet Memory" | ||
| 1989 | Hagure Keiji Junjō-ha | Itakura | TV Asahi / Toei | Season 2, Episode 24 "Yoru o Aruku Onna" | |
| 1989 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Uso o Kasanete Heibon na Hitotsuma no Mie to Yokubō ga Haitoku no Chi ni Nureru Toki | NTV | |||
| 1990 | Yobikō Boogie | TBS | |||
| 1990 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Majutsu wa Sasayaku | NTV | |||
| 1991 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Onna Kenji Kasumi Yuko 8: Shinarete wa Komaru | NTV | |||
| 1991 | Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari: Ma-ba-ta-ki | Fuji TV | Season 2 | ||
| 1992 | Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari: Chi mo Namida mo Nai | Fuji TV | Season 3 | ||
| 1993 | Hagure Keiji Junjō-ha | Uehara Sales Manager | TV Asahi / Toei | Season 4, Episode 7 "Tōrima!? Nerawareta Akai Coat no Onna" | |
| 1994 | Kayō Suspense Gekijō: Shin'ya no Hōtei Otto no Furin wa Yurusenai! | NTV | |||
| 1997 | Odoru Dai Sōsa-sen: Saimatsu Tokubetsu Keikai Special | Fuji TV | |||
| 2000 | Ai no Gekijō: Eien no 1/2 | TBS | Episode 1 | ||
| 2000 | Aoi Tokugawa Sandai | Ikoma Chikamasa | NHK | Taiga drama | |
| 2000 | Virtual Girl | NTV | Episode 3 "Suitei Nioku no Meiga ni Kakusareta Oyako Zetsuen no Nazo" |
3.1.2. Film
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Yomigaeru Kinrō | Announcer's Voice | |
| 1987 | Tokyo Blackout | ||
| 1998 | Bayside Shakedown: The Movie | National Police Agency Commissioner's Secretariat Affairs Deputy Director-General |
3.1.3. Stage
| Year | Title | Role | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 12 Hito no Ukareru Otoko (12 Angry Men) | Second Jurist | 1985 | 12 Hito no Ukareru Otoko (12 Angry Men) | Second Jurist |
3.1.4. Tokusatsu
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Phantom Agents | Benito (voice) | Episodes 3, 4 |
| 1967 | Kōsoku Esper | Episode 2 | |
| 1968 | Ultra Seven | Climbing announcer | Episode 49 |
| 1968 | Mighty Jack | Narrator | Episode 19 |
| 1972 | Barom-1 | Radio announcer (voice) | Episode 29 |
| 1974 | Kikaider 01 | Announcer | Episode 34 |
| 1976 | Battle Hawk | Announcer | Episode 9 |
| 1977 | Space Ironman Kyodain | Episode 40 | |
| 1977 | Himitsu Sentai Goranger | Announcer | Episode 78 |
| 1985 | Katte ni! Kamitaman | Phantom of the Wild Kingdom | Episode 24 |
| 1985 | Kyodai Ken Byclosser | Announcer | Episode 30 |
| 1989 | The Mobile Cop Jiban | Episode 23 | |
| 1990 | Special Rescue Police Winspector | Osamu Natsugawa | Episode 45 |
| 1991 | Super Rescue Solbrain | Director of Aoyama Electric | Episode 4 |
3.2. Voice roles
Shinohara's voice acting career was extensive, encompassing roles in anime, video games, dubbing for foreign films and television series, puppetry, radio dramas, narrations, and various other audio contents.
3.2.1. Anime
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Attack No. 1 | Play-by-play announcer | |
| 1970-1971 | Star of the Giants | ||
| 1973 | Samurai Giants | ||
| 1973 | Dokonjō Gaeru | ||
| 1977 | Dokaben | Announcer | |
| 1977 | Yakyū-kyō no Uta | Kido | |
| 1978 | Ikkyū-san | ||
| 1978 | The Story of Perrine | Edmond | |
| 1978 | Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 | Announcer | |
| 1978 | Lupin the 3rd Part II | ||
| 1979 | Star of the Giants | Tatsuro Hirooka | Season II |
| 1991 | Armored Police Metal Jack | Surgeon | |
| 1997 | Detective Conan | Tomoyasu Kanazawa | |
| 1998 | Master Keaton | Ilia's father | |
| 2002 | Heat Guy J | Grandfather | |
| 2002 | Wagamama Fairy: Mirmo de Pon! Wondahō | Chouro (Gurumi Tribe Elder) | |
| 2003 | Croket! | Ojin | |
| 2004 | Kyo Kara Maoh! | Baker | |
| 2004 | tactics | Village headman | |
| 2005 | Oh My Goddess! | President | |
| 2005 | Starship Operators | Kawaji | |
| 2005 | Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle | Mayor | |
| 2005 | Magical Canan | Okehazama | |
| 2006-2007 | Pururun! Shizuku-chan | Paradise teacher | 2 series |
| 2006 | Sennen no Yakusoku | Shigebee Nekomoto | OVA, National Tax Agency Production |
| 2007 | El Cazador de la Bruja | Ritogen Senator | |
| 2007 | Gurren Lagann | Principal | |
| 2008 | Golgo 13 | Bar Master | |
| 2008 | Scarecrow Man | Grandfather | |
| 2008 | Zettai Karen Children | Dairin-san | |
| 2008 | Zenryoku Usagi | Old gentleman | |
| 2008 | Blade of the Immortal | Toragyo Asano | |
| 2009 | Element Hunters | Nadi Surrenda | |
| 2011 | Hyouge Mono | Kuroda Yoshitaka (substitute), Hasegawa Tōhaku | |
| 2013 | The Flowers of Evil | Nekomachido shopkeeper |
3.2.2. Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song | Gath, Nizam | |
| 2011 | Tales of Xillia | House | |
| 2012 | Tales of Xillia 2 | House |
3.2.3. Dubbing
| Year | Title | Role | Original Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Fugitive Kind | David | John Baragrey | |
| 1963 | 7 Faces of Dr. Lao | Lieutenant Selwyn | ||
| 1969 | A Private Life | Vittorio, Printer, Assistant 3, Reporter 5 | ||
| 1974 | Violent City | Announcer | TV Asahi version | |
| 1974 | Winning | |||
| 1975 | Duel | TV Asahi version | ||
| 1976 | The Challenger | Fuji TV version | ||
| 1977 | The Red Tent | Narrator, Reporter D, Radio Announcer, Sailor E, Panoroff | ||
| 1979 | Roman Holiday | TV Asahi version | ||
| 1985 | Saturn 3 | Fuji TV version | ||
| 1986 | The Killers | Software version | ||
| 1987 | The Golden Eel | |||
| 1988 | Death Wish 3 | TV Asahi version | ||
| 1991 | Trick Daisakusen | Chin Wantou (程運涛) | ||
| 1995 | Under Siege | Admiral aide | TV Asahi version; included in the Blu-Ray release | |
| 1999 | Rembrandt of the Labyrinth | Judge | ||
| 2000 | Eye of the Beholder | |||
| 2000 | Sleepy Hollow | Doctor Thomas Lancaster, New York Mayor | Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee | |
| 2000 | High-Low Country | Hoover Young | James Gammon | |
| 2000 | Wonderland | Bill | ||
| 2001 | Bridget Jone's Diary | Fitz Herbert | Paul Brooke | |
| 2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Cornelius Fudge | Robert Hardy | |
| 2002 | Wild Wild West | NTV version | ||
| 2004 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Cornelius Fudge | Robert Hardy | |
| 2004 | Rencontre avec le dragon (Red Knight) | |||
| 2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Cornelius Fudge | Robert Hardy | |
| 2005 | Baltic Storm | Yuri | ||
| 2006 | Kiss of the Dragon | TV Tokyo version | ||
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Cornelius Fudge | Robert Hardy | |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Cornelius Fudge | Robert Hardy |
3.2.4. Overseas television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Twilight Zone | David Whitley | ||
| 1964 | The Outer Limits | Terrance Brookman, Dr. Williams | ||
| 1967 | Mission: Impossible | Hotel Front Desk (Lady Killer Episode) | ||
| 1968 | Mission: Impossible | Policeman (Poison) | ||
| 1969 | Lost in Space | Pirate Smeak | ||
| 1971 | Mission: Impossible | Sergeant, Police radio voice (Execution) | ||
| 1973 | Mission: Impossible | Shiner, Hugo (City Chase); Jameson, Gas station attendant (Target Change) | ||
| 1977 | Space: 1999 | Kelly (Giant Alien Brain Attack) | ||
| 1990 | The Young Riders | Murphy | Episode 25 | |
| 1990 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | In-play footage narrator (Patriotic Murder) | NHK version | |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Dr. Berger | W. K. Stratton | |
| 1993 | Road to Avonlea | Duke Alaner | ||
| 1993 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | In-play footage narrator (The Mystery of the Egyptian Tomb), Judge (The Chocolate Box) | NHK version | |
| 1996 | Spin City | Mayor Randall Wilson | Barry Bostwick | |
| 2002 | ER VII | Pastor | ||
| 2005 | The West Wing | Bob Ingler | Sam Lloyd |
3.2.5. Puppetry
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Iga no Kagemaru | ||
| 1966 | Thunderbirds | Johnson (Empire Rescue HQ, Terror in New York), Reporter 1 (Air Fashion Show of Horror) | |
| 1967 | Captain Scarlet | Mason, Bookie (Save the American Continent!) | |
| 1968 | Joe 90 | Airport Announce (Operation Big Surgery) | |
| 1970 | The Secret Service | Blake |
3.2.6. Radio Drama
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHK Radio 2nd Broadcast | Reading Time | ||
| 1969 | LF Radio Theater | Akai Mayflower | |
| 1984 | KR Radio Library | Maboroshi no Shirokuma | |
| 1993 | NHK-FM Special Audio Drama | Iwaba no Chinglema |
3.2.7. Narration and Voice Over
| Title | Network / Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiketsu Lion-Maru | Fuji TV (1972-1973) | |
| Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsa-tai | NET (1961-1977), Next episode preview narrator | |
| Kon'ya mo Dollar Hako | TV Tokyo (1995-1998) | |
| Document Chikyū Jikan | NHK Education (America Daitōryō to sono Jidai) | |
| News Station | TV Asahi (1985-2004) | |
| NHK Special | NHK General | |
| Idainaru Tabibito Teiwa | NHK General | |
| BS Sekai no Documentary | NHK-BS1 | |
| 9.11 New Yorker-tachi no 5-nen | NHK-BS Premium (Hi-Vision Tokushū) | |
| 21 Seiki no Pioneer | NHK-BS2 (voice of Jiro Hirano) | |
| Hitachi: Sekai fushigi Hakken! | TBS | |
| Taiheiyo Sensō | DVD (U-Can Series) | |
| Shōwa Tennō no Jidai | DVD (U-Can Series), reading |
3.2.8. Other Audio Content
| Title | Role / Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Kanon Nanami Drama CD Series Shūrei Gakuin Kōkō Monogatari: Densetsu no Shōnen | Iikura | Drama CD |
| Gendai Viol Consort Exhibition: Viol Shichihenge | Narrator | |
| Bunshun Cassette Library: Yoshimura Akira Yamamoto Chōkan-ki Gekitsui Saru Jitsuroku: Kaigun Kō Jiken | Reading | |
| Shoku King | Chen Meihō | Motion comic (2016) |
4. Legacy and Assessment
Daisaku Shinohara is remembered as a versatile and prolific figure in Japanese entertainment, whose career spanned over six decades. His extensive contributions across live-action acting, voice acting, narration, and stage performances highlight his remarkable adaptability and enduring presence in the industry. Shinohara's distinctive low baritone voice made him a sought-after voice actor for a wide range of characters in anime, video games, and particularly in the crucial role of dubbing foreign films and television series, including his consistent portrayal of Cornelius Fudge in the Japanese dubs of the Harry Potter films. His commitment to the craft was also evident in his efforts to promote reading performances through initiatives like "Futari Rōdokukan" with his wife. Shinohara's vast body of work ensures his legacy as a dedicated and influential artist in Japan's media landscape.