Tsurutaro Kataoka

1.1. Childhood and Family

Kataoka's family history traces back to a farming family in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on his paternal side. His paternal grandfather operated a fruit shop in Kanda, Tokyo. His father, Tadashi (1926-2022), was the eldest son, but his grandmother took only his younger brother, leaving his father at the main family home in Tokorozawa. His maternal grandfather was a master craftsman of Hagoita (decorative battledores), but he lost his home and all his tools during the Pacific War air raids, forcing him to abandon his craft. After the war, his maternal grandfather began selling Okonomiyaki.

Kataoka's father returned from the war and found employment at a metal processing factory in Narimasu, where he met Kataoka's mother, Shigeko (born 1930), in the factory dormitory. After their marriage, they settled near his wife's family in Nishi-Nippori, where Tsurutaro was born in 1954.

As a child, Kataoka frequently visited Yose (traditional Japanese variety halls) and entertainment venues with his father, fostering an early ambition to become an entertainer. At the age of 10, he made his television debut on Fuji Television's amateur program Shirōto Yose, performing animal impersonations. Interestingly, a program assistant director for this show was Hyo Yokozawa, who would later become a producer for Morita Kazuyoshi Hour: Waratte Iitomo!, a show Kataoka would famously appear on. His father, who had been instrumental in inspiring his entertainment career, passed away in 2022.

1.2. Education

During his third year of junior high school, Kataoka struggled academically, ranking near the bottom of his class. This led his teacher to tell him that his preferred high school was out of reach, and his mother to state that private school was not an option due to their financial situation. This challenge motivated him intensely, and he spent a month during summer vacation studying rigorously, starting from elementary school textbooks. His efforts resulted in him ranking among the top 10 students, enabling him to enroll in Tokyo Metropolitan Takadai High School. This experience of "if you try, you can do it" became a lifelong source of encouragement for Kataoka. During his high school years, he was an active member of the drama club, serving as its president in his third year.

2.1. Debut and Early Career

After graduating from high school, Tsurutaro Kataoka initially aimed to become an actor. He made an unannounced visit to the home of actress Kiyokawa Nijiko to seek apprenticeship, having initially considered apprenticing under Kiyoshi Atsumi but decided against it, believing his respect and admiration for Atsumi would prevent him from learning effectively. However, Kiyokawa was unavailable, and her assistant declined his request, stating they did not take male assistants and even threatened to call the police. His hopes of becoming an actor through this path were dashed.

For a period, Kataoka worked in various manual labor jobs, including construction, to support himself. In 1973, he apprenticed under the vocal mimicry artist Kataoka Tsuruhachi, beginning his career performing vocal imitations at venues such as Tōhō Meikai and Asakusa Shōchiku Engeijō. Tsuruhachi, his mentor, told him that he couldn't directly teach him his own art because each person's vocal cords were unique. However, Tsuruhachi taught him the "savoir-faire" of an entertainer, such as how to properly eat soba noodles, telling him, "Until you become a successful entertainer, you must only eat mori soba (plain soba) at soba restaurants." Tsuruhachi himself would eat elaborate Edo-style Tempura rice bowls in front of Kataoka, which Kataoka later understood as his master's way of encouraging him to quickly become a successful performer. Kataoka deeply respected his master's profound wisdom and vowed to one day share a tendon with him, but Tsuruhachi passed away before Kataoka achieved widespread success, leaving that wish unfulfilled.

Around 1976, Kataoka trained in Osaka under Hayabusa Jun (later of the Hayabusa Brothers), performing local trampoline shows under the stage name Oka Tsurutaro (he later adopted "Hana no Tsurutaro"). While the shows were gaining popularity and Kataoka felt confident about transitioning to television as a solo comedian, Hayabusa's comedy troupe had a packed schedule, booked for three years in advance, and as Kataoka was central to their promotional materials, his departure was not approved. After about two years, feeling anxious about stagnating, he left the troupe without permission during a Kyushu tour. This led to him being blacklisted in the entertainment industry.

He then worked with a theater troupe in Matsuyama's Dōgo Onsen, where he refined his skills as an MC and mimicry artist. While his impression of Kazuko Komori didn't resonate with the elderly guests at the hot spring inn, the troupe leader's daughter, who understood his talent, provided him with support. Six months later, they moved to Tokyo and married. The couple had three sons, but their marriage faced challenges, with them living separately from the age of 30. They eventually divorced in March 2017 after 38 years of marriage. While some weekly magazines attributed the divorce to his past infidelity, Kataoka himself stated that his intense dedication to yoga and a disciplined lifestyle led to their estrangement.

2.2. Rise to National Popularity

At the age of 24, Kataoka made his de facto television debut on Fuji TV's Owarai Daishugo, where he re-encountered Hyo Yokozawa. Although he entered television under the name Kataoka Tsurutaro, he initially struggled to gain traction during the Manzai boom. His breakthrough came later as a comedian on Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku, where his impersonation of Masahiko Kondō brought him widespread recognition. He also gained immense popularity for his imitations of "Kuchan" the mynah bird, Kumiko Urabe, and Hachiro Tako.

During this period, Kataoka was stout and became known as a "reaction comedian," famous for exaggerated reactions, such as being forced to eat scalding hot Oden. This began as an unscripted incident during a skit where he played Kumiko Urabe, where the dinner oden was so hot that he choked on it while trying to wash it down with ice water, spilling it. His reaction was so comical that it became a regular gag.

While his past comedic style has largely receded, he was known for performing crude humor, such as displaying Karintō (a snack) in a chamber pot on All Night Fuji. In his "Tsurutaro Theater" skits on the same program, he frequently cross-dressed and interacted with female college student co-stars, often concluding skits by exposing himself to them, earning him the title of "No. 1 Greasy Man" at the time. (Comedian Ideta Rakkyo later adopted similar full-nudity gags, inspired by Kataoka's style).

As his presence became established in households, Kataoka excelled at developing elderly characters for his mimicry, becoming known for his impersonations of Kazuko Komori, Kumiko Urabe, and Jirō Sakagami. In later years, he also frequently impersonated contemporary figures like Toshio Miyaji (president of Jonan Denki) and Shoji Yokoyama (personal lawyer for Shoko Asahara), capitalizing on their public prominence.

Blessed with versatility, Kataoka also hosted numerous variety shows and excelled in talk segments. In 1986, his coined term "Puttsun" (referring to a sudden loss of composure or rationality, as if a blood vessel or patience has snapped) was selected for the Popular Word category of the Shingo Ryūkōgo Taishō (New Words/Trendy Words Grand Prize).

He utilized his strong singing ability (he was a first-generation member of the Tokyo Arakawa Boys and Girls Chorus), consistently releasing singles until the mid-1980s. However, despite performing songs on shows like Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku, he never achieved a major hit. He is said to have lamented why his songs, despite his superior vocal skills, did not hit like those of Akashiya Sanma, who, despite his less impressive singing, had hits with "Makka na Uso" and "Amida Babaa no Uta." Kataoka made two appearances as a singer on The Best Ten in 1989.

2.3. Acting Career

#### Film ####
Tsurutaro Kataoka has starred in several notable films. For his role as Hidekichi Harada in the 1988 film The Discarnates (Japanese title: Ijin-tachi to no Natsu), he received multiple accolades, including Best Supporting Actor at the 31st Blue Ribbon Awards, the 13th Hochi Film Award, and the 10th Yokohama Film Festival. He also received the Best Supporting Actor award at the 62nd Kinema Junpo Awards and the Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award at the 43rd Mainichi Film Awards for the same film. Additionally, he won the Best Supporting Actor at the 12th Japan Academy Film Prize for his roles in The Discarnates and Yōjo no Jidai.

Other significant film roles include:

• Zatoichi (1989) as Tsuru
• Mr. Lady: Yoake no Cinderella (1990), a starring role as Daisuke Yamazaki (Deborah)
• Sharaku (1995) as Goro (Jippensha Ikku)
• Sada (1998) as Tatsuzo Kikumoto
• Dorō heita (2000) as Hanzo Yasukawa
• Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku (2000) as Michio Hirose
• Last Love (2007) as Daigo Asakura
• Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle (2014) as Jun Honganji
• Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3 (2015) as Jun Honganji
• Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future (2015) as Jun Honganji
• Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie War Genesis (2015) as Jun Honganji / Kamen Rider Jun
• Initiation Love (2015) as Hiroki Ishimaru
• Maniac Hero (2016) as Kōzō Kusaka
• Labyrinth of Cinema (2020) as Sen no Rikyū
• One Last Bloom (2023) as Kenzo Sase
• The Brightest Sun (2025)

#### Television ####
Kataoka has an extensive television career, appearing in numerous dramas and variety shows. In 1988, director Nobuhiko Obayashi was impressed by Kataoka's Edo dialect and cast him as the protagonist's father in the film The Discarnates. This role garnered critical acclaim and shifted Kataoka's primary focus to acting.

His notable television drama roles include:

• NHK Taiga drama Taiheiki (1991) as Hōjō Takatoki, a performance that was highly praised.
• Sayonara Ri Kōran (1989) as Masahiko Amakasu.
• The Kindaichi Kōsuke Series (1990-1998), where he starred as the detective Kōsuke Kindaichi in nine productions, beginning with Gokumon-tō.
• The Shūchakueki Series (1996-2022), where he starred as Detective Masanao Ushio, a role he inherited from Shigeru Tsuyuguchi and made his own.
• Ieai no Hito (1993), in which he received acclaim for his portrayal of Judge Kuwata, a character who loves plants and discerns the essence of human nature.
• Lullaby Deka (1990-1993), where he played a somewhat nihilistic detective.
• Hacchōbori no Shichinin (2000-2006), where he reunited with Kuniko Yamada and their interactions evoked their past comedic skits from Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku. Kataoka also provided the calligraphic title for this program.
• Atsuhime (2008) as Iwakura Tomomi.
• Clouds Over the Hill (2009-2011) as Yashiro Rokurō.
• Gunshi Kanbei (2014) as Kodera Masamoto, a role for which he was asked to evoke the image of Nobuo Kaneko from Battles Without Honor and Humanity, resulting in a performance with strong comedic undertones.
• Kamen Rider Drive (2014) as Jun Honganji.
• Daddy Sister (2016) as Eitarō Kumai.
• Dokonimo nai Kuni (2018) as Ayao Kishimoto.
• Awaiting Kirin (2020) as Settsu Harukado.
• Chimudondon (2022) as Saburō Taira.
• Unbound (2025), a Taiga drama, as Toriyama Sekien.

Kataoka also reflected on his decision to distance himself from comedy, stating that he felt a limit to his abilities as a comedian among the "geniuses" of Hyokin Zoku, such as Shinsuke Shimada, Beat Takeshi, and Akashiya Sanma. He concluded that he "had no choice but to go into acting." Despite this, he has continued to make appearances as a judge on variety shows like Bakushō Sokkuri Monomane Kōhaku Utagassen Special and Bakushō Red Carpet, occasionally performing impersonations, indicating he has not entirely withdrawn from comedy. In 2008, he reprised his Hyokin Zoku characters "My-jiisan" and "Piyoko-tai" for FNS27-Hour TV.

During the filming of the 2000 movie Shiawase Kazoku Keikaku, Kataoka sustained a severe hip injury when then-unknown actor Shun Oguri, playing his son, realistically wrestled him, dislocating his hip. Kataoka, busy at the time, completely forgot about the incident until Oguri reminded him in 2010.

2.4. Artistic Pursuits

Tsurutaro Kataoka has significantly transitioned into the world of art, including painting, calligraphy, and ceramics. His artistic journey began with an interest in drawing illustrations, influenced by fellow entertainer Tamori. His serious engagement with art deepened in 1989, as he began to distance himself from comedy, especially after portraying a young Shikō Munakata in the drama Shikō no Seishunki Oraa Gogh da. This role sparked his inclination towards traditional Japanese ink painting and pottery.

His artistic talent was notably recognized and encouraged by legendary artist Tarō Okamoto, with whom Kataoka co-starred on the variety show Tsurutaro no Tere Monja. Okamoto's endorsement bolstered Kataoka's confidence in his artistic path.

Kataoka is known for his unique approach to painting: although he is right-handed, he paints with his left hand. His distinctive artistic style has led to the establishment of several dedicated art museums and craft centers:

• 

  • Art Museums:** One in Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture, and another in Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture.
  • Art Craft Centers:** One in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, and another in Imari, Saga Prefecture.

  In 2000, NTT began selling "Kataoka Tsurutaro Medetai Telegrams," which featured his illustrations of a tai (sea bream). The illustrations inside the telegram could be removed and used as coasters.
  
  Kataoka has also shared his expertise in art education. He has taught art theory at Aomori University. From July to September 2003, and again from April to May 2004, he served as an instructor for "Tsurutaro-ryu Bokusai Gakujuku" (Tsurutaro-style Ink Painting School) on NHK's educational program Shumi Yuyu.
  
  In 2003, he created and dedicated a ceiling painting titled "Looking at the Sea from the Ceiling" at the Chūno-bō temple within Taima-dera in Nara Prefecture. Since autumn 2004, this work has been displayed alongside pieces by other esteemed artists, including recipients of the Order of Culture and members of the Japan Art Academy, in the Shabutsu Dōjō (Buddhist Image Copying Hall).
  
  Kataoka ventured into calligraphy from a painter's perspective in 2007, submitting his work "Bone" to the 24th Sankei International Calligraphy Exhibition, where it gained attention and earned him the Sankei Shimbunsha Award from among 7,575 entries. In March 2015, he received the prestigious 10th Tejima Yūkei Prize for his calligraphy piece "Night."
  
  He also taught ink painting to actress Yoshiko Tanaka, a former member of the idol group Candies, who considered Kataoka her art mentor.

2.5. Boxing and Other Endeavors

In 1988, Kataoka, driven by a desire to "deny and overcome his past self," took the professional boxing test. At 33 years old, he was past the usual age limit of 29 for taking the test. However, he earnestly appealed to the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), and was granted special permission to take the exam under the condition that he would not compete in professional fights even if he passed. He successfully passed the test. Leading up to the exam, he began a rigorous weight loss regimen the year before, transforming his previously stout physique into a much leaner form.

After passing the professional boxing test, Kataoka served as a manager for professional boxers, including Katsuya Onizuka and Takanori Hatakeyama. He also worked as a second in their title matches, significantly contributing to their achievement of world championships. Onizuka and Hatakeyama later joined Kataoka's agency, Ohta Production, after their retirement.

From 1988 to 1994, Kataoka starred as Keisuke Takamura in the television drama Kisetsu Hazure no Kaigan Monogatari (A Story of the Beach Out of Season), a series in which he also co-starred with Katsuya Onizuka. In 1990, he played his former mimicry subject, Hachiro Tako, in the TBS drama special Shōwa no Champ: Hachiro Tako Monogatari, portraying Tako's early life as a boxer in a serious dramatic role.

Since 2012, Kataoka has dedicated himself to the practice of yoga, practicing for four hours every morning, stemming from his interest in meditation. By 2017, after five years of consistent practice, he successfully passed Level 1 of the rigorous Professional Yoga Certification Instructor exam, certified by the Government of India. This intense dedication to yoga led to significant weight loss, from 143 lb ^{(65 kg)} to 95 lb ^{(43 kg)}.

In October 2008, Kataoka appeared in the fourth episode of NHK Special's The Origin of Disease, which featured actors and talents who had suffered from the diseases being discussed. The episode focused on Dyslexia. In the program, Kataoka revealed his own experiences with difficulty reading textbooks aloud during his school days, suggesting he might have had dyslexia. He mused that this condition might have inadvertently become a catalyst for his flourishing artistic career.

4.1. Music

Tsurutaro Kataoka has released several singles and albums throughout his career.

4.2. Books and Art Collections

• Hen na Kao (Strange Faces), Ohta Publishing, 1984
• Kibidango Kibi Danshi (Millet Dumplings, Subtle Men), Ohta Publishing, 1987
• Tsuru-chan no Puttsun Mono! (Tsuru-chan's Puttsun People!), Ohta Publishing, 1988
• Shinkeishitsuna Yatsura Puttsun Mono 2 (Neurotic Guys, Puttsun People 2), Ohta Publishing, 1989
• Mayonaka no Sparring (Midnight Sparring), Ohta Publishing, 1993
• Tonbo no Yō ni Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Like a Dragonfly: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 1995
• Shin Sai Sai Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 2 (Heart-Colored: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 2), supervised by Hiroshi Asai, Kindai Eiga Sha, 1996
• Tsuru no Ongaeshi Ikasarete Ikinuku (Crane's Repayment: Living by Being Given Life), Tomyoshoin, 1996
• Sanban Hana Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 3 (Third Bloom: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 3), supervised by Hiroshi Asai, Kindai Eiga Sha, 1997
• Shōgai Shirōto Tsuru ga Hakone ni Tonde Kita Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Lifelong Amateur: The Crane Flew to Hakone: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 1997
• Tsurutaro Enikki (Tsurutaro's Picture Diary), Mainichi Shimbunsha, 1997
• Iremono ga Nai Ryōte de Ukeru (No Container, Receive with Both Hands), calligraphy and art based on Ozaki Hosai's haiku, Sunmark Publishing, 1998
• Tsuru no Hitokoe (A Crane's Voice), art and calligraphy, Fujin Gahō Sha, 1998
• Makura wo Takaku Shite Kataoka Tsurutaro no Bed Side Story Ashita wo Genki ni Ikiru Tame no 8 Shō (Pillow High: Tsurutaro Kataoka's Bedside Story, 8 Chapters for Living Energetically Tomorrow), Kindai Eiga Sha, 1998
• Mongaihan Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 4 (Outsider: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 4), Kindai Eiga Sha, 1998
• Ashita wa Tsuru Biyori (Tomorrow is a Crane Day), Shogakukan, 1999
• Tōi Sokumyō (Spontaneous), Maistro, 1999
• Soshite Kaze no Tabi wa Tsudzuku Kataoka Tsurutaro Asia no Tabi to Sakuhinshū. (And the Wind's Journey Continues: Tsurutaro Kataoka's Asian Travels and Works Collection), TV Asahi Jigyōkyoku Shuppanbu, 2000
• Ryūsei Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 5 (Dragon's Voice: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 5), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2000
• Akatonbo Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 6 (Red Dragonfly: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 6), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2001
• Yumegamuchū (Dreaming Intensely), Kosei Publishing, 2001
• Hananeiro Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 7 (Flower Colors: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 7), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2002
• Fruits Parfait Kataoka Tsurutaro Ehon (Fruits Parfait: Tsurutaro Kataoka Picture Book), Kodansha, 2002
• Jiden: Kakikake no Jiazō (Autobiography: Unfinished Self-Portrait), Kodansha, 2003
• Semishigure Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 8 (Cicada Drizzle: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 8), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2003
• Nagare Tsubaki Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 9 (Flowing Camellia: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 9), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2004
• Kataoka Tsurutaro Glass Sakuhinshū (Tsurutaro Kataoka Glass Works Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2005
• Fude no Yuku Mama, Kokoro no Mama ni Kataoka Tsurutaro Hanseiki (As the Brush Goes, As the Heart Desires: Tsurutaro Kataoka's Half-Life), Seikatsu Jōhō Center, 2005
• Yozakura Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 10 (Night Cherry Blossoms: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 10), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2005
• Iyashi no Zengo (Healing Zen Sayings), Kosei Publishing, 2006
• Goen wo Itadaite (Having Received Good Karma), DHC, 2006
• Tsurutaro-ryū Bokusai Ganyūmon (Tsurutaro-style Ink Painting Introduction), Kadokawa One Theme 21, 2006
• Yūri Ryūmon Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 11 (Swimming Carp, Dragon's Gate: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 11), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2006
• Wata no Yu Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 12 (Cotton Hot Spring: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 12), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2007
• No rain, no rainbows Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 13, Kindai Eiga Sha, 2008
• Otona no Sumi Asobi (Adult Ink Play), Graphsha, 2008
• Koneko Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Kitten: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Goma Books, 2008
• Shimiiru Kokoro no Santōka (Santoka that Penetrates the Heart), Shufu to Seikatsu Sha, 2008
• Bokugisaihana Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 14 (Ink Playful Colored Flowers: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 14), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2009
• Ryōkan Tsubaki (Ryokan Camellia), Kosei Publishing, 2009
• Enba Ju Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 15 (Glossy Leaf Tree: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 15), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2010
• Sumibotan Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū 16 (Ink Peony: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection 16), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2011
• Tsurutaro-ryū Kokoro de Egaku Edayori Nyūmon (Tsurutaro-style: Introduction to Drawing Picture Letters with the Heart), Shufu no Tomo Sha, Shumi Nyūmon, 2011
• Seirei Tsubaki Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Spirit Camellia: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2012
• Kyō mo Nippori (Nippori Again Today), Tokuma Shoten, 2013
• Yūgure Shiraito (Murasaki) Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Evening Purple Thread (Purple): Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2013
• Kanreki Beni Gagyō 20 Shūnen Kataoka Tsurutaro Gashū (Red of Sixty: 20th Anniversary of Artistic Career: Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Collection), Kindai Eiga Sha, 2014
• 50-dai kara Honki de Asobeba Jinsei wa Tanoshiku Naru (If You Play Seriously from Your 50s, Life Becomes Enjoyable), SB Shinsho, 2017
• Oite wa "Suki" ni Shitagae! (When Old, Follow Your "Likes"!), Gentosha, 2023