Yoshio Harada Biography
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- Born Feb. 29, 1940
Yoshio Harada (εη° θ³ι, Harada Yoshio, 29 February 1940 β 19 July 2011) was a Japanese actor best known for playing rebels in a career that spanned six decades.
Born in Tokyo, Harada joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company in 1966 and made his television debut in 1967 with "Tenka no seinen" and his film debut in 1968 with FukushΕ« no uta ga kikoeru. He came to fame appearing in New Action films at Nikkatsu playing youthful rebels. Among his features for Nikkatsu was the 1971 exploitation film, Stray Cat Rock: Crazy Riders '71 (aka Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71) for director Toshiya Fujita where he played the son of a yakuza boss.
Leaving the HaiyΕ«za in 1971, he appeared in films made by many directors, including Seijun Suzuki, ShΕ«ji Terayama, Azuma Morisaki, Kihachi Okamoto, RokurΕ Mochizuki, Jun Ichikawa, Hirokazu Koreeda and KΕji Wakamatsu, but he was particularly favored by Kazuo Kuroki and Junji Sakamoto. He starred in many independent films, including those of the Art Theatre Guild. According to the critic Mark Schilling, Harada was "a favorite of generations of Japanese helmers for his rugged features, low, rumbling voice and distinctive presence, with shades of darkness and wildness that made him a natural for antihero roles in his youth." Harada also appeared in many television dramas.
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