Kenji Sahara is a Japanese actor. He is known for playing Jun Manjome, the protagonist of Ultra Q, as well as many minor or recurring roles throughout Tsuburaya's works, such as Takenaka of Ultraseven.
Career[]
Sawara was born in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1951, he entered Chuo University's Faculty of Law. In 1953, after winning the title of "Mr. Ordinary" in the Heibonsha selection contest, he joined Toho's New Faces program as its 6th member and enrolled in the Toho Acting School. After graduating in 1954, he signed a contract with Toho and appeared in director Ishiro Honda's films Farewell Rabaul and Godzilla.[1]
In 1956, he played the lead role in Honda's film Rodan, and changed his stage name from Tadashi Ishihara to Kenji Sawara. He continued to appear in Toho's special effects productions, including the Godzilla series.
In 1964, while filming the Japan-U.S. co-production None but the Brave, Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya visited Sawara on the set in Kauai Island, Hawaii. They recommended him for a role in Tsuburaya's upcoming project, Ultra Q, where he played the lead role of Jun Manjome. This made him the first main character in the Ultraman series.[2][3] With Ultra Q achieving great success, Sawara returned to film with Toho due to his contract, but accepted an invitation from Eiji Tsuburaya’s eldest son, Hajime Tsuburaya, to appear in Ultraseven in 1967, playing the role of Takenaka. He subsequently appeared in numerous special effects works, including the Ultraman and Godzilla series, enhancing his popularity.
After leaving Toho in 1976, Sawara continued to appear in popular television dramas. From 2004 to 2007, he was affiliated with Tsuburaya Productions, making him one of the most frequently appearing actors in the Ultraman series.
Roles[]
Other Roles[]
- Sonic X - Voice of Doctor Atsumi
- King Kong vs. Godzilla - Kazuo Fujita
- Mothra vs. Godzilla - Jiro Torahata
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster - Kanamaki
- Son of Godzilla - Morio
- Destroy All Monsters - Nishikawa
- All Monsters Attack - Kenichi Mitsuki
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla - Ship Captain
- Terror of Mechagodzilla - General Segawa
- Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah - Minister Takayuki Segawa
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla - Minister Takayuki Segawa
- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla - Minister Takayuki Segawa
- Godzilla: Final Wars - Hachiro Jinguji
Discography[]
- Ultraman Mebius
- Ultraman Mebius (Opening) (with Project DMM, as member of Ultra Defense Force)
Gallery[]
Miscellaneous[]
![Sahara, Yasuhiko Saijo and Hiroko Sakurai in 2011[4]](/wiki/File:Ultra_Q_2011.jpg "Ultra Q 2011.jpg (309 KB)")
References[]