From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

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After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan (based on the book by Yasutaka Tsutsui) in 1982. He was also a prominent cult musician in the Tokyo underground scene with his band Bachikaburi in 80's and early 90's.

He is probably most well known to the West as the lead actor in Tetsuo and Tetsuo II directed by Shinya Tsukamoto. He also makes regular appearances in Takashi Miike's films. He became known to the Japanese public as a narrator for TV documentary series Project X - Challengers aired between 2000 and 2005 by NHK. As a film director, so far he directed one film which was titled Iden & Tity in 2003.

Selected filmography

2005 Haru no Yuki aka Spring Snow

2005 It's Only Talk

2002 Doing Time aka Keimusho no naka

1998 Dr. Akagi

1997 The Eel

1995 Tokyo Fist

1992 Tetsuo II: Body Hammer

1988 Tetsuo: The Iron Man