Tetsuya Watari

Actor · 1941–2020 · Awaji Island, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan

Biography

He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosugi's Abare Kishidō, and received one of the Elan d'or Awards. At Nikkatsu, Watari appeared in such films as Tokyo Drifter and the Outlaw series. Watari was mentored at Nikkatsu by Yujiro Ishihara. When Nikkatsu shifted to focusing on Roman Porno films in the early seventies, Watari was one of many actors who left the studio. Watari was due to play the main role in Kinji Fukasaku’s film Battles Without Honor and Humanity, but because of illness he was not able to appear. In 1974, he was forced to step down from the lead role of Katsu Kaishū in the Taiga drama Katsu Kaishū on NHK, again because of illness, after appearing in only nine episodes. In 1976, Watari won best actor of Blue Ribbon Award for his role in Kinji Fukasaku`s film Yakuza Graveyard. In Japan, Watari is probably still best known for his role as Keisuke Daiomon in the detective series "Seibu Keisatsu" on TV Asahi. He also appeared in the popular detective drama "Taiyō ni Hoero!" as a replacement for Yujiro Ishihara in 1986. Watari became the president of Ishihara Promotion after Yujiro's death in 1987 but in 2011 he resigned due to his declining health. On June 10, 2015 he was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack and underwent surgery. Seven days later it was announced that he was in rehabilitation and would be discharged from hospital in about a month. He had a younger brother, Tsunehiko Watase, who was also an actor. As a singer, Watari is known for his hit song "Kuchinashi no Hana" and he appeared in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1974 and 1993. He died of pneumonia on August 10, 2020, at the age of 78.

Acted in 113

2010s

2013
No Dropping Out: Back to School at 35
Yukinobu Asada · 11 episodes
68
2012
Villain
Masato Kogure

2000s

2009
Clouds Over the Hill
東郷平八郎 · 5 episodes
76
2008
Flower of Ice
TV
2007
Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop
카스가이 류헤이 · 8 episodes
2006
Family: Absence of the Wife, Existence of the Husband
TV
The Street Lawyers
TV
2005
Yamato
Movie · War · History
61
Gion Bayashi
TV
Yoshitsune
Taira no Kiyomori (Hei-shi) · 49 episodes
2004
Lady Joker
Seizo Monoi
弟
TV
Western Police Special
Keisuke Daimon
2003
Marusa!!
Chikara Kokuryo · 12 episodes
2002
AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo
Muneaki Seta · 2 episodes
Shura Group Part 3
Movie · History · Crime
2001
明るいほうへ明るいほうへ -童謡詩人金子みすゞ-
Movie
2000
Brother
Jinseikai Boss
61
It Is a Long Walk
Movie

1990s

1998
Diary of Early Winter Shower
Kounosuke Mibu
Bloody Journal of the Shinsengumi
Kondo Isami · 10 episodes
1997
Abduction
Hiroshi Tsuba
1996
SMAP×SMAP
Skit Guest · 1 episode
Hideyoshi
Oda Nobunaga · 49 episodes
1993
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
Movie
Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!
Cao Cao (voice)
1992
My Beloved Detective
Section Chief Daisuke Takakura · 20 episodes
Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms
Cao Cao (voice)
1990
Representative Director Detective
TV

1980s

1989
Gorilla - Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Investigation Division 8
Sho Kuramoto · 46 episodes
1988
Goryokaku
Toshizo Hijikata
1986
Clockwork- Goodbye Winter
Movie
1984
Western Police: Goodbye, Western Police
Movie
Again
Movie