Biography
Hashizō Ōkawa II (大川 橋蔵, Ōkawa Hashizō, 9 April 1929 - 7 December 1984) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than one hundred Jidaigeki films from 1955 to 1967. Born in Tokyo, the son of a Yanagibashi geisha, he was soon adopted by the Ono (小野) family. His adoptive father was a kabuki actor named Takinoyo Ichikawa II (二代目市川瀧之丞), who trained him in dance and kabuki acting from an early age.
In November 1935, he made his kabuki stage debut as Omemaru Ichikawa (市川男女丸) and quickly got the attention of Kikugorō Onoe VI (六代目尾上菊五郎), who took him under his wing as part of a long line of great onnagata (actors who play women's parts in kabuki).
In October 1944, he was adopted by Chiyo Terashima (寺島千代), wife of Kikugorō Onoe VI, inheriting the family name of Niwa (丹羽) to become Tominari Niwa (丹羽 富成, Niwa Tominari). At the time, he also appeared on the kabuki stage as Hashizo Okawa II (二代目大川橋蔵) for the first time.
In 1955, he made his film debut at the request of Mitsuo Makino (マキノ光雄), with the Jidaigeki film A Warrior's Flute (笛吹若武者) opposite Hibari Misora (美空ひばり).
Working exclusively for Toei, Okawa quickly became the studio's most popular star appearing in many films, and headlining a number of series, including eight films as Shingo Aoi, the illegitimate son of Shōgun Yoshimune Tokugawa.
After appearing in at least 113 films over a twelve-year period from 1955 to 1967, he moved on to television playing the same role he did in his final theatrically released film, the Edo period detective Heiji Zenigata, which he portrayed in 888 TV episodes over the next 18 years until his death from colon and liver cancer at age 55 in 1984.
Hashizo Okawa is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running actor in a one-hour long television series for his performance as Heiji, and is still considered one of the most popular Japanese film stars of all time.
Filmography
all 103
Movies 102
TV Shows 1
Ginpei From Koina: Migratory Bird of Winter (1983)
Heiji, the Detective (1967)
Heiji, the Detective (1966)
Yakuza Vassal (1966)
Chivalrous Nature (1965)
Grand Contest (1965)
The Third Contest (1965)
Hoodlum Match (1965)
Black Thief (1964)
Cruel Story of the Shogunate's Downfall (1964)
The Great Duel (1964)
The Shogun's Vault (1964)
Shingo's Final Duel (1964)
Ukyunosuke's Reverse Ichimonji Cut (1964)
Warrior of the Wind (1964)
Vanquished Foes (1964)
Ukyunosuke on Patrol (1963)
Young Master Yakuza: Edoite Goblin (1963)
20 Duels of Young Shingo - Conclusion (1963)
Tragedy of the Coolie Samurai (1963)
Tattoo of Love (1963)
Tokaido Fullhouse (1963)
Wakasama samurai torimonochō o keshō kumo (1962)
The Paper Crane (1962)
Revenge for His Lover (1962)
Tengu Priest (1962)
Mark of Blood (1962)
The Phantom Goblin (1962)
Yakuza Official (1962)
The Mad Fox (1962)
The Christian Revolt (1962)
Good Rascals (1962)
The Red Shadow (1961)
Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia (1961)
Law in Ghost Island (1961)
20 Duels of Young Shingo - Part 2 (1961)
Young Lord Yakuza (1961)
Tange Sazen and the Princess (1961)
Mask of the Moon (1961)
A Young Warrior on Mount Fuji (1961)
The Ako Retainers (1961)
Edo Purebreed (1961)
Case of Umon: The Nanbanzame Murders (1961)
20 Duels of Young Shingo - Part 1 (1961)
Case of a Young Lord 8 (1960)
Castle of Flames (1960)
The Pirates (1960)
Lord Mito: All Star Version (1960)
The Man Who Came to Shimizu Harbor (1960)
The Shogun’s Guard: Valor in Turbulence (1960)
Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage (1960)
Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 4 (1960)
Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 3 (1960)
The Chivalrous Youth of Great Edo (1960)
Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1960)
Road of Chivalry (1960)
An Actor's Revenge (1959)
Blooded Spear (1959)
Bloody Battle at Dawn (1959)
Echo in the Mountains (1959)
A Spectacular Showdown (1959)
Lord Mito 2: The Nation's Vice Shogun (1959)
Mission to Hell (1959)
No Stronger Swords (1959)
Happily Tied to the Road (1959)
The 47 Masterless Samurai (1959)
Tange Sazen: Mystery of the Twin Dragons (1959)
Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 1 and 2 (1959)
Fighting Disposition (1958)
Case of a Young Lord 7: Red Crane House (1958)
The Lost Public Funds (1958)
Drenched Swallow Gonpachi (1958)
The Envoy (1958)
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958)
A Martial Crowd (1958)
Seven from Edo (1958)
Her Son Came Back (1958)
Secret of The Golden Spell (1958)
The Scarlet Cherry Lord (1958)
A Chivalrous Spirit (1958)
Glorious Standard Bearer (1957)
Falcon Magistrate (1957)
Mermaid Murder Case (1957)
Lord Mito (1957)
Red peonies on the skin (1957)
The Fighting on The Trial (1957)
Wakasama samurai torimono-chō shin'ya no shi bijin (1957)
Case of a Young Lord 4: Bridal Robe in Blood (1957)
The Seven Vows, Part 3 (1957)
Cantankerous Edo (1957)
The Seven Vows, Part 2 (1957)
Shimizu Port of Chivalry (1957)
The Seven Vows (1956)
朱鞘罷り通る (1956)
Mysteries of Edo (1956)
Avenging Father (1956)
Scramble for Fortune (1956)
Case of a Young Lord 3 (1956)
The Happy Wanderer (1956)
Case of a Young Lord 2 (1956)
Case of a Young Lord 1 (1956)
旗本退屈男 謎の決闘状 (1955)
A Warrior's Flute (1955)
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1929-04-09
Deathday1984-12-07 (55 years old)
Birth PlaceTokyo, Japan
CitizenshipsJapan
Also Known As大川橋蔵, Hashizô Ôkawa
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- Hashizo Okawa
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