Tetsuya Watari

Also Known As: 渡瀬道彦, Michihiko Watase

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.

Department: Acting

Place of Birth: Japan

Birthday: December 28, 1941

Deathday: August 10, 2020

Adult: No

Gender: Male

Popularity:

1.85%

Known For:

Lady Joker
The Summit of Mt. Fuji
The Cleanup
Goryokaku
The Wild Sea
The Blazing Continent
Tokyo Drifter
Yakuza Graveyard
前科・仮釈放
Rebellion Reward
Graveyard of Honor
Seishun no Sabaki
Velvet Hustler
East China Sea
Exiled to Hell
The Aftermath of War
Profile of a Boss' Son
Your Life
The Code of Man
Clockwork- Goodbye Winter
Abduction
Kanto Kanbu-kai
Ruthless Gambler
Villain
Spartan Education
Outlaw: Gangster VIP
Monument to the Girl's Corps
Conflagration
The Unruly Ronin's Journey
Outlaw: Heartless
Outlaw: Goro the Assassin
Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2
Outlaw: Black Dagger
Outlaw: Kill!
It Is a Long Walk
Shura Group Part 3
Stray Dog
Chase That Man
Night Train to the Stars
Savage Wolf Pack
Human Revolution II
第1回欽ちゃんのシネマジャック
The Black Sheep
The Final Winner?
Sword and Flower
Showdown at Nagasaki
Diary of Early Winter Shower
Theater Of Life
Flower and Dragon
The Blossom and the Sword
Wild Cop 2
Wild Cop
Step on the Gas!
The Stars and I Decided...
My Sweetheart
The Stormy Man
Showdown in Gangland
Love Eternal
In Tears
Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!
Kanto Drifter
Till We Meet Again
The Swan Elegy
The Heart of Hiroshima
Red Glass
Burning Clouds
The Man of Victory
Dreams Come True at Night
Song of my Life
Tokyo Drifter 2: The Sea Is Bright Red as the Color of Love
Yamato
Brother
Expelled from the Kanto Mob
The Human Revolution
Farewell to the Code
Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms
Pay Off Your Debt!
Again
The Fatal Raid
The Earth is Born Again
Shinkuna umi ga yon deru ze