Kunie Tanaka

Kunie Tanaka (Japanese: 田中 邦衛, Hepburn: Tanaka Kunie, November 23, 1932 – March 24, 2021) was a Japanese actor. Tanaka first made a name for himself as the lecherous antagonist of the Wakadaishō series (1961–1981) of films. He is also well-known for his roles in Kinji Fukasaku's yakuza films, namely the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1974), and for starring in the Kita no Kuni Kara (1981–2002) television series. Tanaka was nominated for five Japanese Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor for Gakko in 1993. He also won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor for Nogare no Machi and Izakaya Chōji in 1983, and the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for Uhohho Tankentai in 1986. For his contributions to the arts, the Japanese government decorated Tanaka with the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1999 and the Order of the Rising Sun in 2006.