Born in China to Japanese parents

Raised outside of Japan

Joined the Japanese Imperial Air Force as an aerial photographer

After WWII, settled in Tokyo

Participated in a nationwide talent search sponsored by Toho Studios

Made film debut in small role in a film directed by Akira Kurosawa

Cast by Kurosawa in "The Drunken Angel"; played a gangster suffering with tuberculosis

Starred in Kurosawa's "Rashomon"

Played Kikuchiyo in "The Seven Samaurai"

Starred in "Throne of Blood", Kurosawa's version of Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

Returned to samaurai roles in "Yojimbo"

Formed Mifune Productions

Made feature directorial debut, "The Legacy of the 500,000"

Made last film with Kurosawa, "Red Beard"

Teamed with Lee Marvin in "Hell in the Pacific", directed by John Boorman

Played the submarine commander in Steven Spielberg's "1941"

Starred as the warlord Toranaga in the NBC miniseries "Shogun"

Final film role in "Deep River"