Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997) was the most influential Japanese actor of his time and achieved more fame than any of his Japanese colleagues in the twentieth century. With his vivid portrayals of powerful warlords, rugged samurai, noble peasants and disillusioned modern men, Mifune ruled Japanese cinema for many years. Especially under the wing of acclaimed director Akira Kurosawa, Mifune gave electrifying performances in numerous films (such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai) now regarded as classic cinematic masterworks. In contrast to the life, career and films of Kurosawa (1910-1998), which have been extensively discussed, the story of Mifune, who “carried Kurosawa’s work around the world through his screen presence”, is less familiar.
This essay, then, tells the story of Mifune’s early years, his career as an actor which would eventually bring him worldwide fame, and the latter years of his life. It focuses on Mifune Productions, the production company Mifune founded to be more independent from the major Japanese film studios, and is largely based upon an interview with Robert Red-Baer. Red-Baer worked for Mifune for three years between 1981 and 1984 at the actor’s acting school in Tokyo. For this essay, I interviewed Red-Baer about his experiences and memories of working for Mifune. Above all, this document is a homage to Toshiro Mifune, who through his intense and electrifying performances greatly contributed to the popularity of Japanese cinema abroad.