Kaoru Kobayashi (actor)
Japanese actor (born 1951)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaoru Kobayashi (小林 薫, Kobayashi Kaoru; born on September 4, 1951) is a Japanese actor born in Kyoto. He won best actor at the 30th Yokohama Film Festival[1] and best-supporting actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for Sorobanzuku.[2]
Career
Kobayashi starred in Yoichi Sai's Quill.[3] He also appeared in Yuya Ishii's The Great Passage[4] He appeared as "Master", the lead character in the Japanese TV series Midnight Diner and the two full-length films based on the series.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 18sai, umi e | [5] | ||
| 1983 | The Second Love | Hideo Hyuga | [6] | |
| 1986 | Sorobanzuku | [2] | ||
| 1997 | Princess Mononoke | Jiko-bō (voice) | [7] | |
| 1999 | Himitsu | Heisuke Sugita | Leading role | [8] |
| The Black House | [9] | |||
| Coquille | Tatsuya Urayama | Leading role | [10] | |
| 2004 | Quill | Leading role | [3] | |
| 2013 | The Great Passage | Araki | [4] | |
| 2015 | Midnight Diner | The Master | Leading role | [11] |
| 2016 | Midnight Diner 2 | The Master | Leading role | [11] |
| 2020 | Independence of Japan | Shigeru Yoshida | [12] | |
| 2021 | We Made a Beautiful Bouquet | Hirotarō Yamane | [13] | |
| Arc | [14] | |||
| 2022 | Yes, I Can't Swim | Professor Kamoshita | [15] | |
| A Winter Rose | [16] | |||
| Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022 | Shōichi Hoshino | [17] | ||
| 2023 | Trapped Balloon | Shigezō Kojima | [18] | |
| Baian the Assassin, M.D. | Tsuyama Etsudō | [19] | ||
| Baian the Assassin, M.D. 2 | Tsuyama Etsudō | [19] | ||
| Tsugaru Lacquer Girl | Miyako's father | [20] | ||
| Kubi | Tokugawa Ieyasu | [21] | ||
| The Boy and the Heron | Old Pelican (voice) | [22] | ||
| 2024 | The Yin Yang Master Zero | Fujiwara no Yoshisuke | [23] | |
| Promised Land | Shimoyama | [24] | ||
| 2025 | Sham | [25] | ||
| The Last Blossom | The current Minoru Akutsu (voice) | Leading role | [26] | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Tōge no Gunzō | Fuwa Kazuemon | Taiga drama | [27] |
| 2003–2006 | Dr. Coto's Clinic | Shoichi Hoshino | 2 seasons | [17] |
| 2009–2026 | Midnight Diner | The Master | Leading role; 4 seasons | [28] |
| 2011 | Carnation | Zensaku Ohara | Asadora | [29] |
| 2015 | The Emperor's Cook | Kaneichi Usami | [30] | |
| 2016–2019 | Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories | The Master | Leading role; 2 seasons | [11] |
| 2017 | Naotora: The Lady Warlord | Reverend Nankei | Taiga drama | [31] |
| 2021 | Reach Beyond the Blue Sky | Shibusawa Ichirōemon | Taiga drama | [32] |
| Kyojo 2 | Takeshi Shindo | Miniseries | [33] | |
| 2023 | The Days | Furuya | [34] | |
| Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero | Takeshi Shindo | [33] | ||
| Fixer | Deputy prime minister Ichirō Suzaki | [35] | ||
| 2024 | The Tiger and Her Wings | Shigechika Hodaka | Asadora | [36] |
| 2025 | 1972: Nagisa no Keika | Taiei Tamashiro | Miniseries | [37] |
| Pray Speak What Has Happened | Taro Furosu | [38] | ||
Dubbing
- The West Wing (seasons 1-4), Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen)[39]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 4th Hochi Film Award | Best New Artist | 18sai, umi e | Won | [40] |
| 1986 | 9th Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Supporting Actor | Sorekara and Love Letter | Won | [41] |
| 1987 | 8th Yokohama Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Sorobanzuku | Won | [42] |
| 2000 | 23rd Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Actor | Himitsu | Nominated | [43] |
| 2008 | 31st Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Supporting Actor | Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad | Won | [44] |
| 2009 | 30th Yokohama Film Festival | Best Actor | Kyūka and Kanki no Uta | Won | [45] |
