Yutaka Hirose
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese actor and voice actor, widely known to international audiences for his work in the tokusatsu
genre of television series, usually portraying villanious characters. His real name is , which was the name he was credited during his debut. He has also been credited as , changing his stagename to "Yutaka" in 1999.
. A gymnast in high-school, Hirose wanted to be an actor while putting his physical talents to use. Upon graduation, he joined the Toei Action Club, finding himself in various guest roles. In 1986, he auditioned for the role of Jin/Red Flash in Choushinsei Flashman
, instead being cast as the villain Wanda and proved to be highly popular. In 1987, he auditioned for the role of Kotaro Minami in Kamen Rider Black
. Wanting a younger unknown, they instead gave Hirose a guest role earlier in the series. By the time he was cast as the villain Dr. Kempu in 1988's Choujuu Sentai Liveman
, his popularity for playing villainous roles increased.
Hirose became a favorite of writer Toshiki Inoue
, who wrote him specifically his roles in Choujin Sentai Jetman
, Gosei Sentai Dairanger
, Choukou Senshi Changéríon
and Kamen Rider Agito
. Hirose also had guest appearances in tokusatsu shows on Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain
, while working, on the other hand, in films, stage plays and other television guest roles. Always admiring his Flashman and Liveman costar Jouji Nakata
, who later found immense popularity in voice acting, he made his voice performance debut as Ryan in Brave Command Dagwon
.
Still proving to be very popular with tokusatsu fans to this day, Hirose stated in a 2003 message on his site that he didn't care for the turn that tokusatsu had taken on lately. He has currently put acting on hold to focus on representing and managing a talent division agency.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese actor and voice actor, widely known to international audiences for his work in the tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
genre of television series, usually portraying villanious characters. His real name is , which was the name he was credited during his debut. He has also been credited as , changing his stagename to "Yutaka" in 1999.
Biography
Hirose was born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. A gymnast in high-school, Hirose wanted to be an actor while putting his physical talents to use. Upon graduation, he joined the Toei Action Club, finding himself in various guest roles. In 1986, he auditioned for the role of Jin/Red Flash in Choushinsei Flashman
Choushinsei Flashman
was the tenth Super Sentai television series produced by Toei Company. It aired on TV Asahi on March 1, 1986 to February 21, 1987.-Storyline:Twenty years ago, five children were kidnapped by the an alien group known as the Alien Hunters, for the sake of the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess -...
, instead being cast as the villain Wanda and proved to be highly popular. In 1987, he auditioned for the role of Kotaro Minami in Kamen Rider Black
Kamen Rider Black
, translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo...
. Wanting a younger unknown, they instead gave Hirose a guest role earlier in the series. By the time he was cast as the villain Dr. Kempu in 1988's Choujuu Sentai Liveman
Choujuu Sentai Liveman
is the twelfth entry of Toei Company's Super Sentai television series. The last Super Sentai title of the Shōwa period, it aired on TV Asahi from February 26, 1988 to February 17, 1989. It is the first Sentai with three members at the start, with two others joining up later in the series. In...
, his popularity for playing villainous roles increased.
Hirose became a favorite of writer Toshiki Inoue
Toshiki Inoue
is a Japanese screenwriter from Saitama Prefecture. He is known for his work on anime and tokusatsu dramas and films. He is the son of Masaru Igami, who himself was a screenwriter for tokusatsu dramas.-TV anime:*Akakage...
, who wrote him specifically his roles in Choujin Sentai Jetman
Choujin Sentai Jetman
was the fifteenth entry of the Super Sentai television series. Produced by the Toei Company and Bandai, the series aired on TV Asahi on February 15, 1991 to February 14, 1992, with a total of 51 episodes...
, Gosei Sentai Dairanger
Gosei Sentai Dairanger
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the seventeenth production in the long-running Super Sentai franchise of television tokusatsu dramas produced by Toei Company, following Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. It was originally broadcast from February 19, 1993 to February 11, 1994...
, Choukou Senshi Changéríon
Choukou Senshi Changéríon
is a Tokusatsu series created by Toei Company. The series aired from April 3, 1996 to December 25, 1996. It was originally planned to run for a full 52 episodes before being cut down to 39 due to low ratings...
and Kamen Rider Agito
Kamen Rider Agito
, is the eleventh installment in the popular Kamen Rider tokusatsu franchise. The series represented the 30th Anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series. The series was also a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei and was shown on TV Asahi from January 28, 2001 to January 27, 2002....
. Hirose also had guest appearances in tokusatsu shows on Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain
Tokkyuu Shirei Solbrain
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series produced by Toei Company. It ran for 53 episodes from 4 February, 1991 to 27 January, 1992 on TV Asahi. It is part of the Metal Hero Series franchise; a sequel to Tokkei Winspector, it is the second series to follow the Rescue Hero trilogy.-Plot:After the...
, while working, on the other hand, in films, stage plays and other television guest roles. Always admiring his Flashman and Liveman costar Jouji Nakata
Jouji Nakata
, better known by his screen name , is a Japanese voice actor born in Tokyo, Japan. He is affiliated with Ōsawa Office, and is most well known as the voices of Giroro , better known by his screen name , is a Japanese voice actor born in Tokyo, Japan. He is affiliated with Ōsawa Office, and is most...
, who later found immense popularity in voice acting, he made his voice performance debut as Ryan in Brave Command Dagwon
Brave Command Dagwon
is a Japanese anime series begun in 1996, created by Sunrise under the direction of Akira Oguro and Tetsuya Yanagisawa, and was the seventh Yūsha or "Brave" metaseries funded by Takara and produced by Sunrise....
.
Still proving to be very popular with tokusatsu fans to this day, Hirose stated in a 2003 message on his site that he didn't care for the turn that tokusatsu had taken on lately. He has currently put acting on hold to focus on representing and managing a talent division agency.
Tokusatsu Credits
- Choudenshi BiomanChoudenshi Biomanis Toei Company's eighth installment in the Super Sentai series. It was aired on TV Asahi from February 4, 1984 to January 26, 1985, with a total of 51 episodes, as well as a movie. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Bioman.-Plot:...
(episode 5, in the role of a thug) - Dengeki Sentai ChangemanDengeki Sentai Changemanis a Japanese television series and is the ninth installment in the Super Sentai franchise. It was originally aired from February 2, 1985 to February 22, 1986 and it ran for 55 episodes.-Plot:...
(episodes 4, in the role of dog-human; episode 45, in the role of an army officer) - Kyojuu Tokusou JuspionKyojuu Tokusou Juspionis a Japanese tokusatsu television series and part of the Metal Hero series. Produced by Toei Company, it was originally broadcast from 15 March, 1985 to 24 March, 1986, running for 46 episodes. The name "Juspion" is a portmanteau of "Justice" and "Champion". Juspion is the only Metal Hero series...
(episode 14; role of groom) - Choushinsei FlashmanChoushinsei Flashmanwas the tenth Super Sentai television series produced by Toei Company. It aired on TV Asahi on March 1, 1986 to February 21, 1987.-Storyline:Twenty years ago, five children were kidnapped by the an alien group known as the Alien Hunters, for the sake of the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess -...
(regular; villain Ley Wanda) - Kamen Rider BlackKamen Rider Black, translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo...
(episode 4; role of Hayami) - Choujuu Sentai LivemanChoujuu Sentai Livemanis the twelfth entry of Toei Company's Super Sentai television series. The last Super Sentai title of the Shōwa period, it aired on TV Asahi from February 26, 1988 to February 17, 1989. It is the first Sentai with three members at the start, with two others joining up later in the series. In...
(regular; role of Kenji Tsukigata/Dr. Kempu) - Tokkei WinspectorTokkei Winspectoris a Japanese tokusatsu TV series, part of the Metal Hero Series and the first piece of the Rescue Hero trilogy. The series follows the adventures and missions of a special "Rescue Police" team known as Special Police Winspector, as they stop crimes and respond to dangerous events where regular...
(episode 30; role of Masao Murano) - Choujin Sentai JetmanChoujin Sentai Jetmanwas the fifteenth entry of the Super Sentai television series. Produced by the Toei Company and Bandai, the series aired on TV Asahi on February 15, 1991 to February 14, 1992, with a total of 51 episodes...
(episodes 37 to 47; role of Toranza) - Tokkyuu Shirei SolbrainTokkyuu Shirei Solbrainis a Japanese tokusatsu television series produced by Toei Company. It ran for 53 episodes from 4 February, 1991 to 27 January, 1992 on TV Asahi. It is part of the Metal Hero Series franchise; a sequel to Tokkei Winspector, it is the second series to follow the Rescue Hero trilogy.-Plot:After the...
(episode 33; role of Kousuke Doi) - Gosei Sentai DairangerGosei Sentai Dairangeris a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the seventeenth production in the long-running Super Sentai franchise of television tokusatsu dramas produced by Toei Company, following Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. It was originally broadcast from February 19, 1993 to February 11, 1994...
(role of Jin Matoba) - Choukou Senshi ChangéríonChoukou Senshi Changéríonis a Tokusatsu series created by Toei Company. The series aired from April 3, 1996 to December 25, 1996. It was originally planned to run for a full 52 episodes before being cut down to 39 due to low ratings...
(role of Kazuki Katayama/General Zander) - Kamen Rider AgitoKamen Rider Agito, is the eleventh installment in the popular Kamen Rider tokusatsu franchise. The series represented the 30th Anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series. The series was also a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei and was shown on TV Asahi from January 28, 2001 to January 27, 2002....
(episodes 49 & 50; role of Shirakawa)
Movies
- Shin Gokudou no Tsumatachi
- Choushinsei FlashmanChoushinsei Flashmanwas the tenth Super Sentai television series produced by Toei Company. It aired on TV Asahi on March 1, 1986 to February 21, 1987.-Storyline:Twenty years ago, five children were kidnapped by the an alien group known as the Alien Hunters, for the sake of the Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess -...
(film version) - Bakusou Trucker Gundan series
- Doreijuu
Trivia
- As a gymnast and member of the Toei Action Club, he often does most of his own stunts.
- Specializes in stunts and sword battle.
- Directed the action sequences for the sequels to the Bakusou Trucker Gundan movies.