Tokushô Arashi
Actor
About Tokushô Arashi
Tokushô Arashi was a Japanese actor from the silent film era who appeared in the 1928 film 'Kurama Tengu.' His career was remarkably brief, with filmography records indicating activity only during the year 1928. As an actor during Japan's golden age of silent cinema, he was part of the vibrant film industry that produced numerous jidaigeki (period dramas) during this period. The film 'Kurama Tengu' was based on the popular fictional character created by Jiro Osanagi, featuring a mysterious, masked samurai hero who became a cultural icon in Japanese media. Unfortunately, like many actors from this era, particularly those with brief careers, detailed biographical information about Tokushô Arashi remains scarce. The silent film era in Japan saw hundreds of actors who appeared in only a handful of films before disappearing from historical records, and Arashi appears to be among these figures whose contributions to cinema were largely lost to time.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in the 1928 film 'Kurama Tengu'
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Tokushô Arashi's contribution to cinema represents the vast number of actors from Japan's silent film era whose work has been largely lost to history. While his individual impact may be difficult to trace due to the scarcity of surviving records and films, he was part of the foundation of Japanese cinema during its formative years. The 1928 film 'Kurama Tengu' was part of a significant cultural phenomenon in Japan, as the Kurama Tengu character became one of the most enduring figures in Japanese popular culture, appearing in numerous films, television series, and other media throughout the 20th century.
Lasting Legacy
Tokushô Arashi's legacy is primarily as a representative example of the many anonymous actors who contributed to Japan's rich silent film heritage. His appearance in 'Kurama Tengu' places him within the historical context of early Japanese cinema, a period that laid the groundwork for the country's later achievements in filmmaking. While his name may not be widely recognized today, his work is part of the collective artistic effort that established Japanese cinema as a significant cultural force.
Who They Inspired
Due to the extremely limited documentation of Tokushô Arashi's career and the apparent brevity of his time in film, his specific influence on other actors or filmmakers cannot be determined. However, like all actors from this period, he contributed to the development of acting techniques and storytelling methods that would evolve in Japanese cinema throughout the following decades.
Off Screen
Very little is known about Tokushô Arashi's personal life, which is typical for many supporting actors from Japan's silent film era who had brief careers and limited public documentation.
Did You Know?
- The 1928 film 'Kurama Tengu' in which Tokushô Arashi appeared is now considered a lost film, making it impossible to view his performance today
- The character Kurama Tengu became one of the most adapted figures in Japanese cinema, with dozens of films featuring the character produced between the 1920s and 1960s
- Tokushô Arashi's stage name 'Arashi' (嵐) means 'storm' in Japanese and was commonly used by actors specializing in samurai roles
- The year 1928 was a significant period in Japanese silent cinema, with the industry producing hundreds of films before the transition to sound
- Makino Film Productions, the studio behind 'Kurama Tengu,' was one of Japan's most important early film studios, founded by pioneer Shozo Makino
- Many Japanese actors from the silent era used stage names, making it difficult to trace their real identities and personal histories
- The Kurama Tengu character was originally created by novelist Jiro Osanagi and first appeared in print in 1915
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tokushô Arashi?
Tokushô Arashi was a Japanese actor from the silent film era who appeared in the 1928 film 'Kurama Tengu.' His career appears to have been extremely brief, with documented activity only during the year 1928. Like many actors from this period, detailed biographical information about him is scarce.
What films is Tokushô Arashi best known for?
Tokushô Arashi is known only for his appearance in the 1928 silent film 'Kurama Tengu.' This film was based on a popular Japanese fictional character and was produced by Makino Film Productions. The film itself is now considered lost.
When was Tokushô Arashi born and when did he die?
Specific birth and death dates for Tokushô Arashi are not available in historical records. This lack of biographical information is common for many actors from Japan's silent film era, particularly those who had brief careers and appeared in only a few films.
What awards did Tokushô Arashi win?
There are no records of Tokushô Arashi receiving any awards or nominations. The Japanese film industry's award systems were not as established during the silent era, and many actors from this period, especially those with brief careers, received little formal recognition.
What was Tokushô Arashi's acting style?
Due to the loss of the film 'Kurama Tengu' and the scarcity of documentation about Tokushô Arashi's career, his specific acting style cannot be determined. Actors in Japanese silent films of this period typically used exaggerated gestures and facial expressions to convey emotion, as was common in silent cinema worldwide.
Why is so little known about Tokushô Arashi?
The limited information about Tokushô Arashi is typical of many actors from Japan's silent film era. Factors include the loss of many films from this period, the brief nature of some actors' careers, the common use of stage names, and the lack of systematic record-keeping for supporting actors during early Japanese cinema.
Films
1 film
