is a Japanese musician, singer and actor. As of 2012, he is the only male actor to have received both the Japan Record Award and the Japan Academy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Early life

Terao was born in Yokohama (Kanagawa prefecture) in Japan, son of the actor and film director Jūkichi Uno. He attended schools Wako Gakuen, Hosei University Daini Senior High School, and graduated from the vocational school Bunka Gakuin.

Akira Terao

Career

Singing career

In 1966, he debuted as a bassist of a group sounds band called The Savage (ザ・サベージ). His solo debut album came out in 1970.

Akira Terao

As a singer, Terao is known mostly for the 1981 hit song and the album it was part of named , which sold 1.6 million copies in Japan.

Akira Terao

Acting career

As an actor, he debuted in The Sands of Kurobe, a film directed by Kei Kumai in 1968. In 1985, Terao worked under director Akira Kurosawa in Ran. Five years later he appeared as "I" in Kurosawa's Dreams. He has worked with director Takashi Koizumi in After the Rain and The Professor's Beloved Equation. As for dramas, Terao has acted with Kazunari Ninomiya in Yasashii Jikan as well as in the latest Takuya Kimura-helmed drama, Change (spring 2008). He won the award for best actor at the 47th Blue Ribbon Awards for Half a Confession. The promotional agencies to which he has belonged are Horipro, Ishihara International Productions, Inc. and his current personal agency Terao Music Offices (寺尾音楽事務所).

Personal life

He was married to Bunjaku Han from 1973 to 1974 (ending in divorce). His current wife is Mayumi Hoshino. Terao is known for wearing sunglasses and for his expressions of nihilism. Because he has two moles on one cheek, he has the nickname of "hoppe" (ボッペ), meaning "cheek".

Filmography

Films

The Sands of Kurobe (1968) Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset (1976) Ran (1985) – Ichimonji Taro Takatora Rock yo shizukani nagareyo (1988) Dreams (1990) – "I" Madadayo (1993) - Sawamura After the Rain (1999) – Ihei Misawa Letters from the Mountains (2002) - Takao Ueda Casshern (2004) – Professor Kotaro Azuma Half a Confession (2004) – Soichiro Kaji Into the Sun (2005) – Matsuda The Professor's Beloved Equation (2006) - the professor The Hovering Blade (2009) – Shigeki Nagamine Fragments of the Last Will (2022) – old Ken'ichi Yamamoto Mom, Is That You?! (2023) The Imaginary (2023) – old dog (voice)

Television

Kunitori Monogatari (1973) – Tokugawa Ieyasu

Daitokai Series (1976–1979) – He was in only the 1st and 3rd seasons of the show. Seibu Keisatsu (1979) – Takeshi Matsuda, but prefers to be called 'Rikki' by his colleagues. His character is killed in the line of duty in the 123rd episode of Part I of the show. Taiyō ni Hoero! Part2 (1986) Gunshi Kanbei (2014) – Tokugawa Ieyasu Nobunaga Moyu (2016) – Konoe Sakihisa Kohaku (2017) – Toshio Arai Rikuoh (2017) – Haruyuki Iiyama Shiroi Kyotō (2019) – Professor Azuma

Discography

Reflections (1981) Atmosphere (1983) Standard (1987)

Honours

Medal with Purple Ribbon (2008) Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2018)

References

External links

1947 births

Japanese bass guitarists

Japanese male singers

Living people

Musicians from Yokohama

Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon

Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class

Male bass guitarists