Masanari Nihei was a Japanese actor, known for his role as Mitsuhiro Ide in Ultraman. Prior to Ultra Q, he used his real name as his stage name, Masanori Nihei .
Career
Nihei began his acting career as part of Toho's 15th New Face class in 1960, with fellow actors including Bin Furuya. He made his film debut in 1961 and became known for his comedic roles, frequently appearing in films directed by Kihachi Okamoto while working as a Toho exclusive actor.
In 1966, Nihei was cast as Mitsuhiro Ide in Ultraman. Originally, the role was assigned to Susumu Ishikawa, but due to issues related to appearance fees or scheduling, Ishikawa left the project after just two days of filming. Consequently, Nihei, who had previously made a guest appearance in Ultra Q, was chosen to replace him.
In 1969, Nihei left Toho to become a freelance actor and took on hosting duties in television programs such as Ginza Night Night, while also engaging in commercial activities. He continued to appear in works produced by Tsuburaya Productions, including roles in Mighty Jack and The☆Ultraman.
By the late 1980s, Nihei had relocated to Kamakura City and transitioned into real estate, focusing primarily on business activities and reducing his acting roles. However, with the resurgence of the Ultraman series in the mid-1990s, he returned to Tsuburaya Productions’ projects. In the 21st century, he continued to manage real estate and participate in activities related to the Ultraman series.[1][2]
Death
Nihei passed away due to aspiration pneumonia on August 21, 2021. His funeral was held privately by his close relatives.[3][4][5]
Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Ultra Q | Morishita Milk Truck Driver | Episode 2 "Goro and Goroh" |
| Bank Robber Sato | Episode 6 "Grow Up! Little Turtle" | ||
| Nakamatsu Construction Supervisor's Assistant | Episode 15 "Kanegon's Cocoon" | ||
| The Birth of Ultraman | Mitsuhiro Ide | ||
| Ultraman | |||
| 1967 | Kaiju Booska | Mecha Taro's Older Brother | Episode 39 "Hundred-ton Whirlwind Wasshoi!" |
| 1968 | Ultraseven | Kamata | Episode 42 "Ambassador of the Nonmalt" |
| Mighty Jack | Akira Genda | [6][7] | |
| Fight! Mighty Jack | |||
| 1973 | Horror Theater Unbalance | Yagi | Episode 10 "Salaryman's Medal" |
| 1979 | The☆Ultraman | Hiroaki Tobe | Voice |
| 1984 | Anime-chan | Police Officer | |
| 1994 | Ultraseven - Operation: Solar Energy | Himself | |
| 1996 | Revive! Ultraman | Mitsuhiro Ide | Voiced stock footage |
| Ultraman Zearth | Photographer | ||
| 1997 | Ultraman Zearth 2: Superhuman Big Battle - Light and Shadow | ||
| 2001 | Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact | Citizen | |
| 2003 | The Ultra Q Club | Angel, Sage | Voice |
| 2005 | Ultraman Max | Date | [8] |
| Ultraman Kaiju Legend: The 40 Year Old Truth | Mitsuhiro Ide | ||
| 2008 | Superior 8 Ultra Brothers | Candy Store Owner |
Other Roles
- Gorath - Ito
- Space Ironman Kyodain - Sakurai announcer
- Nebula Mask Machineman - Onimaru
- MegaBeast Investigator Juspion - Yuzo Kitamura
- Special Rescue Police Winspector - Daizo Omagari/Genichi Yonekura
Discography
- Ultraman Mebius
- Ultraman Mebius (Opening) (with Project DMM, as member of Ultra Defense Force)
Gallery
References
- ↑ https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2077403/full/
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/n-3984
- ↑ https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP8S5F5NP8SUCLV00F.html
- ↑ https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE24BLH0U1A820C2000000/
- ↑ https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/20211006-OYT1T50128/
- ↑ https://m-78.jp/news/n-1646
- ↑ https://muuseo.com/mjmat/items/174
- ↑ https://x.com/roko_sakurai/status/1799585894909046844