Kōji Mitsui

Kōji Mitsui began his acting career under the stage name Mitsui Hideo before changing it to Mitsui Koji in the 1948 film Hen in the Wind. He gained recognition for his role as the playboy Kisaburo in Akira Kurosawa's The Lower Depths, earning the Best Supporting Actor award at both the 12th Mainichi Film Awards and the 8th Blue Ribbon Awards. As his career progressed, Mitsui went freelance, working in films, television dramas, and on stage. However, after undergoing surgery for a stomach ulcer in 1971, his health declined, leading him to scale back his acting career. Mitsui passed away from heart failure on April 20, 1979, at the age of 69.