Biography
Guts Ishimatsu, born Yuji Suzuki on 5 June 1949 in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, was a Japanese actor, comedian and former professional boxer. He competed in the lightweight division from 1966 to 1978, winning the WBC lightweight title in 1974 and making five successful defences before retiring.
After leaving boxing he became a popular television personality and actor. His film credits include the role of Sgt. Uchida in Empire of the Sun (1987) and Katayama in Black Rain (1989). He also appeared in numerous Japanese television dramas and occasionally wrote and directed.
Ishimatsu died of pneumonia in Tokyo on 2 June 2026, aged 76.
