---
name: "Iemasa Kayumi"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/iemasa-kayumi"
fi1m_id: "iemasa-kayumi"
imdb_id: "nm0443509"
tmdb_id: 625
wikidata_id: "Q1114341"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 October 1933"
died: "30 September 2014"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 84
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-24T05:06:28.815873+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Iemasa Kayumi

## Identity

Iemasa Kayumi

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/iemasa-kayumi
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** iemasa-kayumi
- **IMDb ID:** nm0443509
- **TMDB ID:** 625
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1114341
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iemasa_Kayumi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1114341, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443509/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/625

Actor. Born 30 October 1933 in Tokyo, Japan. Died 30 September 2014.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 October 1933, Tokyo, Japan
- **Died:** 30 September 2014
- **Active:** 1984–1995
- **Also known as:** 家弓家正
- **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 85 (1), 1990s 83 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iemasa_Kayumi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1114341, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443509/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/625

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Warriors of the Wind*](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md) (85)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ghost in the Shell*](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md) (83)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Iemasa Kayumi

> Iemasa Kayumi gives authority a calm, resonant voice. His controlled delivery makes the Puppetmaster’s difficult ideas worth listening to in *Ghost in the Shell*, though the film’s plotting can make understanding them harder than it needs to be.

The Puppetmaster in *Ghost in the Shell* (1995) speaks with a clarity the film does not always offer elsewhere. Iemasa Kayumi gives the part a measured assurance, letting difficult ideas be heard without making each sentence sound like a lecture. We found that composure unsettling, because the voice remains so controlled while the film asks what a person is. Mamoru Oshii’s science fiction is absorbing and melancholy, though its plotting can be needlessly opaque. Kayumi is one reason to stay with it when following the story becomes work.

Kurotowa in *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* (1984) was an early prominent anime-film role; the later television work includes Father and the narrator in *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* (2009). His casting repeatedly returned to authoritative, enigmatic or antagonistic figures. Alongside animation came dubbing work for Frank Sinatra and Donald Sutherland, so the job also involved giving a voice to someone else’s physical performance. The useful constant is the measured delivery, which suits characters who expect to be listened to without having to demand it.

In Oshii’s film, that restraint matters because the questions about identity already demand attention. Kayumi’s clear delivery gives the Puppetmaster’s philosophical material room to register, rather than advertising how profound it is. We value that lack of insistence: there is enough to think about without an actor underlining every thought. It is a specific strength, and a more persuasive reason to seek him out than the sheer length of his working life.

There are limits to what that clarity can do, however. *Ghost in the Shell* still makes its city more vivid than several of its people, and a controlled performance cannot make needlessly opaque plotting straightforward. Our recommendation comes with that reservation; Kayumi helps us stay attentive, but the film sometimes makes listening harder than it should. Start with the Puppetmaster, and allow time afterwards to argue about what the film was saying.

## Biography

Iemasa Kayumi was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. He trained at the Butai Geijutsu Gakuin acting school, worked in shingeki theatre and began voice acting in 1956. He was affiliated with 81 Produce until his death.

Kayumi provided the voice of the Puppet Master in *Ghost in the Shell* (1995). His other notable voice roles include Kurotowa in *Warriors of the Wind* (1984), Paragus in *Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan* (1993), Lepka in *Future Boy Conan* (1978), Professor Goedelitz in *Monster* (2004), Narrator and Father in *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* (2009), and Nefertari Cobra in *One Piece* (1999). He was the official Japanese dubbing voice for Frank Sinatra and Donald Sutherland.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, animenewsnetwork.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Ghost in the Shell* (1995), Fi1m 83, as Puppetmaster (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md)
- *Warriors of the Wind* (1984), Fi1m 85, as Kurotowa (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper* (2014), as James Black (voice)
- *Space Dandy* (2014), series, as Dullan (voice)
- *Lupin the Third vs. Detective Conan: The Movie* (2013), as James Black (voice)
- *One Piece: Strong World Episode 0* (2010), as Cobra (voice)
- *Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva* (2009), as Oswald Whistler (voice)
- *Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror* (2009), as The Baron (voice)
- *Ekiro* (2009), Actor
- *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* (2009), series, as Narrator (voice), Father (voice)
- *Allison & Lillia* (2008), series, as (voice)
- *One Piece: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventure in Alabasta* (2007), as Nefertari Cobra (voice)
- *Bartender* (2006), series, as Ryuuchi Kuzuhara (voice)
- *Akagi* (2005), series, as Boss Fujisawa (voice)
- *Glass Mask* (2005), series, as Eisuke Hayami (voice)
- *Monster* (2004), series, as Professor Goedelitz (voice)
- *Chrono Crusade* (2003), series, as Ricardo Hendric
- *Gungrave* (2003), series, as Big Daddy (voice)
- *Requiem from the Darkness* (2003), series, as Kyoemon (voice)
- *Petite Princess Yucie* (2002), series, as King of Heaven
- *Armitage: Dual Matrix* (2002), as Ohara (voice)
- *RahXephon* (2002), series, as Ernst von Bähbem (voice)
- *Najica Blitz Tactics* (2001), series, as Jin Majima
- *VanDread* (2000), series, Actor
- *One Piece* (1999), series, as Cobra Nefeltari (voice)
- *Zoids: Chaotic Century* (1999), series, as Kruger (voice)
- *Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle* (1999), as Akamamire (voice)
- *Master Keaton* (1998), series, Actor
- *Ghost in the Shell* (1995), as Puppetmaster (voice) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md)
- *Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie* (1995), series, as Rugudol (voice)
- *Tekkaman Blade II* (1994), series, as General Pavlochiva
- *Sangokushi: The Distant Land* (1994), as Lu Su (voice)
- *Doraemon: Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen* (1994), as Phantom Emperor Odorome (voice)
- *Monster Planet of Godzilla* (1994), Actor
- *Art of Fighting* (1993), as Mr. Big
- *Coo of the Far Seas* (1993), as Colonel Norbel (voice)
- *Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan* (1993), as Paragus (voice)
- *Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still* (1992), series, as Chief Chûjô Shizuo
- *Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still* (1992), as Chief Chûjô Shizuo
- *Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms* (1992), as Chen Gong (voice)
- *Inferious Interplanetary War Chronicle - Condition Green* (1991), as Emperor Vince (voice)
- *Legend of Lemnear* (1989), as Gardin
- *City Hunter: .357 Magnum* (1989), as Steiner (voice)
- *Neo Tokyo* (1989), as Bucho (segment "Construction Cancellation Order") (voice)
- *Goku: Midnight Eye* (1989), as Voice (voice)
- *Saint Seiya: The Heated Battle of the Gods* (1988), as Dolbal (voice)
- *Dragon's Heaven* (1988), as Shaian (voice)
- *Area 88 Act III: Burning Mirage* (1986), as McCoy
- *Area 88 Act II: The Requirements of Wolves* (1985), as McCoy
- *Area 88* (1985), as McCoy
- *Area 88* (1985), series, as McCoy (voice)
- *Area 88 Act I: The Blue Skies of Betrayal* (1985), as McCoy
- *Tale of the Earth* (1984), as (voice)
- *Warriors of the Wind* (1984), as Kurotowa (voice) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md)
- *Future Boy Conan* (1979), as Lepka (voice)
- *Treasure Island* (1978), series, as Livesey (voice)
- *One Million-Year Trip: Bander Book* (1978), as Dokudami (voice)
- *Future Boy Conan* (1978), series, as Lepka (voice), Additional Voices (voice)
- *Gowappā Faibu Gōdamu* (1976), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Goliath the Super Fighter* (1976), series, as Narrator/ゴーダム
- *A Dog of Flanders* (1975), series, as Hendrick Ray (voice)
- *Kouya no Shounen Isamu* (1973), series, as レットー
- *Decision* (1971), series, as (voice)
- *Tatakae! Osper* (1965), series, as 海津長官
- *Space Ace* (1965), series, as Dr. Tatsunoko (voice)
- *Astro Boy* (1963), series, as Skunk

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/iemasa-kayumi