Biography
Shōzō Nanbu (南部章三) was a Japanese actor. Born on 26 June 1898 in Hiji, Ōita Prefecture, he made his film debut in 1926 under the name Shōzō Nanbu (or earlier 南部章三) at the Nikkatsu Daishōgun studio and remained active until 1978.
He appeared in numerous supporting and character roles, often in jidaigeki and period dramas. His credits include the Shintō Priest in Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu (1953), Masasue Taira in Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Sadafusa in Gate of Hell (1953), and parts in the Zatoichi series such as Gouemon Kashiya in The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962) and Jinpachiro Kanda in New Tale of Zatoichi (1963). He also featured in films including Miss Oyu (1951), Warning from Space (1956), Irezumi (1966) and Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972). Nanbu died on 16 November 1981 in Tokorozawa, Saitama.
