Otabe Michimaro

Name: Otabe Michimaro
Native name: 小田部通麿
Also Known as: Otabe Doma, Otabe Douma, おたべみちまろ, ときみちまろ, 小田部通磨, 小田部道磨
Nationality: Japanese
Gender: Male
Born: November 24, 1926
Died: August 29, 2004

Otabe Michimaro, born Toki Michimaro ((釈通麿) in Yanaga, Sanmon, Fukuoka, Japan was a Japanese actor and chief priest. He was also known as Otabe Doma (小田部道磨).

The son of a temple family in Yanagawa Town, he was drafted into the Pacific War at the age of 18. After returning, he attended the Department of Public Administration at Takushoku University Vocational School (拓殖大学専門部司政科), graduating in 1948. Motivated by concern for war orphans who had been sent to juvenile detention centers for theft, he worked as an instructor at Naniwa Juvenile Training School (浪速少年院) in Osaka and Fukuoka Juvenile Training School (福岡少年院) in Fukuoka.

In 1955, feeling limited in his work, he visited Toei Kyoto Studio (東映京都撮影所), where his appearance led to an offer to become an actor. He subsequently joined the studio.

Otabe later married into Seishin Temple (誠心寺) in Kita, Kyoto, becoming its chief priest while continuing his acting career. His Buddhist name was Tsuzen (通山).

He died of aplastic anemia on August 29, 2004, at a hospital in Sakyo, Kyoto, at the age of 77.

(Source: MyDramaList) Edit Biography

Year	Title	#	Role	Rating
1982	Tachibana: Noboru Seishun Tebikae Japanese Drama, 1982, 23 eps (Ep. 5) (Guest Role)	23	(Ep. 5) Guest Role	0.0
1981	Police Department Murder Division Japanese Drama, 1981, 26 eps (Ep. 18) (Guest Role)	26	(Ep. 18) Guest Role	0.0
1980	Akuto Kari Japanese Drama, 1980, 24 eps (Ep. 6, 12) (Guest Role)	24	(Ep. 6, 12) Guest Role	0.0
1976	Fufu Tabi Nikki: Saraba Ronin Japanese Drama, 1976, 25 eps (Ep. 2) (Guest Role)	25	(Ep. 2) Guest Role	0.0
1975	Mito Komon Season 6 Japanese Drama, 1975, 32 eps (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)	32	(Ep. 8) Guest Role	6.0
1974	Ooka Echizen Season 4 Japanese Drama, 1974, 25 eps (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)	25	(Ep. 8) Guest Role	0.0
1974	Mito Komon Season 5 Japanese Drama, 1974, 26 eps (Ep. 13) (Guest Role)	26	(Ep. 13) Guest Role	10.0
1973	Mito Komon Season 4 Japanese Drama, 1973, 35 eps (Ep. 27-28) (Guest Role)	35	(Ep. 27-28) Guest Role	6.0
1972	Futari no Suronin Japanese Drama, 1972, 19 eps Kuroiwa Gunjuro (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)	19	Kuroiwa Gunjuro (Ep. 3) Guest Role	0.0
1970	Mito Komon Season 2 Japanese Drama, 1970, 33 eps Tengu no Tatsu (Guest Role)	33	Tengu no Tatsu Guest Role	6.0
1970	Ooka Echizen Japanese Drama, 1970, 28 eps Sagamiya Ushimatsu (Ep. 11) \| Yoshizo (Ep. 24) (Guest Role)	28	Sagamiya Ushimatsu (Ep. 11) \| Yoshizo (Ep. 24) Guest Role	2.0
1969	Mito Komon Japanese Drama, 1969, 32 eps Fuyuki Shuzen (Guest Role)	32	Fuyuki Shuzen Guest Role	7.0
1969	Moto Ronin: Hanayama Daikichi Japanese Drama, 1969, 104 eps (Support Role)	104	Support Role	8.0
1968	Kaette Kita Yojinbo Japanese Drama, 1968, 36 eps Senzo (Support Role)	36	Senzo Support Role	0.0
1968	Matteita Yojinbo Japanese Drama, 1968, 26 eps Sakujiro (Ep. 11-16) (Guest Role)	26	Sakujiro (Ep. 11-16) Guest Role	0.0
1958	Kaze Kozo Japanese Drama, 1958, 52 eps Kito Ichikaku (Support Role)	52	Kito Ichikaku Support Role	0.0

Year	Title	Role	Rating
1987	Sagano no Yado Japanese Movie, 1987, Tsuchiya Michiaki (Support Role)	Tsuchiya Michiaki Support Role	0.0
1981	Seishun no Mon Japanese Movie, 1981, [Digger] (Bit part)	[Digger] Bit part	4.0
1977	Japanese Humanity and Justice Japanese Movie, 1977, Tsuji Seiya (Support Role)	Tsuji Seiya Support Role	8.0
1973	Japan’s Top Gangster Japanese Movie, 1973, Onaga Isso (Support Role)	Onaga Isso Support Role	0.0
1971	Kapone no Shatei Yamato Tamashi Japanese Movie, 1971, Masaru Izu (Support Role)	Masaru Izu Support Role	0.0
1970	The Priest Killer Comes Back Japanese Movie, 1970, Koinuma Rihachiro (Support Role)	Koinuma Rihachiro Support Role	0.0
1969	Memoir of Japanese Assassinations Japanese Movie, 1969, {Kioizaka Incident} [Police officer] (Guest Role)	{Kioizaka Incident} [Police officer] Guest Role	0.0
1969	Sengo Saidai no Toba Japanese Movie, 1969, (Support Role)	Support Role	0.0
1968	Enlisted Yakuza Japanese Movie, 1968, Sergeant Major Oishi (Support Role)	Sergeant Major Oishi Support Role	0.0
1967	Three Gamblers Japanese Movie, 1967, (Unknown)	Unknown	8.0
1967	Otoko Namida no Namimonjo Japanese Movie, 1967, (Support Role)	Support Role	0.0
1966	Boken Dai Katsugeki: Kogane no Tozoku Japanese Movie, 1966, (Support Role)	Support Role	0.0
1966	Kutsukake Tokijiro: Yukyo Ippiki Japanese Movie, 1966, (Support Role)	Support Role	0.0
1965	The Flower and the Dragon Japanese Movie, 1965, (Support Role)	Support Role	2.0
1965	Breaking Down the Magistrate Japanese Movie, 1965, (Support Role)	Support Role	0.0
1965	Blood of Revenge Japanese Movie, 1965, Noguchi Tomoji (Support Role)	Noguchi Tomoji Support Role	0.0
1965	Miyamoto Musashi: Duel at Ganryu Island Japanese Movie, 1965, Yasugawa Yasuhei (Bit part)	Yasugawa Yasuhei Bit part	7.2
1964	Gamblers and Racketeers Japanese Movie, 1964, Deko Sei (Support Role)	Deko Sei Support Role	0.0
1964	Kaze no Bushi Japanese Movie, 1964, (Unknown)	Unknown	5.0
1963	Bushido Japanese Movie, 1963, [Police] (Bit part)	[Police] Bit part	6.8
1962	Miyamoto Musashi: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights Japanese Movie, 1962, Yasugawa Yasubei [Ronin] (Support Role)	Yasugawa Yasubei [Ronin] Support Role	6.9
1961	The Harbor Festival Japanese Movie, 1961, Kitsune no Jirobei (Support Role)	Kitsune no Jirobei Support Role	0.0
1958	Wakagimi Senryo Kasa Japanese Movie, 1958, Yamaji Tetsutaro (Bit part)	Yamaji Tetsutaro Bit part	0.0

Year	Title	#	Role	Rating
1981	Shikeishikko Gobun Saki Japanese Special, 1981, 1 eps (Support Role)	1	Support Role	0.0

Top 12 upcoming dramas on every fan's watchlist

Editorials - Sep 19, 2026

From highly anticipated adaptations to gripping thrillers, the upcoming drama lineup has something for every fan. With teasers already dropping, these 12 dramas are generating plenty of buzz even before their premieres. Here are the titles to keep on your