Toru Ibuki, a Toho Actor Who Appeared in Numerous Godzilla Movies, Passes Away at 86

Toru Ibuki in March 2019. Photo by Brett Homenick.

 

Toru Ibuki, a celebrated supporting actor who performed in many Toho movies of the 1960s and '70s, passed away on October 31, his daughter confirms. He was 86. A private funeral was held on November 4 for his family.

Toru Ibuki in January 2024. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Born on January 28, 1940, Mr. Ibuki’s acting career brought him to the attention of worldwide audiences via his roles in the Godzilla series. Most notably, Mr. Ibuki played the tall assassin in Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964), the Xian World Education Corporation employee in Monster Zero (1965), Yata in Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966), Ito in episode 5 of Ultra Q (1966), a Doctor Who henchman in King Kong Escapes (1967), Monsterland control center staff member Tetsuo Ise in Destroy All Monsters (1968), and Third Planet of the Black Hole alien Tsuda in Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975).

With Toru Ibuki in September 2016.

Under his given name, Chisato Daimaru, Mr. Ibuki would become representative director and president of FDR Friendear Inc., a company founded in April 1990 that promotes hydrogen water-related products. In fact, the company is recognized for being the first to sell such products in 1999.

With Toru Ibuki in February 2014.

I first met Mr. Ibuki in February 2014, during which time I was able to spend a couple of hours in his office, asking him questions about his life and career. Over the next two years, I would get to visit Mr. Ibuki on a fairly consistent basis.

With Toru Ibuki in January 2024.

After a while, those visits would become much more sporadic. I was fortunate to interview Mr. Ibuki on my birthday in 2019 and wouldn't see him again until January 2024 when he was hosting a beginning-of-the-year party for his company.

I was preparing to return to the U.S. at the time and had a sinking feeling I would never see him again after the party. I never would.

With Toru Ibuki at Korakuen Hall in July 2015.

In July 2015, Mr. Ibuki invited me to join him at Korakuen Hall to watch a boxing event. As I recall, Mr. Ibuki's company was sponsoring one of the boxers, Tatsuya Takahashi. When Mr. Takahashi won his main-event bout, I had the distinct privilege of entering the ring to pose for pictures with him and having my name announced to the audience. All that was arranged by Mr. Ibuki.

With Tatsuya Takahashi in Korakuen Hall.

In 2014, Cody Carpenter (the son of John Carpenter and Adrienne Barbeau) had recently left the company for which I was then working in Japan and was interested in trying his hand at becoming a professional interpreter. At the time, Mr. Ibuki was looking to pursue a possible business deal in Canada, as I recall, and needed a translator to accompany him on a business trip there.

With Toru Ibuki in May 2014.

I was acquainted with Cody at the time (he trained me for the job for which I'd recently been hired) and recommended him for the job. Cody ended up joining Mr. Ibuki and his staff to Canada for the trip. As a result, one of the composers for Halloween (2018) actually worked for Yata from Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster. 

Toru Ibuki in September 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I've barely even touched on Mr. Ibuki's life story. For more details about his life, including the postwar hardships he endured, please follow this link for my interview about his incredible journey.

Toru Ibuki led an amazing life and was even more amazing as a human being. As he ascends to Heaven to begin his cosmic journey, I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to his family for their loss. He was truly one of a kind. 

Rest in peace, Mr. Ibuki.