Renowned actor Hisaya Morishige, the first recipient of the Order of Culture in the field of popular art, died Tuesday at a Tokyo hospital, his management office said. He was 96.
A native of Osaka, Morishige started his film career after World War II and rose to stardom playing a spoiled son from a rich family in the 1955 drama "Meoto Zenzai." He appeared in both the "Shacho" and "Ekimae" series of comedy movies.
Morishige appeared in musicals and set a record performing in "Yane No Ue No Baiorin-hiki" ("Fiddler on the Roof") 900 times. He also played roles in TV dramas and radio programs. Morishige was a successful singer and songwriter as well. One of his hits was "Shiretoko Ryojo."
After becoming the head of the Japan Actors Union, he worked to improve actors' status and was given the Order of Culture by the government in 1991.
