Ten fun facts about Toshirô Mifune

Fact 1
Toshiro Mifune was born in Tsingtao, China and was brought up in the city of Dalian before his family shifted to Manchuria.

Fact 2
He lived in China for 19 years as a Japanese citizen and was recruited in the Imperial Japanese Army's Aviation department. He served in the 'Aerial Photography' unit at the time of the Second World War.

Fact 3
Mifune was discovered at a 'new faces' contest organized by the Toho Studios.

Fact 4
Mifune's first feature film was the movie Shin Baka Jidai directed by Kajiro Yamamoto.

Fact 5
He had a long and successful partnership with director Akira Kurosawa and starred in 16 films directed by Kurosawa. Mifune has been credited for starting the 'roving warrior' archetype that can be seen in most of the Mifune-Kurosawa films.

Fact 6
He is most known for his self-deprecating sense of humor and the sincere efforts he put into his performances. His famous films include Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Rashomon and Animas Trujano.

Fact 7
Mifune opened an acting school by the name, Mifune Geijutsu Gakuin but it failed within three years due to mismanagement of finances and funds.

Fact 8
Mifune was given the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon and the Order of Sacred Treasure by the Japanese Government in the years 1986 and 1993 respectively.

Fact 9
He was a member of the jury at the 8th and 10th Moscow International Film Festival.

Fact 10
Mufine lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died due to multiple organ failure at the age of 77, in Tokyo, Japan.

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