Daisuke Katō (born Tokunosuke Katō, February 18, 1911 – July 31, 1975) was a prolific Japanese actor, best known for his frequent collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa. Appearing in over 150 films, his most celebrated role is that of Shichirōji, the loyal samurai and old comrade of Kambei, in *Seven Samurai* (1954). His filmography with Kurosawa also includes masterpieces such as *Rashomon*, *Ikiru*, *The Hidden Fortress*, and *Yojimbo*. In addition to his partnership with Kurosawa, he worked with other masters of Japanese cinema, including Yasujirō Ozu in *Floating Weeds* and Mikio Naruse. He received major awards for his talent: in 1956, he won both the Blue Ribbon Award and the Mainichi Film Concours for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in *Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji* and *Koko ni izumi ari*. His versatility and constant presence made him one of the most recognizable and appreciated faces of post-war Japanese cinema.