Ichirō Sugai (1907-1973) was a prolific Japanese actor whose career spanned over four decades, from the 1930s to the early 1970s. Recognized as one of the most versatile and reliable character actors in post-war Japanese cinema, he is best known for his collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa. His most memorable roles include those in *Stray Dog* (1949), *Seven Samurai* (1954), and particularly *Ikiru* (1952), where he portrays the writer who guides the protagonist through the nightlife. For the latter performance, Sugai won the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actor, the most significant accolade of his career. His extensive filmography also includes significant roles in works by other masters such as Kenji Mizoguchi, cementing his reputation through dozens of supporting roles that helped define the golden age of Japanese cinema.