Rentaro Mikuni (born Masao Sato, 1923–2013) was one of the most prolific and acclaimed actors of Japanese cinema. His career was launched in 1951 with Keisuke Kinoshita's film *Zen-ma*, from which he adopted his stage name. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he collaborated with the leading directors of his time, including Masaki Kobayashi (*Harakiri*), Kon Ichikawa (*The Burmese Harp*), Tomu Uchida (*A Fugitive from the Past*), and Shohei Imamura (*Vengeance Is Mine*, *The Eel*). Known for his extraordinary versatility and intensity, he played memorable roles that ranged from tragic figures to antagonists. He also directed the biographical film *Shinran: Shiroi michi* (1987), which earned him the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Mikuni received numerous awards for his acting, including multiple Japan Academy Prizes, Blue Ribbon Awards, and Mainichi Film Awards, establishing himself as a central and indelible figure of post-war Japanese cinema.