**Susumu Fujita (1912-1991)** was a Japanese actor, famous for his prolific film career and his association with director Akira Kurosawa.

He made his debut in the lead role in Kurosawa's debut film, *Sanshiro Sugata* (1943), playing the young and idealistic judoka. This role established him as the face of the “stoic warrior” or hero with a strong sense of morality, a characteristic that defined many of his subsequent characters.

Among his other notable collaborations with Kurosawa are *I Have No Regrets for My Youth* (1946), *Drunken Angel* (1948), and *The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail* (1945), in which he played the warrior monk Benkei. Although known for his dramatic and often authoritative roles, he also demonstrated versatility in comedies and social dramas, establishing himself as an iconic figure in post-war Japanese cinema.