Yūnosuke Itō (1919-1981) was a prolific Japanese character actor whose career spanned over four decades with hundreds of film and television appearances. He is internationally known primarily for his collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa, in films such as *Sanjuro* (1962), where he played the pragmatic chamberlain Mutsuta, *High and Low* (*Tengoku to Jigoku*, 1963), and *Red Beard* (*Akahige*, 1965). His filmography also includes significant roles in works by other masters of Japanese cinema, such as Masaki Kobayashi's *The Human Condition* (1959) and Kenji Misumi's *The Tale of Zatoichi* (1962). Praised for his versatility and distinctive screen presence, in 1954 he won the Mainichi Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in *Mr. Pu* and *The Woman Who Touched the Legs*, solidifying his status as one of the most reliable and recognizable faces of post-war Japanese cinema.