Yoshio Tsuchiya (Yamanashi, May 18, 1927 – February 8, 2017) was a Japanese actor. Joining Toho studios in 1952, he quickly became a versatile and prolific character actor, known for his intense performances. His career is inextricably linked to his collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa, for whom he acted in landmark films such as *Seven Samurai* (1954), in the memorable role of the farmer Rikichi, *Yojimbo* (1961), and *Red Beard* (1965). In parallel, Tsuchiya became an icon of science fiction and *kaijū eiga* films, often under the direction of Ishirō Honda, playing iconic characters such as the alien leader in *The Mysterians* (1957) and the Controller of Planet X in *Invasion of Astro-Monster* (1965). His ability to shift from dramatic roles to eccentric and over-the-top characters earned him the Mainichi Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film *Kawaita mizuumi* (1960). His long and multifaceted career established him as one of the most recognizable faces of post-war Japanese cinema.