Yūzō Kayama, the stage name of Iwao Ikehata, is a Japanese actor, singer, and guitarist, and a leading figure in post-war Japanese entertainment. He achieved enormous popularity in the 1960s with the *Wakadaishō* ("Young General") film series, in which he portrayed an athletic and charismatic university student. Concurrently, he built a successful music career, becoming a pioneer of instrumental rock in Japan, influenced by genres such as surf rock. His song "Kimi to Itsumademo" (1965) is one of the best-selling singles in Japanese music history. His film career also includes prestigious collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa in films such as *Sanjuro* (1962) and *Red Beard* (1965), which demonstrated his versatility as an actor. For his significant and lasting contribution to the arts and culture, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.