
Bunmei Harada
**Bunmei Harada (1900–1990)** was a Japanese character actor, known for his prolific film career and in particular for his assiduous collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa.
His presence is inextricably linked to numerous Kurosawa masterpieces, including *Rashomon* (1950), *Seven Samurai* (1954), *Throne of Blood* (1957), *Yojimbo* (1961), *Kill the Two Hostages* (1963), and *Barbarossa* (1965).
Harada excelled in playing ambiguous or negative characters: often corrupt officials, dishonest merchants or morally compromised figures. His style was characterized by a sober intensity and an incisive stage presence, which made him memorable even in supporting roles, leaving a distinctive mark on post-war Japanese cinema.