**Keiji Sata** (real name Keiji Sada, 1926-1964) was a prolific Japanese actor, a prominent figure at Shochiku Studios. His career, tragically cut short by his premature death at 37, is deeply intertwined with the masterpieces of two masters of Japanese cinema.

He is universally recognized for his collaborations with **Yasujirō Ozu**, who cast him in key roles in iconic films such as *Tokyo Story* (Tokyo Monogatari, 1953), *Early Summer* (Bakushū, 1951), and *Equinox Flower* (Higanbana, 1958). In these works, Sata excelled at embodying modern young men, often sons or fiancés, with a measured, sensitive, and introspective presence, reflecting the social transformations of the postwar period.

He also demonstrated remarkable versatility acting under the direction of **Masaki Kobayashi**, particularly in the monumental trilogy *The Human Condition* (Ningen no jōken, 1959-1961), where he tackled characters of greater dramatic complexity, revealing profound interpretive intensity. His legacy lies in his ability to define Japanese youth of an era through memorable performances.