**Kōji Mitsui (1910-1979)** was a Japanese actor, renowned for his long and distinctive film career. Particularly prolific, he is primarily remembered for his collaborations with Akira Kurosawa, who cast him in numerous roles.

His distinctive features and naturalistic acting style allowed him to infuse depth and humanity even into the most secondary roles. Mitsui excelled at portraying marginal characters, desperate or unfortunate figures: criminals, peasants, soldiers, or ambiguous individuals, imbuing them with a blend of pathos, resignation, and subtle irony.

He is remembered for memorable roles such as the bandit Rikichi in *Shichinin no Samurai* (Seven Samurai, 1954), the undertaker in *Yōjinbō* (Yojimbo, 1961), and the desperate criminal in *Tengoku to Jigoku* (High and Low, 1963). His ability to portray ordinary people made him an iconic face of Japanese cinema of that era.