Hitoshi Ueki ?? ? Ueki Hitoshi December 25 1926 March 27 2007 was a Japanese actor comedian singer and guitarist He won six awards for acting His film credits stretch from 1960 to 1995 Ueki came to fame through the comic jazzband The Crazy Cats led by Hajime Hana His major appearances were in the Musekinin Otoko film series the comedy variety show Shabondama Holiday the primetime television series The Hangman and the ten 2hour television shows in the Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari franchise He appeared in the Akira Kurosawa epic jidaigeki film Ran and received a nomination for the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role