Hakuryu (actor)

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Hakuryu (actor)

Role / Field:

South Korean actor, voice actor, and musician known for yakuza roles and collaborations with Takeshi Kitano.

Born:

1952-10-03

Century / Era:

1952s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Teiichi Takayama (高山 貞一, Takayama Teiichi; born 3 October 1952), known by his Korean name Jun Jung-il (Korean: 전정일) or his stage name Hakuryu (白竜, 白龍, Hakuryū) is a South Korean actor, voice actor, and musician from Saga Prefecture, Japan. He has appeared in more than 100 film and television productions since 1984, and is best known internationally for his collaborations with actor-director Takeshi Kitano. He formerly belonged to the entertainment company Cream International. Hakuryu is a second-generation Korean resident of Japan (zainichi), whose real name is Jun Jung-il (Korean: 전정일; Hanja: 田貞一).

Career & Major Achievements

He formed and played in an amateur band in high school and later started the Hakuryu band in 1978 with the aim of becoming a professional musician, making his debut with the single EP "Ariran no Uta / Shinparamu" (アリランの唄 / シンパラム) released in 1979. With a harshness and solemnity that most young people don't possess, and an outlaw-like quality that coexists inside and out, he began his career in 1984 with Yoichi Sai's theatrical film Someone Will Be Killed, and although his main focus has been on yakuza films and V-Cinema, he has appeared in such films as Takeshi Kitano's Violent Cop. Currently, he has many roles in yakuza films as the number two of an organization, such as a young leading subordinate, with the characters being ruthless, cold-hearted schemers. His first anime voice acting performance was in Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, where he played the role of Yukio Tonegawa.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He also wrote, composed and performed the ending theme for the series, "Requiem for the Underdogs" (負け犬達のレクイエム, Makeinu-tachi no Rekuiemu). He often wears sunglasses in the media and also designs sunglasses for the "Hakuryu" brand. He appeared on 13 July 2014 episode of "ARIYOSHI'S Meeting for Reviewing" (Nippon TV) and reflected on the fact that he likes sunglasses too much. His house was also shown to the public, where his extreme love for sunglasses was shown on-air.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1952 (1952-10-03): Birth of Hakuryu (actor) — South Korean actor, voice actor, and musician known for yakuza roles and collaborations with Takeshi Kitano.
2. 1978: 1978 Milestone — He formed and played in an amateur band in high school and later started the Hakuryu band in 1978 with the aim of becoming a professional musician, making his debut with the single EP "Ariran no Uta / Shinparamu" (アリランの唄 / シンパラム) released in 1979.
3. 1984: 1984 Milestone — He has appeared in more than 100 film and television productions since 1984, and is best known internationally for his collaborations with actor-director Takeshi Kitano.
4. 2014: 2014 Milestone — He appeared on 13 July 2014 episode of "ARIYOSHI'S Meeting for Reviewing" (Nippon TV) and reflected on the fact that he likes sunglasses too much.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hakuryu (actor)

True or False: “Hakuryu's professional acting career began immediately after his graduation from high school in 1978.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he started a band in 1978, his professional acting career did not begin until 1984 with the film Someone Will Be Killed.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adi Shamir — Contemporary (Born in 1952) (1952): Pioneering Israeli cryptographer, co-inventor of the RSA algorithm.
• Ahn In-sook — Contemporary (Born in 1952) (1952): South Korean actress known for her early career successes in film and television.
• Ahn Sung-ki — Contemporary (Born in 1952) (1952): Respected South Korean actor known for diverse roles across six decades.
• Akio Morita — Shared historical date (10-03 · Died) (1999): Visionary Japanese entrepreneur and co-founder of Sony.
• Albert Günther — Shared historical date (10-03 · Born) (1830): Pioneering zoologist and ichthyologist, renowned for massive contributions to taxonomy.
• Albert Bassermann — Historical peer (Died in 1952) (1952): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Alexandra Kollontai — Historical peer (Died in 1952) (1952): Pioneering Marxist feminist, diplomat, and Bolshevik leader in early Soviet history.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• Adriene Mishler — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): American yoga instructor, actress, and YouTube entrepreneur.
• Adolf Dassler — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• 1952 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1952
• October 3 (10-03) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 3

Frequently Asked Questions about Hakuryu (actor)