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Born April 29, 1934 to Japanese parents in Korea, he first came to Japan in 1948. He was one of the 6th annual "Toho New Faces" in 1953, and during that same year he was selected to star in Godzilla. Reflecting on the experience of making Godzilla, Takarada recalled, “For me, it was actually just the third film of my career, but it was my first blockbuster. I was told that I would be the main character for the first time, so I was very happy. When I got the screenplay, it had a thick red cover with Godzilla in big black letters. I thought to myself, ‘What the heck is this?’” Since the human drama and the special effects scenes were shot separately, it was quite a while after crank-in before Takarada first saw the title character. “The whole time, I couldn’t really feel it was realistic, but when it was finished and I saw it at the cast and staff screening, I cried at the ending. Did the humans really have the right to attack Godzilla? It is the humans who are actually evil, so I actually felt pity for Godzilla.” His handsome looks and likability made him a popular leading man, appearing in a variety of films from science fiction to spy films and light comedy. Having appeared in 190 movies overall, his special effects credits also included Half Human (55), Birth of Japan (59), The Last War (61), King Kong Escapes (67), Latitude Zero (69-speaking English for himself), and Hurricane of the Pacific (69). An accomplished stage actor as well, he also became a musical star in the early 1980’s. His recent career has consisted mostly of appearances on tv commercials and Japanese variety shows. However, in 2004, Mr. Takarada returned to the Godzilla series for Godzilla's 50th Anniversary film, Godzilla: Final Wars. In this film he played the role of UN General Naotaro Daigo.
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