Background
Matsunosuke Onoe was born on September 12, 1875 in Okayama prefecture. His birth name is Tsuruzo Nakamura.
Matsunosuke Onoe was born on September 12, 1875 in Okayama prefecture. His birth name is Tsuruzo Nakamura.
Matsunosuke Onoe was at first a kabuki actor and changed to the motion pictures. He was the greatest pioneer of kengeki movies, or sword-rattling films which are still very popular. Appeared in more than 1,000 motion pictures produced by the Nikkatsu, always playing the parts of strong swordsmen. He was known even among children as Medama-no-Matchan, or Goggle-Eyed Matchan (nickname of Matsunosuke).