Renzaburô Shibata(1917-1978)

Graduated in Literature for the Keio University. Debuted as a writer in 1938 with "Elegy", but the II World War cut his career until 1949, when he resumed his activity. In 1951 he was finalist in the Akutagawa Prize (which he won next year) for his novel "Death Mask". From 1956 his novels were made into movies, the first of them being "8th Cell". That same year his most popular character, Kyoshiro Nemuri (also known as "Sleepy Eyes of Death"), is converted in a three-part film series ending in 1958, starring Koji Tsuruta as Nemuri. The character returned in his most famous reincarnation, Raizo Ichikawa, who played it in a film series from 1963 up to his death in 1969, being replaced by Hiroki Matsukata. From the 70s many of Shibata's novels have been converted into TV series.