Kenji Sahara, born Masayoshi Kato on May 14, 1932, in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan, began his career with a second-place finish in the "Mr. Ordinary Contest" in 1953. He made his cinematic debut as an extra in two small roles in Godzilla (1954),playing a ship passenger and a journalist. Initially, he went by the name Tadashi Ishihara. However, his breakthrough in Toho Studios' sci-fi films came when he portrayed the male lead Shigeru in Rodan (1956),subsequently changing his name to "Kenji Sahara". He went on to become a familiar face in Toho's sci-fi films, playing a wide range of heroes and villains. Sahara appeared in films from all three of the Godzilla series, including the "Showa", "Heisei", and "Millennium" series, making him the actor who has appeared in Godzilla films more than any other.
Sahara is also a regular cast member in Japan's "Ultraman" television shows. Outside of his acting career, he has traveled to the United States with his wife, who is fluent in English, on multiple occasions.
