Biography
Keiji Takamine, real name Masahiko Takahashi, is a former Japanese actor, most well-known for his role as Seiji Hokuto, the protagonist of Ultraman Ace (1972). He has reprised the role in subsequent Ultraman Series and films. He is also a member of the Ultraman Foundation.
Takamine's first known acting role is as the lead role of the 1960 television series Tatsumaki Kotengu, which he played at the age of 14. After the series concluded, he signed a contract with Takarazuka Films and appeared in several television dramas aimed primarily at the Kansai region.
In 1972, while guest-starring in the popular television drama Keiji kun (1971) alongside actor Kenichi Sakuragi, TBS producer Yôji Hashimoto showed interest in him for the role of the next Ultraman. Following an invitation from Kenichi Sakuragi and Masaomi Kondô, Takamine auditioned and successfully secured the role of Seiji Hokuto in Ultraman Ace (1972), and moved to Tokyo. After Ultraman Ace (1972) concluded, Takamine remained active in historical dramas, as well as in two-hour television specials.
Takamine left his agency and retired from the entertainment industry in 1998, but returned to the public eye with the release of Ultraman Ace (1972) on DVD in 2004, appearing in Ultraman-related events and interviews with Tsuburaya Productions. In 2006, he reprised his role as Hokuto in Ultraman Mebius (2006) and its film alongside other Showa Ultraman leading actors Susumu Kurobe, Kōji Moritsugu, and Jirô Dan, who are collectively nicknamed the "Dandy 4". Additionally, he co-starred alongside Mitsuko Hoshi, marking their first appearance together in 34 years.
In 2020, when Takamine was offered to voice Ace in episode 19 of Ultraman Z (2020), he had recently undergone surgery on his tongue after being diagnosed with tongue cancer in May. He asked his wife to verify if he could still deliver his lines correctly and decided to play the role despite his condition.
Since April 2021, he has been part of the group Ace Channel alongside his Ultraman Ace (1972) co-stars Shunichi Okita, Mitsuhiro Sano, Keiko Nishi, and Akinori Umezu. The group conducts lectures, interactive sessions, and meet-and-greet events in various cities across Japan.
