In 1974, he joined Shintaro Katsu's production company and made his debut with the television series Zatoichi as a guest.

[2][1] For a quarter of a century, he starred in the series The Unfettered Shogun as Tokugawa Yoshimune, the title character.

He also played Asano Takumi no Kami, an important (although brief) role, in an earlier chushingura, making a career of that story.

He appeared in Tokugawa Fūun-roku, the annual jidaigeki spectacular which was shown on TV Tokyo on January 2, 2008.

The song gained national attention because his appearance in the likeness of a person in Edo period with glittery kimono and a hip-swiveling dance became the topic of some television programs, including parodying him on an idol group SMAP's variety show, SMAP×SMAP.