Tokusatsu legend has passed away today at 59 due to cancer 😔
Veteran Japan Action Enterprise performer Riichi Seike has passed away at 59. JAE confirmed his passing, closing a decades-long career built almost entirely on physical performance: suit acting, action acting, stunt coordination, swordplay, motion work, and action direction.
He also carried that skill into anime and CG animation. In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005), Seike was credited as a Battle Motion Actor, physically performing complex martial arts and sword-combat movement so animators could translate real-world stunt physics into the film’s high-flying CG battles involving characters such as Cloud Strife and Sephiroth.
Selected known works include:
Space Sheriff Sharivan — Super Hero Taisen Z
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children — Battle Motion Actor
Samurai Champloo — Battle Motion Actor
Kamen Rider BLACK — Shadow Moon
Kamen Rider BLACK RX — Kamen Rider 2
GoGo Sentai Boukenger — Zubaan / Gai
Juken Sentai Gekiranger — Geki Violet / Geki Fire / Suugu
Engine Sentai Go-Onger — Yogostein / Go-On Black
Samurai Sentai Shinkenger — Juzo Fuwa / Akumaro Sujigarano
Tensou Sentai Goseiger — Brajira / Buredoran
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger — Warz Gill
Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters — Beet Buster
Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger — Dogold
Ressha Sentai ToQger — Baron Nero
Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger — Mobile Commander Barashitara
Avataro Sentai Donbrothers — Sonoza monster form
Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger — Deznarak VIII / Dagded Dujardin
Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger — Madrex / Waruido Spindo
Suit acting is a craft where the face disappears, but the performance still has to speak. Seike made movement feel emotional, dangerous, funny, tragic, and unforgettable.
Rest in peace, Riichi Seike 🕊️