Toshiyuki Nishida dead at 76: Actor was best known for his role as Pigsy in the TV series Monkey

Toshiyuki Nishida was brought up by his aunt and uncle after his mum remarried and his dad died when Toshiyuki was young. According to Tokyo Weekender, “In the 1970s, the Koriyama city-native regularly appeared on TV and quickly became a fan favourite due to his vague expression and friendly demeanour. By the end of the decade, he was also known by overseas audiences thanks to the popular series Monkey, an adaptation of the 16th century book Journey to the West (Saiyuki).  He played Pigsy (Cho Hakkai), with Peter Woodthorpe voicing the character in English.”

As well as appearing in the drama series Ikenaka Genta 80 Kiro, Toshiyuki Nishida also played Densuke Hamasaki in the movie series Tsuribaka Nisshi. Toshiyuki also appeared in movies such as The Ramen Girl with Brittany Murphy, Dreams of Russia, Gakko and Gakko II. 

Toshiyuki Nishida also received several awards during his lifetime, he won the Golden Arrow Award for his roles in movies such as The Silk Road and Gakko (A Class to Remember) and won Best Actor at the Mainichi Film Awards for his roles in Get Up! and Tsuribaka Nisshi 14. Toshiyuki was also the recipient of the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. 

Toshiyuki also played the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof in 1994. Toshiyuki Nishida also appeared alongside actor Tommy Lee Jones in the Peter Webber directed movie Emperor in 2012. The movie was about the Japanese surrendering at the end of the war and General Fellers being tasked with deciding if Emperor Hirohito should be hung as a war criminal.