Tono Eijiro was a Japanese actor and essayist born in North Kanra, Tomioka, Nanokaichi, Gunma, Japan. His stage name before the war was Honjo Katsuji (本庄克二). He was affiliated with Actor's Studio (俳優座).

He was born into a sake brewing family. Tono's father moved to the Kanto region from a mountain village in the Omi region to work as a sake brewer. The family’s ancestral home was in the village of Toriihira, Higashisakuradani, Gamo, Shiga, Japan.

Tono graduated from Tomioka Junior High School (旧制富岡中学) and later enrolled in the Faculty of Commerce at Meiji University (明治大学商学部). While at university, he joined the Social Science Research Society (社会科学研究会), where he encountered left-wing ideologies.

In 1931, Tono joined the first class of the Proletarian Theater Research Institute (劇団築地小劇場のプロレタリア演劇研究所) and made his stage debut in Koyama Tunnel (恐山トンネル), performed by the Tokyo Leftist Theater (東京左翼劇場). After graduating from the Institute later that year, he joined the Shinchikichi Theatre Company (新築地劇団) in September, taking the stage name Honjo Katsuji. He became one of the company's central actors, serving in various administrative roles, including secretary general and department head. In 1938, he also made his film debut in Kuroda Seichuroku (黒田誠忠録).

On August 19, 1940, Tono was arrested for violating the Peace Preservation Law (治安維持法) alongside Hatta Motohiko (八田元夫) and Ikeda Shoji (池田正二) during the suppression of new theater (新劇弾圧). The theater company was disbanded shortly thereafter. In 1941, he was temporarily released, appearing in Ryutabi no Hitobito (流旅の人々) before being formally released without charges. He was required to perform under his real name and worked with Shochiku Uzumasa Studio (松竹太秦撮影所) before transferring to Ofuna Studio (大船撮影所).

In 1944, Tono co-founded Actor's Studio (俳優座) with Ozawa Eitaro (小沢栄太郎), Senda Koreya (千田是也), Aoyama Sugisaku (青山杉作), and Higashiyama Chieko (東山千栄子). He also joined the Japan Mobile Theater Federation (日本移動演劇連盟) and organized the Fuyotai (芙蓉隊) for provincial tours. He played an active role in the establishment of Actor's Studio Theater (俳優座劇場) and later served on its board.

Tono’s health declined in 1980, when he was hospitalized for prostate enlargement and suffered a fracture during the filming of Mito Komon (水戸黄門) season 11 after a set collapse. After the broadcast of the 11th season, he lost his wife, Tono Eino (東野英乃). In 1982, he remarried Tono Reiko (東野禮子). His eldest son, actor Tono Eishin (東野英心), and his grandson, actor Tono Katsu (東野克), followed in his footsteps in acting.

In 1990, Tono became president of the Japan New Theater Actors Association (日本新劇俳優協会). He continued acting sporadically until his health worsened, and he stopped going out. Tono passed away from heart failure at his home on September 8, 1994, at the age of 86.

(Source: kisskh) Edit Biography