Ishikawa Rei, born Ishikawa Ryohei (石川良平) in Honjo, Tokyo, Japan, was a Japanese actor. Following his marriage, he was also known as Saito Ryohei (齋藤良平). His wife was dancer Fujima Tsumie (藤間寿美枝), whose birth name was Saito Chiyoko (斎藤千代子).

Ishikawa's father was a doll maker, and he helped with this craft while completing elementary school in 1914. He later studied the Koto-ko style of shakuhachi and adopted the stage name Ishikawa Hodo (石川鳳堂).

In 1920, Ishikawa began his acting career under Shinpa actor Takeda Masanori and made his stage debut in Tokyo. He joined Koori Keiichiro's theater troupe in 1921, and in 1923, he trained under Murata Shikibu to perform female roles. Due to economic difficulties, he left the stage and joined Makino Production's Omuro Studio in February 1927. After Makino Production dissolved in October 1931, he moved to Shochiku's Shimokamo Studio in November of the same year. In 1939, he joined Toho and worked in films until the end of World War II.

Post-war, Ishikawa became part of Shin Toho, established in 1947, and continued there until its bankruptcy in 1961. He then worked as a freelancer until retiring in 1973 due to illness and hearing loss. His date of death is not known.

(Source: kisskh) Edit Biography