LaSalle Ishii

Akio Ishii (Japanese: 石井朗夫, Hepburn: Ishii Akio; born October 19, 1955), known professionally as LaSalle Ishii (ラサール石井, Rasāru Ishii), is a Japanese TV personality, actor, director, writer, columnist, and politician. He named himself after his high school Japanese La Salle Academy. His best-known anime role is Kankichi Ryotsu the lead character in Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo which ran from 1999 to 2004 for 373 episodes.

LaSalle Ishii
ラサール石井
LaSalle Ishii in 2025
Member of the House of Councillors
Incumbent
Assumed office July 29, 2025
Constituency	National PR
Personal details
Born	Akio Ishii (1955-10-19) October 19, 1955 (age 69) Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Education	Japanese La Salle Academy
Alma mater	Waseda University
Occupation	Comedian, Actor, Talk show host, Politician

In 2025, he ran in the House of Councillors election in the proportional representation district as a member of the Social Democratic Party, winning a seat.^[1]

Filmography

TV programs

• Ore-tachi Hyokin Zoku (1981–1989, Fuji Television)
• Quiz!! Hirameki Password (1986–1990, Mainichi Broadcasting System, TBS)
• JanJan Saturday (1987–1990, Shizuoka Daiichi Television)
• Takeshi Itsumi no Heisei Kyoiku Iinkai (1991–1997, Fuji Television)
• Mokugeki! Dokyun (1994–2002, TV Asahi)
• Burari Tochu Gesha no Tabi (1994, Nippon Television)
• Watch! (2004–2005, TBS)
• Evening 5 (2005–2006, TBS)

TV drama

• Yoni mo Kimyo na Monogatari (1991, Fuji Television)
• Teru Teru Kazoku (2003, NHK)
• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo (2009, TBS), Ginji Ryotsu

Anime television series

• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, Kankichi Ryotsu
• Gintama (Mayuzon (Special guest appearance))
• G-Saviour (Gano)

Video games

• Rasāru Ishii no Childs Quest (Nintendo Family Computer, Namco) June 23, 1989^[2]
• LaSalle Ishii no Quiz! Kyōiku Iinkai (Mega Drive, unknown publisher) 1994; exclusive to Sega Channel in Japan

Films

• Baby Elephant Story: The Angel Who Descended to Earth (1986), Genji Oshima
• Romance (1992)
• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), oil research employee
• Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996), Nazaki transmission staff member
• About Her Brother (2010)
• Wiseguy (2020)^[3]
• The Devil Wears Jūnihitoe (2020)
• We Couldn't Become Adults (2021)^[4]

Theater

• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo (1999) Kankichi Ryotsu
• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo Again (2001) Kankichi Ryotsu
• Seven Souls in the Skull Castle (2004) Mamiana Jirouemon
• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo: Detective Kaipan Strikes Back (2003) Kankichi Ryotsu
• Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo 30th Anniversary! (2006) Kankichi Ryotsu