MovieChat Forums > Jaianto robo (1967) Discussion > Does anyone know how Johnny Sokko died i...

Does anyone know how Johnny Sokko died in 1997?

posted 18 years ago by stefano
12 replies | jump to latest

His character played by Mitsunubu Kaneko died at a young age in real life, but I can't find out any information on the web. Can someone go to findagrave.com and see? My email is [email protected]

[–] radioman970us 17 years ago

I don't. I did a little research and came up empty.

But so often when it's not mentioned it ends up being "suicide".

[–] chiclife 16 years ago

But why would he kill himself? Also, why doen't anybody know his birth date?
I don't believe he's dead because, if he was, surely there would be some newspaper article in the Japanese papers.

[–] jreyes-1 16 years ago

I am sure it was that darn Gargoyle gang! They always had it in for him and with Giant Robo out of the picture their foul deeds could continue un inhibited!

[–] stevepmarco1971 15 years ago

hahaha, don't make me open my watch and then bring on some whoop ass to you from a big man with a sundial on his head!

[–] Gucci1955-1 14 years ago

Stefano,my friend,I've look into "tokusatsu"(special effects) magazines,such as UCHUSEN,and can find nothing on Mitsunobu Kaneko's passing. It could have something to do on his little,if not nil,background.Kaneko's first acting gig was on a Japanese supernatural series called AKUMA KUN (Lil'Devil),in 1966.A year later,he was casted for the GIANT ROBO (Johnny Sokko And His Flying Robot)series.Both shows were produced at Toei Studios mind you.After the series the kid just dropped off and gave up acting period.There's just no reference on him prior to his passing.

[–] Curtis G. 13 years ago

Car accident, according to this site: http://ikanebon.fc2web.com/mitsunobu/top/e.html

[–] susanramsey919 8 years ago

curtis is correct in a way. but he died from his injuries from the car accident. i was doing a search on another matter when i found this. shows when he was born as well. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13989093

[–] Synergi 12 years ago

That site also has a interview he did when he was 24, and if you click the link to the original interview, there are more pictures of him when he was grown. http://ikanebon.fc2web.com/mitsunobu/publish/e.html

[–] erinthelass 11 years ago

Well, I'm a little confused. I never saw the show, so maybe some of you fans have a better answer for me. I'm not sure the actor who played Johnny Sokko is dead at all, because according to the IMDb cast list, the role was played by Bobbie Byers (a GIRL!), who seems to be very much alive today. Was this series made into an English-language version with an English-speaking child actress in the lead?

[–] runforthesun 11 years ago

Bobbie Byers was the girl who dubbed Johnny Sokko's voice for the American version.

[–] erinthelass 11 years ago

Ah! Thank you.

[–] susanramsey919 8 years ago

if you read what i wrote here about his death, i did put in a link called find a grave and it shows when he was born and when he died. i heard years ago it was a girl who dubbed her voice in the show but i didn't know that it was for US viewing of the show when it was shown here. if you want to watch it, its on comet tv saturday morning at 6 am ct. what is strange the schedule shows et and pt but yet when i was going to watch it at 5 am it wasn't there. so thought i screwed up. but couple weeks later i turned it on comet tv channel at 6 and there it was, if you go to the schedule page you will only see 2 weeks at a time. not sure why but i have to go there cause i have charter and it doesn't haven it listed yet on their lineup. but if you use tv guide OTA instead it will list it there but again they only show 2 weeks at a time as well.