Ryoukan, the real-life Buddhist monk and renowned poet, lived in 18th century Japan, during the Edo Period. Though born to a wealthy family in Izumozaki, Ryoukan chooses to abandon the easy life he would have inherited in order to understand the true meaning of life through the teachings of Buddhism. From his early adulthood, he undergoes a series of harsh training that demands a solitary and meager lifestyle. 

Throughout it all, he remains an extremely modest and humble person, a true humanitarian who accepts every individual for who they are while rejecting all worldly fame and wealth. 

An animated motion picture about a real-life Buddhist monk and renowned poet, Ryoukan who lived in 18th century Japan, during the Edo Period. Though born to a wealthy family in Izumozaki, Ryoukan chooses to abandon the easy life he would have inherited in order to understand the true meaning of life through the teachings of Buddhism. From his early adulthood, he undergoes a series of harsh training that demands a solitary and meager lifestyle. Throughout it all, he remains an extremely modest and humble person, a true humanitarian who accepts every individual for who they are while rejecting all worldly fame and wealth. Ryoukan found true peace in life through nature and spending time with children. His pure mind and affable personality have captivated many, and his legacy and the wisdom of his teachings live on today.
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(Source: ATTKC)

Sugawara Bunta made his acting debut in 1956. Sugawara has lent his voice to numerous anime roles, such as Spirited Away's Kamaji, Tales from Earthsea's Ged, and most recently, Wolf Children's Nirasaki. Sugawara also voiced the narrator in Square Enix's Dissidia: Final Fantasy video game.

Sugawara is most well known for his roles in the live-action Jingi Naki Tatakai (Battles without Honor and Humanity) and Truck Yarō film series.

During a speech in 2012 at the 10th anniversary of the "Furusato Kaigi Shien Center" non-profit organization he announced his retirement from acting. Sugawara had said in February that because of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, he would halt any acting activities.

Non-anime roles:
Aku in "Samurai Jack" (animated series) (Japanese)
Narrator in "Dissidia: Final Fantasy" (Japanese)

Ryoukan-san