He graduated from
Aoyama Gakuin University. Watari belonged to the karate club at university. He made his screen debut in 1964, in
Isamu Kosugi's
Abare Kishidō, and received one of the
Elan d'or Awards. At Nikkatsu, Watari starred in such films as
Seijun Suzuki's
Tokyo Drifter and
Toshio Masuda's
Outlaw series. Watari was due to play the main role in
Kinji Fukasaku’s film
Battles Without Honor and Humanity, but because of illness he was not able to appear. In 1974, he was forced to step down from the lead role of
Katsu Kaishū in the
Taiga drama Katsu Kaishū on NHK, again because of illness, after appearing in only nine episodes. In 1976, Watari won best actor of
Blue Ribbon Award for his role in
Kinji Fukasaku`s film
Yakuza Graveyard. Watari became the president of after Yujiro's death in 1987 but in 2011 he resigned due to his declining health. As a singer, Watari is known for his hit song "Kuchinashi no Hana" and he appeared in the
Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1974 and 1993. He died of pneumonia on August 10, 2020, at the age of 78. ==Selected filmography==