He was born in Komagome Sendagi Town in Tokyo's Hongo ward (today 1-chome, Sendagi, Bunkyo Ward) to his father Jiro TOMEI, an actor of the new acting school.
東京本郷区駒込千駄木町（現・文京区千駄木1丁目）に、父は新派俳優・東明二郎の息子として生まれた。