Japanese movie stars born in 1946
Here are 18 famous actors from Japan were born in 1946:
Saburo Ishikura
Saburo Ishikura (December 16, 1946 Uchinomi, Kagawa-) a.k.a. Saburo Ishihara, Ishikura Saburo or Ishihara Saburo is a Japanese actor.
He started his career in 1965 as a member of the Bungakuza theater company. He then transitioned to television and film, starring in over 100 films and TV dramas. Ishikura is known for his versatility in playing a variety of roles, including yakuza (Japanese gangster) members, politicians, businessmen, and doctors. He has won several awards for his work in the entertainment industry, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Poppoya" in 1999. Ishikura is also known for his work as a voice actor and has lent his voice to several anime characters, including Jigen Daisuke in Lupin III.
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Masaaki Sakai
Masaaki Sakai (August 6, 1946 Setagaya-) otherwise known as The Spiders, Machaaki, Masaaki Kurihara or Kurihara Masaaki is a Japanese singer, actor, comedian and presenter. He has two children, Kikuno Kurihara and Koharu Kurihara.
Sakai first gained fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of the popular Japanese rock band The Spiders. He went on to pursue a successful solo career, releasing many albums and singles throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to his music career, Sakai is also known for his work in television and film. He has acted in many popular Japanese dramas and movies, and has hosted several popular variety shows in Japan. Sakai is widely regarded as a pioneer of Japanese rock music and has had a significant impact on the country's entertainment industry. Today, he continues to be active in both music and television, and is considered a living legend in Japan.
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Hayato Tani
Hayato Tani (September 9, 1946 Kirishima-) also known as Hajime Iwatani or Hayati Tani is a Japanese actor.
He has appeared in numerous films and TV dramas throughout his career, including the popular TV series "Oshin" where he played the role of Uncle Tatsuo. He has also performed on stage, starring in the Japanese production of "The Phantom of the Opera" as Monsieur Firmin. In addition to his acting career, Tani is also a professional shogi player and has even won several national championships. He is known for his passion for the game and has often incorporated it into his acting roles. Tani has received several awards for his contributions to Japanese cinema, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "A Class to Remember" in 1994.
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Akira Kamiya
Akira Kamiya (September 18, 1946 Yokohama-) otherwise known as Kamiya Akira, Kamiya, Sakebi no Kamiya, Kamiya, Akira or Akki-san is a Japanese voice actor, actor and singer.
He has voiced numerous characters in popular anime and video games, such as Kenshiro in "Fist of the North Star," Ryo Saeba in "City Hunter," and Kinnikuman in "Kinnikuman."
Kamiya also had roles in live-action films and TV dramas, including "Ultraman Ace" and "Lupin III." In addition to his acting career, he has released several singles and albums as a singer.
Kamiya is known for his distinctive deep voice and has won numerous awards for his voice acting, including the Best Voice Actor award at the 3rd Seiyu Awards in 2009. He continues to work in the industry today, and remains a beloved figure among anime and gaming fans both in Japan and around the world.
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Ryūsuke Ōbayashi
Ryūsuke Ōbayashi (March 13, 1946 Fukuoka Prefecture-) a.k.a. Ryusuke Obayashi, Ryuunosuke Oobayashi, Ryūnosuke Ōbayashi, Ryunosuke Obayashi, Shōchi Ōbayashi, Ryunosuke Ohbayashi, Obayashi, Ryusuke or Oobayashi, Ryuunosuke is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on March 13, 1946. Ōbayashi has done voice acting for numerous anime and video games, including the roles of Tatsuo Kusakabe in "My Neighbor Totoro," Captain Hook in "Peter Pan no Boken," and Batou in "Ghost in the Shell." He has also acted in a number of live-action films and TV dramas. In addition to his work in entertainment, Ōbayashi is known for his charity work, including serving as an ambassador for the Japanese Red Cross Society.
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Yasuaki Kurata
Yasuaki Kurata (March 20, 1946 Niihari District, Ibaraki-) also known as Yasuaki Kurata, David Kurata, Cang Tian Bao Zhao, Kurata, Shoji Karada, Tsang Tyan, Tian Bao Zhao Cang, Shoji Kurata, Tung Choi-Po, Yasuki Kurata, Yusuki Kurata, Chong Ti Bo-Chu, Yusuaki Kurata, Y. Kurata, Kurata Yoshiaki, Yazuaki Kurata, Akira Kurata, Tieng Pao Chao Chaua, Yusaki Kurata, Shoji Kurada, Chaua Tieng Pao Chao, Kurata Yasuaki or Karada Shoji is a Japanese actor, film producer, teacher and martial artist.
He is known for his roles in numerous martial arts films and action movies, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. Kurata began his career as a stuntman and eventually transitioned to acting. His notable films include "Fist of Legend", "Heroes of the East", and "Sister Street Fighter". Kurata is also recognized for his high level of skill in various martial arts, including karate, judo, and aikido, and has served as a martial arts teacher and instructor. In addition to acting and martial arts, Kurata has produced and directed films, and written several books on martial arts and action filmmaking. He continues to be active in the movie industry and regularly appears in films and television shows in Japan and Hong Kong.
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Katsuhisa Hōki
Katsuhisa Hōki (October 30, 1946 Nagasaki Prefecture-) also known as Katsuhisa Hôki, Hōki Katsuhisa, Katsuaki Hōki, Hōki Katsuaki or Katuhisa Houki is a Japanese actor and voice acting in japan.
He has worked in the entertainment industry for over 40 years and is best known for his powerful and deep voice. He has lent his voice to many popular anime characters including Captain Hook in the Japanese version of Peter Pan, Tomomi Masaoka in Psycho-Pass, and Xigbar in the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Hōki has also appeared in numerous live-action films and television dramas, such as the popular Japanese drama series "The Yakuza Girl" and "Kyūkyū Sentai GoGoFive" where he played the character of Captain Miura. In addition to his acting work, Hōki has also worked as a voice director for several anime series including "Persona: Trinity Soul" and "Angel Beats!". He continues to be an active member of the Japanese entertainment industry and is greatly respected for his talent and dedication to his craft.
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Genjiro Arato
Genjiro Arato (October 10, 1946 Nagasaki Prefecture-) is a Japanese film producer, film director and actor.
He began his career as an actor in the early 1970s, appearing in several films and television dramas. In 1983, Arato founded his own production company, and went on to produce numerous award-winning films, including "Departures" which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. He has also directed several films, including "Someday" and "Ashita ga Arusa". Throughout his career, Arato has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to the Japanese film industry. He continues to be involved in the industry, serving as a member of various film organizations and as a professor at Tokyo Film School.
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Kai Atō
Kai Atō (November 14, 1946 Odawara-) also known as Kôichi Atô, Atō Kai, 阿藤 快, 阿藤 海, Atô Kôichi, 阿藤 公一, あとう こういち or あとう かい is a Japanese presenter and actor.
He is best known for his work as a presenter for the long-running Japanese variety show "Quiz! Hexagon II". Atō began his career as an actor in the late 1960s and appeared in a number of films and TV dramas throughout the 70s and 80s. He then transitioned into hosting and presenting in the 90s, and has since become a beloved figure in Japanese entertainment. Atō is known for his quick wit and sharp sense of humor, and has won numerous awards for his work as a presenter. In addition to his entertainment career, Atō is also an accomplished author, having published several books on a variety of subjects including travel and food.
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Togo Igawa
Togo Igawa (September 26, 1946 Shibuya-) also known as Igawa Togo is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He has appeared in numerous films and television shows, both in Japan and internationally, and has also lent his voice to various animated series and video games. Igawa has acted in a wide range of genres, including dramas, comedies, and action films, and is known for his versatility and skill as an actor.
Some of his notable roles include playing Hideki Yukawa in the biopic "Einstein and Eddington", as well as appearing in the films "Memoirs of a Geisha", "The Last Samurai", and "Johnny English Reborn". He has also lent his voice to characters in the video games "Street Fighter IV" and "Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City", among others.
In addition to his acting work, Igawa is also an accomplished writer and has published several books in both Japanese and English. He is fluent in both languages and has used this skill to bridge the gap between Japanese and Western media, helping to bring Japanese films and television shows to international audiences.
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Toshio Furukawa
Toshio Furukawa (July 16, 1946 Ohira-) also known as Furukawa Toshio or Topio is a Japanese guitarist, actor, playwright, voice actor, musician and voice acting in japan.
He is best known for his voice over roles in anime such as Ataru Moroboshi in Urusei Yatsura, Piccolo in Dragon Ball Z, Kai Shiden in Mobile Suit Gundam, and Portgas D. Ace in One Piece. Furukawa has won several awards for his work in voice acting, including the Seiyu Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2008 and the Tomiyama Kei Award in 2015. He has also appeared in various stage productions and written several plays. Furukawa is a member of the rock band Slapstick, for which he plays the guitar and provides vocals.
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Ryudo Uzaki
Ryudo Uzaki (February 23, 1946 Kyoto-) also known as Ryûdô Uzaki, Ryuudou Uzaki, Uzaki Ryūdō, Shuji Kimura, Kimura Shuji or Uzaki, Ryudo is a Japanese actor, composer, musician, film director, singer, voice actor and film score composer.
Ryudo Uzaki first gained widespread recognition in the Japanese entertainment industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s through his work in various films and dramas. He has won several awards for his acting performances including the Best Actor Award at the 25th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally" in 2003. In addition to his acting career, Uzaki has also released several albums as a singer and composer, and has composed music for various films and dramas. He has also lent his voice to numerous anime series such as "Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie" and "Cowboy Bebop". Uzaki is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile artists in the Japanese entertainment industry.
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Joe Yamanaka
Joe Yamanaka (September 2, 1946 Yokohama-August 7, 2011 Yokosuka) a.k.a. 城アキラ, Akira Yamanaka, Joe, Yamanaka Akira, 山中明, Akira Joh, Akira Jo or Jô Yamanaka was a Japanese actor, professional boxer, singer and musician.
Joe Yamanaka was born on September 2, 1946, in Yokohama, Japan. He started his career as a professional boxer but soon left it to pursue his passion for music. He became the lead singer of the popular rock band The Flowers in the 1960s, which later became the influential rock group, The Beasts.
Yamanaka's powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence made him a popular figure in the Japanese music scene. He released several solo albums and collaborated with notable musicians such as Mickie Yoshino, Akira Takasaki, and others.
Apart from music, Yamanaka was also active in acting and appeared in several films and TV dramas. He was known for his eccentric and sometimes controversial performances. Despite his success, Yamanaka struggled with drug addiction, which led to legal troubles and a period of hiatus in the 1980s. However, he made a comeback in the 1990s and continued to release music and perform until his death in 2011, at the age of 64.
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Ryō Tamura
Ryō Tamura (May 24, 1946 Kyoto-) also known as Yukiteru Tamura, Tamura Yukiteru or Tamura Ryo is a Japanese actor.
He is best known for his appearances in various films and television dramas throughout the 1960s and 70s, including the iconic role of Takeru Jo in the popular tokusatsu series "Kikaider" (1972-1973). Tamura also had a successful career as a singer, releasing several singles and albums throughout the 1970s. In addition to his work in entertainment, he has also been involved in various social and political causes, including advocating for the rights of Burmese refugees and environmental conservation. Tamura continues to be an active performer and activist to this day.
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Atomu Shimojō
Atomu Shimojō (November 26, 1946 Setagaya-) also known as Shimojō Atomu or Atom Shimojo is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He began his acting career in the 1970s and has since appeared in numerous films, TV dramas, and stage productions. Some of his most notable works include the TV dramas "Oshin" and "Tokyo Love Story" and the film "The Emperor in August." Atomu Shimojō is also a prolific voice actor and has lent his voice to many Japanese-dubbed versions of international films and TV shows. He is known for his distinctive voice and his ability to bring characters to life through his vocal performance. In addition to his acting and voice acting work, Shimojō is also a writer and has published several books on topics such as Zen Buddhism and acting techniques.
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Ichikawa Danjūrō XII
Ichikawa Danjūrō XII (August 6, 1946 Tokyo-February 3, 2013 Tokyo) a.k.a. Ichikawa Danjuro XII, Natsuo Horikoshi, Narita-ya, Ichikawa Ebizō X, Ichikawa Shinnosuke VI, Danjūrō XII, Ichikawa Shinnosuke, Ichikawa Ebizō, いちかわ だんじゅうろう, はくえん, 十二代目 市川 團十郎, 堀越 夏雄, 柏莚, 市川團十郎 (12代目), ほりこし なつお, Horikoshi Natsuo, じゅうにだいめ いちかわ だんじゅうろう, 六代目 市川新之助, 三升屋 白治, 十代目 市川海老蔵 or みますや はくじ was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Ichikawa Ebizō XI and Ichikawa Botan III.
Ichikawa Danjūrō XII was born Natsuo Horikoshi into a family of Kabuki actors on August 6, 1946, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the eldest son of the famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō XI. As a child, he was trained in Kabuki acting techniques and made his stage debut at the age of five. He adopted the stage name Ichikawa Ebizō X in 1969 and then Ichikawa Danjūrō XII in 1985 after the death of his father.
Danjūrō XII was known for his dynamic performances and his ability to play a wide range of roles, from heroic warriors to comic characters. He was particularly famous for his portrayal of the character Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa in the Kabuki play Shibaraku. His performances earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Order of Culture in 2000.
In addition to his acting career, Danjūrō XII was also active in promoting and preserving the art of Kabuki. He served as the chairman of the Kabuki Preservation Foundation and was involved in various initiatives to introduce Kabuki to new audiences both in Japan and abroad.
Danjūrō XII had two children, Ichikawa Ebizō XI (also a prominent Kabuki actor) and Ichikawa Botan III. He passed away on February 3, 2013, in Tokyo at the age of 66. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the world of Kabuki to this day.
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Masato Sako
Masato Sako (November 9, 1946 Iwakuni-January 11, 2003) was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He started his career in acting in the 1970s and became known for his roles in popular Japanese TV dramas and movies. One of his most notable performances was in the 1983 TV drama "Oshin," where he played the character of Asaoka. Sako was also a talented voice actor, and provided the voice for numerous anime characters, including Jiraiya in "Naruto" and Kempachi Zaraki in "Bleach." Alongside his acting career, Sako was also involved in the teaching of acting and voice acting, sharing his knowledge and experience with younger actors. He sadly passed away in 2003 at the age of 56 due to acute heart failure.
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Goro Ibuki
Goro Ibuki (January 2, 1946 Kumaishi-) also known as Goro Ibuki, Gorô Ibuki or Katsutoshi Ibuki is a Japanese actor. He has one child, .
His real name is Katsutoshi Ibuki, but he goes by the stage name Goro Ibuki. He started his acting career in the 1960s and has since appeared in numerous TV dramas, films, and stage productions. He is known for his versatility and has played a wide range of characters over his long career. In addition to acting, Ibuki is also an accomplished voice actor and has lent his voice to many popular anime series and films. He has won several awards for his contributions to Japanese cinema, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 21st Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his role in the film "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World".
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