Japanese movie stars born in 1949
Here are 17 famous actors from Japan were born in 1949:
Masato Harada
Masato Harada (July 3, 1949 Numazu-) otherwise known as Harada Masato, 原田眞人 or 原田真人 is a Japanese film director, critic, screenwriter and actor. He has two children, Eugene Harada and Maho Harada.
Harada began his career as a journalist, writing for several Japanese publications before transitioning to filmmaking in the 1980s. He is best known for his films, which often explore social and political issues in Japan. Some of his most notable works include the historical drama "Kamikaze Taxi" (1995), the crime thriller "Bounce Ko Gals" (1997), and the World War II drama "The Emperor in August" (2015). In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Harada has also acted in several films and television dramas. He is considered to be one of Japan's most influential film directors and has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Best Director prize at the Japan Academy Awards for "Inugami" (2001).
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Shūichi Ikeda
Shūichi Ikeda (December 2, 1949 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Ikeda Shūichi, Shuuichi Ikeda, Syuuichi Ikeda or Shuichi Ikeda is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1970s, and is best known for his voice work in anime series such as Mobile Suit Gundam (as the main character Char Aznable), JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (as Joseph Joestar), and Bleach (as Sōsuke Aizen). In addition to his voice acting work, Ikeda has also appeared in live-action films and television dramas. He has won numerous awards for his contributions to the anime industry, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards in 2019. With over four decades of experience as a voice actor, Ikeda is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential seiyu in Japan.
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Yusaku Matsuda
Yusaku Matsuda (September 21, 1949 Shimonoseki-November 6, 1989 Tokyo) a.k.a. Yuusaku Matsuda, 金優作, Matsuda Yusaku or Yûsaku Matsuda was a Japanese actor. He had two children, Shota Matsuda and Ryuhei Matsuda.
Yusaku Matsuda started acting in the 1970s and quickly became known for his intense and charismatic performances. He played many tough-guy roles in yakuza movies and TV shows, but also showed range in his ability to tackle challenging dramatic roles.
In addition to his acting career, Matsuda was also involved in music, and released several singles and albums in the 1980s. He was known for his distinctive singing voice, which was often used in his acting roles.
Matsuda passed away in 1989 at the age of 40 due to bladder cancer. He is remembered as one of Japan's most iconic actors and his influence can still be seen in Japanese cinema and television today.
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Masachika Ichimura
Masachika Ichimura (January 28, 1949 Kawagoe-) a.k.a. Ichimura Masachika is a Japanese actor, singer and voice actor.
He began his career in the entertainment industry as a member of a pop music group called "The Spiders" in the 1960s. However, he then became more focused on acting and has since appeared in many stage productions, films, and TV dramas. Some of his notable roles include playing Shintaro Kaneshiro in the popular TV series "Oshin" and providing the voice for the character of Scar in the Japanese dubbed version of "The Lion King". In addition to his acting work, Ichimura is also known for his impressive singing ability and has released multiple albums throughout his career. He has won several awards for his work in the entertainment industry, including a Best Actor award at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony.
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Takurō Kitagawa
Takurō Kitagawa (December 12, 1949 Tokyo-) also known as Takuro Kitagawa, Takurou Kitagawa or Masamichi Kusunoki is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He made his debut in the entertainment industry in 1977 and has since become a prolific voice actor, lending his voice to a wide range of characters in anime, video games, and live-action films. Some of his notable roles include Ichiro Mihara in "Touch", Wan Fu in "Samurai Shodown", and Furuichi Tadayoshi in "Beelzebub". In addition to his voice acting work, Takurō Kitagawa has also appeared in several live-action films and TV dramas, such as "Hissatsu Shigotonin" and "Tantei Monogatari". He has won several awards for his work as a voice actor, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 5th Seiyu Awards in 2011.
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Yoshito Yasuhara
Yoshito Yasuhara (November 17, 1949 Aioi-) also known as Yasuhara Yoshito is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He is best known for his work as the voice of Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Yasuhara started his career as an actor in the 1970s, appearing in various Japanese television dramas and films. He also worked as a stage actor, performing in productions of classical and contemporary plays. In the 1990s, he began working as a voice actor for anime, dubbing foreign films and television shows, and appearing in video games. His notable works include the voice of M'Baku in the Japanese dub of Black Panther and Professor Thawne in the Japanese dub of The Flash television series. Yasuhara has also lent his voice to various commercials and narrations. He continues to act in various mediums and is known for his distinctive deep and rough voice.
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Aruno Tahara
Aruno Tahara (March 23, 1949 Shibuya-) also known as 田原 アルノ, Tahara Aruno, Tomomitsu Ishida, 石田 知充 or Ishida Tomomitsu is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He started his career as a voice actor in the 1970s and has since voiced a variety of characters in anime, video games, and dramas. Some of his notable roles include Hayate Gekko in "Naruto", Saburō Mutsumi in "Maison Ikkoku", and Tatsunosuke Sakonji in "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba".
Aside from voice acting, Aruno Tahara has also appeared in various live-action films and TV dramas. He has worked with renowned directors such as Akira Kurosawa in the film "Kagemusha" and Takeshi Kitano in the film "Fireworks".
Aruno Tahara has won several awards for his contributions to the voice acting industry, including the Seiyuu Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2009. Despite being in his 70s, he continues to work actively in the industry and is considered a legend among his peers.
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Shiro Kishibe
Shiro Kishibe (June 7, 1949 Kyoto-) also known as Kishibe Shiro is a Japanese actor and musician.
He first gained fame as an actor in the late 1970s, appearing in a number of popular TV dramas and movies. He is perhaps best known for his role as Masaru Kato in the TV series "Kamen Rider Stronger". In addition to his work as an actor, Kishibe is also an accomplished musician. He is a skilled guitar player and has released several albums throughout his career. In recent years, he has continued to act and perform music, and remains a beloved figure in Japanese popular culture.
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Yuu Shimaka
Yuu Shimaka (May 6, 1949 Nagano Prefecture-) also known as Yu Shimaka, Shimaka Yū, 島香 裕, Yutaka Shimaka or Yutaka Shimata is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He began his career in the entertainment industry in the 1970s and became well known for his deep, booming voice. Shimaka voiced many prominent anime characters over the years, including Dr. Hogback in One Piece, General Mifune in Naruto Shippuden, and Jean Kirstein's father in Attack on Titan. He also appeared in numerous live-action films and TV dramas, including the 1980 film Virus and the 1992 drama, Hissatsu: Sure Death. Sadly, Yuu Shimaka passed away on September 14, 2019, at the age of 70.
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Masatō Ibu
Masatō Ibu (March 28, 1949 Nakano, Tokyo-) also known as Masatô Ibu, Masato Ibu, Masato Eve, Ibu Masatō, Murota Satoru, Ibu Masayuki, Satoru Murota, Masayuki Ibu, Masayuki Eve or Masatou Ibu is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
Masatō Ibu started his acting career in the late 1970s and has since appeared in various TV dramas, films, and stage productions. He is known for his distinctive deep voice, intense gaze, and imposing presence on screen. Some of his notable roles include Emperor Palpatine in the Japanese dubs of the Star Wars franchise, Kambei Shimada in the TV series Shogun, and Kotaro Fuma in the film Sanada 10 Braves. In addition to acting, Ibu has also lent his voice to numerous video games, anime, and dubbing projects. He has won several awards for his performances, including Best Supporting Actor at the Japan Academy Awards and the Tokyo Drama Award.
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Guts Ishimatsu
Guts Ishimatsu (June 5, 1949 Awano-) otherwise known as Gattsu Ishimatsu, Guts Suzuki, Yuji Suzuki, Suzuki Yuji, Suzuki Ishimatsu or Ishimatsu Suzuki is a Japanese professional boxer and actor. He has one child, Yuki Suzuki.
Guts Ishimatsu started his professional boxing career in 1968 and became the Japanese Lightweight champion in 1972. He retired from boxing in 1976 with a record of 21 wins (10 knockouts), 6 losses, and 1 draw. After his retirement from boxing, he started his acting career and has appeared in more than 200 films and television dramas. He is known for his tough-guy roles and distinctive appearance, which includes a scar on his cheek. In addition to his acting career, he has also worked as a professional wrestler and a commentator for professional wrestling matches. In 2014, he was honored with the Best Supporting Actor award at the 37th Japan Academy Awards for his role in the film "The Devil's Path".
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Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Yoshiaki Fujiwara (April 27, 1949 Iwate Prefecture-) is a Japanese actor.
However, he is better known as a professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is widely considered as one of the pioneers of Japanese shoot-style wrestling and is a founding member of the legendary Japanese pro-wrestling promotion, the Universal Wrestling Federation. He also competed and won several bouts under the Pride Fighting Championships, and other high-level mixed martial arts organizations. Later in his career, he became a professional wrestling trainer and a mentor to many of Japan's most celebrated wrestlers, most notably Ken Shamrock and Kazushi Sakuraba. In recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2005.
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Nobu Matsuhisa
Nobu Matsuhisa (March 10, 1949 Saitama Prefecture-) a.k.a. Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, Matsuhisa Nobuyuki, Nobuyuki 'Nobu' Matsuhisa or Chef Nobu is a Japanese chef, actor and restaurateur. His child is called Junko Matsuhisa.
Nobu Matsuhisa is known for his fusion cuisine which blends traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients, a style he developed while working in Peru early in his career. He opened his first restaurant in Beverly Hills, California in 1987, which has since expanded into a global enterprise with more than 40 restaurants in over 20 countries. Matsuhisa has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, including being inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame in 2007. In addition to his culinary accomplishments, he has also made appearances in films such as "Austin Powers: Goldmember" and "Memoirs of a Geisha".
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Kensaku Morita
Kensaku Morita (December 16, 1949 Ōta, Tokyo-) also known as Morita Kensaku, Eiji Suzuki or Suzuki Eiji is a Japanese politician, actor and singer.
Morita Kensaku started his career in entertainment where he was a part of a popular pop group called "Four Leaves" in 1970. He later became an actor, starring in television dramas and movies, such as "Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset" and "The Blade and Petal."
In 1992, Morita switched to politics and became a member of the House of Representatives for the Social Democratic Party of Japan. He later switched parties several times and became a member of the Liberal Democratic Party in 2017.
Aside from his entertainment and political careers, Morita is also an author and has published several books including "A Place to Live in a Beautiful Mind" and "First Steps of Politics." He has also been involved in philanthropic efforts, particularly after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
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Tetsuya Takeda
Tetsuya Takeda (April 11, 1949 Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-) a.k.a. Takeda Tetsuya, So Katayama or Katayama So is a Japanese actor, screenwriter, singer, film director and composer.
He is best known for his work in the film industry, with notable roles in popular films such as "Castle of Sand", "The Inugami Family", and "A Class to Remember". In addition to his acting, Takeda has also written screenplays for several films, most notably "Fracture", which he both wrote and directed. He has also released several albums as a singer, showcasing his talents as a composer and lyricist. Takeda continues to be an active presence in the Japanese entertainment industry, with a career spanning over four decades.
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Morio Kazama
Morio Kazama (April 26, 1949 Setagaya-) a.k.a. Tomohito Sumita, Sumita Tomohito or Kazama Morio is a Japanese actor and pornographic film actor.
Morio Kazama began his acting career in 1972, where he played minor roles in various Japanese TV dramas and movies. He gained mainstream success in the 1980s with his roles in popular Japanese dramas such as "Kita no kuni kara" and "Oshin". However, he also gained notoriety for his involvement in pornographic films under the aliases Sumita Tomohito or Kazama Morio.
Despite this controversial aspect of his career, Morio Kazama has earned critical acclaim and recognition for his acting abilities. In 1984, he won Best Actor at the Japan Academy Awards for his performance in the film "Tasogare Seibei". He has also won numerous other awards throughout his career, including Best Supporting Actor at the Japan Academy Awards.
In addition to his acting career, Morio Kazama has also served as a professor at Tama Art University and continues to be actively involved in theater production. Overall, he has an illustrious career spanning over five decades, which has made him a prominent figure in Japanese entertainment.
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Shigeru Matsuzaki
Shigeru Matsuzaki (November 19, 1949 Tokyo-) also known as Shigeru Matsuzaki or Matsuzaki, Shigeru is a Japanese actor and singer.
He began his career in the late 1960s as a "Group Sounds" musician, performing with various bands before launching a successful solo career in the 1970s. Matsuzaki's music is known for blending elements of rock, pop, and traditional Japanese music. He has released numerous albums throughout his career and his music has been widely popular in Japan.
In addition to his music career, Matsuzaki has also appeared in numerous Japanese television dramas and films, earning critical acclaim for his performances. He is known for his versatile acting style and has played a variety of roles ranging from comedic to dramatic.
Matsuzaki continues to be an active musician and actor, and has been recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry with various awards and honors. He is considered one of Japan's most talented and respected performers.
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