Japanese movie stars born in 1951
Here are 16 famous actors from Japan were born in 1951:
Ryūsei Nakao
Ryūsei Nakao (February 5, 1951 Tokyo-) otherwise known as Takanori Nakao, Tomoharu Takeo, Ryuusei Nakao, Tomoharu Minamitani, Tomo-chan, Tomoharu Minamiya, Nakao Ryūsei, Takeo Tomoharu, Minamiya Tomoharu or Ryûsei Nakao is a Japanese actor, singer and voice actor. He has one child, Takeo Kazuma.
Ryūsei Nakao first started his career in entertainment as a rock singer in the early 1970s. However, he became more known for his work as a voice actor, providing the voices for a variety of characters in both anime and video games. Some of his most famous roles include Frieza in "Dragon Ball Z", Baikinman in "Anpanman", and Mayuri Kurotsuchi in "Bleach".
Aside from voice acting, Nakao has also appeared in live-action films and TV dramas. He has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Nakao is also known for his charity work. He is an ambassador for the Shizuoka Guide Dog Association and has helped raise funds for organizations such as the Japanese Red Cross.
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Unshō Ishizuka
Unshō Ishizuka (May 16, 1951 Katsuyama-) a.k.a. Unsyo Ishizuka, Unsyou Ishizuka, Ishizuka Yukinori, Yukinori Ishizuka, Ishizuka Unshō, Unsho Ishizuka, Unshô Ishizuka, Unshou Ishizuka or Unsyo Ishzuka is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He started his career as an actor in the 1970s but later became very famous as a voice actor for anime and video games. He provided his voice for some iconic characters in Japanese animation, such as Professor Oak in the "Pokémon" series, Jet Black in "Cowboy Bebop," Joseph Joestar in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," and Zabuza Momochi in "Naruto." He was also the official dubbing actor for Hollywood stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone in Japanese language versions of their movies. Ishizuka pass away at the age of 67 in August 2018 due to esophageal cancer.
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Ren Osugi
Ren Osugi (September 27, 1951 Komatsushima-) also known as Ren Ohsugi, Takashi Ôsugi, Ren Ôsugi, Ōsugi Ren, Ōsugi Takashi or Ren Oosugi is a Japanese actor. His child is called Shunpei Osugi.
Ren Osugi began his acting career in the late 1970s, appearing in small roles in various TV dramas and films. He gained recognition in the 1980s as part of the internationally acclaimed theater troupe "Za Shingo-nen Gekidan" and later made a name for himself in Japanese cinema.
He had a prolific career, appearing in over 300 films and television shows throughout his career. Osugi often played supporting roles but was known for stealing scenes with his memorable performances. Some of his notable films include "Sonatine," "Hana-bi," "The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family," "Cure," and "Shin Godzilla."
Osugi was also a regular collaborator with Japanese director Takashi Miike, appearing in several of his films such as "Audition," "Ichi the Killer," and "Blade of the Immortal."
In addition to his acting career, Osugi was also a talented musician and released several albums throughout his life.
Sadly, Ren Osugi passed away on February 21, 2018, at the age of 66 due to a sudden heart attack. He is remembered as a talented actor and beloved figure in the Japanese entertainment industry.
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Ikuya Sawaki
Ikuya Sawaki (August 25, 1951 Kashiwa-) also known as Yoshinobu Mikami, Mikami Yoshinobu or Sawaki Ikuya is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He initially started his career as a stage actor and made his way into the world of voice acting in the 1980s. Sawaki has lent his voice to numerous characters in anime and video games, including Ziggurat 8 in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam," Sōjirō Kusaka in "Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion," and Gōzaburō Kaiba in "Yu-Gi-Oh!" He is also known for his portrayals of live-action characters, such as Detective Tokuda in the Japanese drama series "Keishichou Sousa Ikkachou" and Shinsuke Takasugi in the live-action adaptation of the manga series "Gintama." Outside of his acting career, Sawaki is also a professor at Waseda University's School of Social Sciences.
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Katsumi Chō
Katsumi Chō (August 11, 1951 Gunma Prefecture-) also known as Katsumi Chou, Katsumi Chô or Katsumi Cho is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is best known for his roles in various anime series and films, including as Iemitsu Tokugawa in "Gintama," Captain Hook in "Peter Pan no Bouken," and Kenshiro in "Fist of the North Star." In addition to voice acting, Chō has also appeared in live-action films and television dramas such as "Kagero-za" and "Sukeban Deka." He has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 4th Seiyu Awards in 2010. Chō is considered one of the most prominent and respected Japanese voice actors of his generation.
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Kazumi Tanaka
Kazumi Tanaka (August 11, 1951 Suginami-December 20, 2007 Tama) also known as Tanaka Kazumi was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He was best known for his roles in anime such as Lupin III: Part II, Dragon Ball Z, and Yu Yu Hakusho. In addition to his voice acting work, Tanaka also appeared in numerous live-action films and television dramas. He received the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 16th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the 1992 film "Shiko funjatta" (I Just Didn't Do It). Tanaka was also a talented singer and released several albums throughout his career. He passed away at the age of 56 due to heart failure. His contributions to the entertainment industry in Japan are still remembered and celebrated to this day.
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Ginzō Matsuo
Ginzō Matsuo (December 26, 1951 Nakatsu-August 25, 2001) also known as Ginzo Matsuo, Kouichi Matsuo, Koichi Matsuo, Matsuo Ginzō, Matsuo Koichi or Ginzô Matsuo was a Japanese voice actor, actor and entrepreneur.
He was born on December 26, 1951 in Nakatsu, Japan. Matsuo began his career in the entertainment industry as a voice actor, lending his voice to various anime series and video games. He was well-known for his roles in popular anime series such as "Dragon Ball Z," "Fist of the North Star," and "Mobile Suit Gundam."
In addition to his work in voice acting, Matsuo was also an accomplished actor, appearing in a number of Japanese films and TV dramas. He was also the founder of the talent agency, G-STAR, which represented numerous actors and voice actors.
Tragically, Matsuo passed away on August 25, 2001 at the young age of 49 due to liver cancer. Despite his premature death, he left behind a legacy in the entertainment industry and is still remembered and celebrated by his fans today.
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Kōsei Hirota
Kōsei Hirota (February 12, 1951 Fukuoka Prefecture-) also known as Kosei Hirota, Yukio Hiroda or Kousei Hirata is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He has lent his voice to various anime and video game characters including Daisuke Jigen in "Lupin III", Snake in "Black Lagoon", and Rezo the Red Priest in the "Slayers" series. Hirota has also appeared in numerous Japanese films and dramas, such as "Yakuza Weapon" and "Shinzanmono". In addition to his voice acting and acting work, Hirota is also a musician, playing the drums for the band "The Screaming Frogs." He is affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce.
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Masataka Matsutoya
Masataka Matsutoya (November 19, 1951 Suginami-) also known as Masataka Matsutouya, U.Kon or Matsutoya Masataka is a Japanese record producer, composer, journalist, actor, music arranger and film score composer.
He is the son of the famous Japanese musician, Haruomi Hosono. Masataka has had a successful career in the music industry, producing and arranging music for many famous Japanese artists, such as Mariya Takeuchi and Eiichi Ohtaki. He has also composed music for TV commercials, anime and films, including the theme songs for the popular anime series Captain Tsubasa and Lupin the Third. In addition to his work in music, Matsutoya has also acted in several films and TV dramas, and was a journalist for the Japanese music magazine, Poplar. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the Japanese music industry, including the Japan Record Award for best arranger in 1983 and the Japanese Association of Composers award in 1989.
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Haruka Takachiho
Haruka Takachiho (November 7, 1951 Nagoya-) also known as Kimiyoshi Takekawa, Takachiho Haruka, 高千穂 遙 or 竹川 公訓 is a Japanese writer, actor and author.
He is best known as the creator of the science fiction novel series titled "Dirty Pair" and "Crusher Joe". Takachiho's works have been adapted into various media including anime, manga, and even video games.
In addition to writing, Takachiho has also appeared in a number of Japanese television dramas and films such as "Message from Space" and "Kaiketsu Zubat". He is also credited as the voice of an alien in the anime film "Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer".
Takachiho has won numerous awards for his contributions to Japanese science fiction including the Seiun Award, Japan's top prize for science fiction. Despite his success, he prefers to live a low-key lifestyle and rarely makes public appearances.
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Kaoru Kobayashi
Kaoru Kobayashi (September 4, 1951 Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-) a.k.a. Kobayashi Kaoru is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design, and started his acting career in the 1970s. He is known for his work in both television dramas and films, including "Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World" (2004) and "Bayside Shakedown" (1998).
In addition to his acting career, Kobayashi is also a successful voice actor, voicing numerous characters in Japanese anime and video games. Some of his notable roles include Daisuke Jigen in "Lupin the Third" and Kouhei Inuzuka in "Sweetness & Lightning".
Kobayashi has won several awards for his acting, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the Japan Academy Prize for his role in "The Eel" (1997). He is also a regular cast member on the popular talk show "Tetsuko's Room".
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Yukijirô Hotaru
Yukijirô Hotaru (August 27, 1951 Saitama Prefecture-) also known as Hotaru Yukijirō or Yukijirō Hotaru is a Japanese actor.
He is well-known for his roles in Japanese television dramas and films, primarily in the yakuza genre. Hotaru began his acting career in the late 1970s and has since appeared in over 270 movies and television shows. He is also a voice actor, lending his voice to characters in anime series and films. In addition to his acting career, Hotaru is also a singer and has released several albums. He is often recognized for his unique and charismatic persona, as well as his iconic facial scar. Outside of his entertainment career, Hotaru is known for his passion for cars and racing.
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Taro Shigaki
Taro Shigaki (September 22, 1951 Ōta, Tokyo-) also known as Shigaki Tarō, Minoru Kawamura, Kawamura Minori or Tarô Shigaki is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor in the 1970s, appearing in numerous television dramas, stage productions, and films. He gained recognition for his versatility and expressive acting skills, which allowed him to portray a wide range of characters, from comedic to dramatic.
In the 1980s, Shigaki shifted his focus to voice acting, where he found even greater success. He became known for lending his voice to popular anime and video game characters, including Kenshiro from "Fist of the North Star," Tetsuo from "Akira," and Albert Wesker from the "Resident Evil" series.
Over the course of his career, Shigaki has received numerous accolades for his work, including the Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 13th Japan Academy Prize for his role in "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun." He remains one of the most respected actors and voice actors in Japanese entertainment, with over 40 years of experience in the industry.
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Masatoshi Nakamura
Masatoshi Nakamura (February 1, 1951 Onagawa-) also known as Nakamura Masatoshi is a Japanese actor and singer. His children are called Shunta Nakamura and .
Miki Nakamura. Masatoshi Nakamura has had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry of Japan since the 1970s. He is notable for his appearances in numerous films, dramas, and stage productions.
Nakamura began his acting career in the 1970s after graduating from university. He was known for his good looks and acting talent, and quickly became a popular leading man. He also pursued a music career in parallel, releasing several albums and singles that were well received by audiences.
Throughout the years, Nakamura has received numerous accolades for his work. He won the Best Actor award at the Japan Academy Prize for his performance in the film "Shizukana Seikatsu" in 1991. Additionally, in 2003, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to the arts.
Nakamura is also known for his charitable work, supporting organizations that aid children who have suffered from natural disasters and promoting Japanese culture abroad. In recent years, he has been dedicated to rebuilding his hometown in Onagawa, which was severely affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
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Kiyoshiro Imawano
Kiyoshiro Imawano (April 2, 1951 Nakano, Tokyo-May 2, 2009 Tokyo) also known as Kiyoshirou Imawano, KIYOSHIRO , Imawano, Kiyoshiro or Kiyoshirô Imawano was a Japanese singer, musician and actor. He had one child, Tappei Kurihara.
Imawano was a highly influential figure in the Japanese music industry, known for his bold personality and unique voice. He began his career in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the rock band RC Succession, which became one of the most popular Japanese bands of its time. After the band disbanded in the 1980s, Imawano continued to pursue a successful solo career, releasing a number of highly acclaimed albums and singles throughout his career.
Aside from his music career, Imawano also appeared in a number of films and television dramas. He was known for his unpredictable behavior and often controversial comments, which cemented his status as a popular cultural icon in Japan. Imawano was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2006, and after a long battle with the disease, he passed away in 2009 at the age of 58. Though he is no longer with us, his music and legacy continue to inspire new generations of Japanese artists.
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Koichi Iwaki
Koichi Iwaki (March 21, 1951 Nakano, Tokyo-) also known as Koichi Iwaki, Kôichi Iwaki or Kouichi Iwaki is a Japanese actor.
He began his acting career in the 1970s and gained popularity in the 1980s with his roles in Japanese television dramas and films. Some of his most notable acting works include "The Gate of Youth," "The Yagyu Conspiracy," and "Sukeban Deka." Aside from acting, Iwaki is also known for his work as a voice actor in Japanese animations. He has lent his voice to various characters in popular anime series such as "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Dragon Ball." Iwaki continues to be active in the entertainment industry and has received recognition for his contributions, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 23rd Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2000.
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