Japanese movie stars born in 1956
Here are 16 famous actors from Japan were born in 1956:
Kōji Yakusho
Kōji Yakusho (January 1, 1956 Isahaya-) a.k.a. Yakusho Kōji, Hashimoto Kōji, Kōji Hashimoto, Hashimoto Kouji, Kouji Hashimoto, Kouji Yakusho, Yakusho Kouji, Koji Hashimoto, Hashimoto Koji, Koji Yakusho, Yakusho Koji or Kôji Yakusho is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He has one child, Ichirô Hashimoto.
Yakusho began his acting career on stage before transitioning to TV and film. He gained widespread recognition for his role in the movie Shall We Dance? in 1996, which was later adapted into a Hollywood film starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. He has since starred in numerous critically acclaimed films and has won several awards for his performances, including the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Eel in 1997. Some of his other notable films include Cure, Doppelganger, Babel, 13 Assassins, and the Academy Award-winning Departures. In addition to his work in film, Yakusho has also done voice work for animated films and video games. He continues to be a highly respected and sought-after actor in Japan and around the world.
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Masashi Tashiro
Masashi Tashiro (August 31, 1956 Karatsu-) a.k.a. Tashiro Masashi or Marcy is a Japanese singer, film director, actor and comedian.
He initially began his career as a singer and released his first album in 1979, which quickly became a hit. He then ventured into television, starring in many popular dramas and variety shows. Tashiro is also an accomplished film director, having directed several critically acclaimed feature films. He has won various awards for his work, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Director. In addition to his entertainment career, Tashiro is also known for his activism, particularly in advocating for the rights of the Ainu people, an indigenous group from Hokkaido, Japan. He has also been involved in various environmental and peace campaigns. Despite facing controversy over the years due to his involvement in various scandals, Tashiro has maintained his popularity among fans and remains a prominent figure in Japanese entertainment.
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Naoto Takenaka
Naoto Takenaka (March 20, 1956 Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-) a.k.a. Takenaka Naoto is a Japanese actor, comedian, film director, singer, voice actor and screenwriter.
He began his career as a comedian in the late 1970s and gained national popularity in the 1980s. Takenaka is known for his versatile acting skills and has appeared in a wide range of films and television dramas. He has won several awards for his performances, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the Japan Academy Film Prize. In addition to his acting career, Takenaka has also directed and written films, including the 1995 comedy "Tokyo Fist". He is also a talented singer and has released several albums. Additionally, Takenaka has lent his voice to numerous characters in anime and video games, including Professor Oak in the Japanese version of the Pokémon anime.
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Shinpachi Tsuji
Shinpachi Tsuji (October 20, 1956 Chiba Prefecture-) also known as Tsuji Shinpachi, Shinichi Kotani or Shinpati Tsuji is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1980s and has provided voice work for numerous characters in anime and video games. Some of his most notable roles include Daitarn 3 in "Machine Robo: Battle Hackers," Tatsuo Egawa in "Giant Robo," Uncle Iroh in the Japanese dub of "Avatar: The Last Airbender," and Jigen Daisuke in "Lupin the Third." In addition to voice acting, Tsuji has also appeared in various Japanese TV dramas, films, and stage productions. He is known for his versatility and range as an actor and has received critical acclaim for his performances. Outside of his work in entertainment, Tsuji is also an avid collector of model trains and is known to regularly attend train shows and events.
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Ryo Ishibashi
Ryo Ishibashi (July 20, 1956 Kurume-) also known as Ryô Ishibashi, Hideki Ishibashi, Ishibashi Ryô, Ishibashi Hideki or Ryo Ishabashi is a Japanese actor and musician.
He has appeared in over 100 films and TV shows in Japan and internationally, including the critically acclaimed horror film "Audition" directed by Takashi Miike. Ishibashi began his acting career in the mid-1980s and quickly became a popular actor known for his powerful performances. In addition to his acting career, Ishibashi is also an accomplished musician and has released several albums throughout his career. He is known for blending traditional Japanese instruments and melodies with modern pop and rock music. Ishibashi has won several awards for his work in film and television, including the Best Supportive Actor at the Japanese Academy Awards.
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Ken Yamaguchi
Ken Yamaguchi (March 24, 1956 Fukushima Prefecture-October 24, 2011 Fukushima Prefecture) also known as Kiyoshige Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi Ken or 山口 健 was a Japanese voice actor and actor. His child is called Kiyohiro Yamaguchi.
Ken Yamaguchi started his career in the entertainment industry as a voice actor in the early 1980s, lending his voice to numerous anime series and movies. He had a deep and distinctive voice which often suited villainous characters. Some of his notable voice acting roles include Graviton in "Transformers: Super-God Masterforce," Zabuza Momichi in "Naruto," and Jouji Gouda in "City Hunter."
Aside from voice acting, Yamaguchi also appeared in several TV dramas and movies as an actor. He had a small role in Akira Kurosawa's "Ran" and played the lead in the popular comedy series "Getsuyou Golden."
In 2011, at the age of 55, Yamaguchi passed away due to heart failure in his hometown of Fukushima Prefecture. His legacy as a talented and versatile voice actor lives on in the many anime series and movies he contributed to throughout his career.
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Shirō Saitō
Shirō Saitō (August 31, 1956 Sakata-) a.k.a. Uomatsu / Saito, Shiro or 斎藤志郎 is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He has lent his voice to numerous anime characters, including Sanosuke Sagara in "Rurouni Kenshin", Maes Hughes in "Fullmetal Alchemist", and Father Fujimoto in "Blue Exorcist". Saito has also acted in live-action films and dramas, such as "Umizaru" and "GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka". In addition to his acting career, he is also a singer and has released several albums. Saito has won numerous awards for his voice acting and contributions to the entertainment industry in Japan.
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Hiroaki Murakami
Hiroaki Murakami (December 22, 1956 Rikuzentakata-) also known as Murakami Hiroaki, 村上 弘明 or むらかみ ひろあき is a Japanese actor.
He has appeared in several movies and television dramas throughout his career. Murakami made his acting debut in 1979 in the Japanese television drama "The Three Detective Men" and later went on to star in the popular drama series "Kita no kuni kara" which ran from 1981-2002. Some of his other notable works include the films "Red Shadow: Akakage" and "The Great Yokai War." Murakami has won several awards for his performances, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 6th Japan Academy Prize. In addition to his acting career, he has also served as a presenter for various television programs and events.
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Keiichi Tsuchiya
Keiichi Tsuchiya (January 30, 1956 Tōbu, Nagano-) is a Japanese race car driver and actor.
He is known in the racing world as the "Drift King" for popularizing the drifting driving style. Tsuchiya began his racing career in the late 1970s in the sport of motocross before transitioning to four-wheeled racing. He achieved multiple championship wins in the Japanese Touring Car Championship and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. Tsuchiya also competed in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, finishing in the top ten twice. In addition to his racing career, Tsuchiya has appeared in several Japanese television dramas and films. He has also worked as a racing commentator and served as a judge in various international drifting competitions.
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Tatsuo Yamada
Tatsuo Yamada (January 10, 1956 Toyama-July 26, 2009 Akiruno) a.k.a. 山田 辰夫 or Yamada Tatsuo was a Japanese film director and actor.
He began his career in the film industry as a director's assistant at Toei Company. One of his most notable works was his directorial debut in 1983 with the film "Death Powder" which gained a cult following. He also worked on numerous other films such as "Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril" and "Lupin III: The Legend of the Gold of Babylon". Along with his work in film, Yamada was also known for his acting roles in films such as "Tokyo Zombie" and "Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment". Yamada passed away in 2009 at the age of 53 due to lung cancer.
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Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi (September 7, 1956 Hioki-) also known as Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, 長渕 剛 or ながぶち つよし is a Japanese singer, musician, songwriter and actor. His children are called Ayane Nagabuchi, Ren Nagabuchi and Wataru.
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is known for his deeply personal lyrics and powerful, gritty voice. He began his music career in the 1970s and has released numerous albums over the years, including "Junk Rock," "Kanpai," and "Ienai Itami wo Daiteiru." In addition to music, Nagabuchi has also appeared in several films and television dramas, showcasing his acting abilities. He is often referred to as "Tsuyoshi" by his fans and is widely regarded as a cultural icon in Japan. In recent years, he has also been an active philanthropist, dedicating his time and resources to various charitable causes.
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Takayuki Godai
Takayuki Godai (July 1, 1956 Setagaya-) also known as Godai Takayuki is a Japanese actor, voice actor and voice acting in japan.
Godai Takayuki made his acting debut in 1984 in the TV drama "Seibu Keisatsu" and has since appeared in numerous TV dramas, films, and stage plays. He is also a well-known voice actor and has lent his voice to many popular anime characters such as Matsuda in "Death Note" and Binks in "One Piece". In addition to his acting career, Godai Takayuki is also known for his work as a tarento, a celebrity who appears in various TV programs, commercials and advertising campaigns. He is also a member of the talent agency "LesPros Entertainment". Godai Takayuki is considered one of Japan's most versatile actors, having successfully portrayed a wide range of characters in his career, from comedic to dramatic roles.
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Masashi Yamamoto
Masashi Yamamoto (January 24, 1956 Ōita Prefecture-) also known as Yamamoto Masashi is a Japanese film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor.
Yamamoto Masashi graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture with a degree in soil science. He initially worked as a screenwriter before moving on to directing and producing films. As a director he is known for his work in the horror and suspense genre, with films such as "Ju-on: The Grudge" and "The Curse". He also produced "Battle Royale", a critically acclaimed Japanese film that gained international recognition.
Aside from his film work, Yamamoto Masashi is also known for his acting role in the 2005 film "Umoregi". In addition, he has taught film courses at Waseda University and Tokyo University of Agriculture.
Yamamoto Masashi has received numerous awards for his work, including Best Screenplay at the Yokohama Film Festival for his film "Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater". He continues to be an influential figure in the Japanese film industry.
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Toshiyuki Nagashima
Toshiyuki Nagashima (October 21, 1956 Chūō-ku, Chiba-) also known as Nagashima Toshiyuki is a Japanese actor.
He is best known for his work in the TV drama series "Tokyo Love Story" and his portrayal of Yakuza characters in various films. Nagashima started his acting career in 1982 with the film "Kamata kôshinkyoku" and has since appeared in numerous films and TV dramas, establishing himself as one of Japan's most recognizable actors. In addition to his acting career, Nagashima has also worked as a voice actor for anime and video games, including the popular video game series "Metal Gear Solid." Nagashima has received several awards for his acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 19th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Boiling Point."
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Tatsuya Mori
Tatsuya Mori (May 10, 1956 Kure-) also known as Mori Tatsuya is a Japanese film director, actor, cinematographer and film editor.
He is best known for his documentary films that explore social and political issues in Japan. Mori began his career as a filmmaker in the 1980s, working as a cinematographer and editor before directing his own films. In 1999, he gained international recognition for his film "A," which followed the trial and eventual execution of the Aum Shinrikyo cult members responsible for the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.
Mori has since continued to make critically acclaimed documentaries, including "Back Home" (2002) which explored the lives of Korean residents in Japan, and "The Ugly Japanese: Nippon's Close-Up" (2008) which examined Japan's social issues through interviews with various people. In addition to his filmmaking work, Mori has also acted in several films and television dramas.
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Shinsuke Shimada
Shinsuke Shimada (March 24, 1956 Kyoto-) also known as Kimihiko Hasegawa is a Japanese comedian, presenter and actor.
He started his career in the entertainment industry as part of the comedy duo Two Beat in the late 1970s. Shimada gained popularity for his unique sense of humor and comedic timing, which quickly made him a household name in Japan. He later went on to host various TV shows and variety programs, cementing his status as one of Japan's most beloved presenters.
Aside from his work as a comedian and presenter, Shimada has also dabbled in acting, appearing in several TV dramas and films over the years. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including the prestigious "Best TV Personality" award at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony.
Despite enjoying a successful career in entertainment, Shimada retired in 2011 due to a scandal involving alleged ties to organized crime. He has since kept a low profile, but his contributions to Japanese entertainment will always be remembered.
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