Japanese movie stars born in 1966
Here are 16 famous actors from Japan were born in 1966:
Masatoshi Nagase
Masatoshi Nagase (July 15, 1966 Miyazaki-) also known as Nagase Masatoshi is a Japanese actor.
He began his acting career in 1985 with a small role in the film "Tampopo" and went on to appear in several notable Japanese and international films, including "Mystery Train" (1989), "Cold Fever" (1995), and "Electric Dragon 80.000 V" (2001).
In addition to his acting career, Nagase is also a musician and has released several albums under the moniker "Soul Flower Union."
He received critical acclaim for his role in the film "Sway" (2006), for which he won Best Actor at the Montreal World Film Festival. Nagase has also received multiple nominations for the Japanese Academy Awards for his performances in various films.
Apart from his work in film and music, Nagase has been actively involved in various humanitarian and social causes, including supporting victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
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Wataru Takagi
Wataru Takagi (July 25, 1966 Kimitsu-) otherwise known as Takagi Wataru or Wataru Takgi is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He has voiced numerous notable characters in anime, such as the titular character in Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed) and Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist. Takagi is also known for his work in video games, including voicing the character Cao Ren in Dynasty Warriors and Oda Nobunaga in Samurai Warriors. In addition to his voice acting work, Takagi has also acted in live-action TV dramas and films. Takagi is affiliated with the talent agency 81 Produce.
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Kazushige Nagashima
Kazushige Nagashima (January 26, 1966 Ōta, Tokyo-) is a Japanese actor, baseball player, tarento and sports commentator.
Kazushige Nagashima is best known for his career as a professional baseball player in Japan. He played as an infielder for the Yomiuri Giants for many years, where he became a legend of the Nippon Professional Baseball league. Nagashima was known for his excellent defensive skills, as well as his clutch hitting in important games. He won numerous awards and accolades throughout his storied career, including nine Golden Glove Awards and the Central League MVP Award in 1993.
After retiring from baseball, Nagashima transitioned to a career in entertainment. He became a popular tarento, or celebrity personality, appearing on a variety of TV shows and lending his voice to anime and video games. He also became a sports commentator, providing analysis and insight on baseball games for Japanese audiences.
Despite his success in entertainment, Nagashima has remained connected to the sport of baseball. He has coached and managed various teams, including the Yomiuri Giants and the Japanese national team. He is widely respected as a baseball expert and a leader in the sport.
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Atsushi Sakurai
Atsushi Sakurai (March 7, 1966 Fujioka-) a.k.a. 櫻井敦司, Atushi Sakurai, Sakurai Atsushi, 櫻井 敦司, さくらい あつし, さくらいあつし or Sakurai, Atsushi is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actor, musician and singer-songwriter.
He is best known as the lead vocalist of the popular rock band, Buck-Tick, which formed in 1983. Atsushi Sakurai has also pursued a successful solo career, releasing several albums and singles, with his music spanning a range of genres including rock, electronic, and traditional Japanese music. Apart from his music career, he has also acted in various films, TV dramas, and stage productions, displaying his versatility as an artist. He is known for his distinctive baritone voice, dramatic stage presence, and unique fashion sense, which has influenced many artists in Japan and beyond. Atsushi Sakurai is a highly respected figure in the Japanese music industry and has achieved significant success both as a solo artist and with Buck-Tick, who remain a popular and highly regarded band in Japan after almost four decades.
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Papaya Suzuki
Papaya Suzuki (June 29, 1966 Higashikurume-) a.k.a. Hiroshi Suzuki or Suzuki Hiroshi is a Japanese actor, songwriter, voice actor, tarento, dancer and choreographer. He has one child, Sayaka Suzuki.
Born in Higashikurume, Tokyo, Papaya Suzuki began his career in the entertainment industry as a dancer and choreographer. He was part of the dance group "Backup Dancers from Hell" and later formed his own group called "Tokyo Nights." In 1985, he made his acting debut in the film "High School Agent" and went on to appear in numerous TV dramas and movies.
Aside from his acting career, Papaya Suzuki is also a talented songwriter and has written songs for several Japanese singers and musicals. He has also done voice acting work for anime and video games, such as "One Piece" and "Resident Evil."
Papaya Suzuki is known for his unique fashion sense and eclectic personality, which has made him a popular tarento (TV personality) in Japan. He has appeared on various TV shows, including "Tamori Club" and "Gaki no Tsukai," and has even hosted his own show called "Papaya no Kisu wo Shikanai de."
In 2020, Papaya Suzuki was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Despite the health scare, he remains active in the entertainment industry and continues to inspire fans with his creativity and resilience.
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Minoru Tanaka
Minoru Tanaka (October 27, 1966 Tokyo-April 25, 2011 Ōta, Tokyo) was a Japanese actor.
He began his career in the 1980s and rose to prominence in the 1990s, appearing in numerous films and television shows. Some of his most notable works include the TV drama "Under One Roof" and the film "Maborosi," which was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. Tanaka was also known for his extensive work as a voice actor, lending his talents to a number of anime series and video games. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2008 and remained active in the entertainment industry while undergoing treatment. Tanaka passed away in 2011 at the age of 44.
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Zen Kajiwara
Zen Kajiwara (February 25, 1966 Okayama-) is a Japanese actor.
Zen Kajiwara was born in Okayama, Japan on February 25, 1966. After completing his education, he began his acting career in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in a variety of Japanese television dramas, films and theater productions.
Kajiwara gained a large following after his appearance in the television drama "Kita no Kuni Kara" in 1981, and has since become a well-known figure in Japanese entertainment. He has also ventured into singing and released several albums throughout his career.
In addition to his acting and singing career, Kajiwara has also worked as a dubbing actor and has lent his voice to numerous foreign films. He has received a number of awards for his work in the industry including the Television Drama Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Kajiwara is actively involved in various charities and works closely with organizations dedicated to the welfare of children.
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Nomura Mansai
Nomura Mansai (April 5, 1966 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Takeshi Nomura, 野村武司, のむらたけし, 野村 萬斎 （二世）, 二世野村萬斎, Nomura Mansai II or Mansai Nomura is a Japanese actor. He has two children, Yūki Nomura and Sayako Nomura.
Nomura Mansai is not just an actor but a renowned Japanese artist and a master of the traditional comedic storytelling art known as kyogen. He is the son of Mansaku Nomura, a well-known Kabuki actor, and is the second to be given the name Mansai in his family. He has not only gained fame in Japan but has also gained recognition on the world stage.
Mansai began his career as a performer at a young age, training under his father in the world of Kabuki before dedicating himself to the comedic art of Kyogen. He has since performed in numerous productions and has received several awards for his performances in Kyoto and Tokyo. In addition to his artistic pursuits, he has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and has lent his voice to several animated characters.
Mansai Nomura is also a UNESCO Artist for Peace and has served as a cultural ambassador for Japan, promoting traditional Japanese arts and culture around the world. He continues to inspire future generations and is committed to passing down the traditions of his family's art to the next generation.
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Tortoise Matsumoto
Tortoise Matsumoto (December 28, 1966 Hyōgo Prefecture-) otherwise known as Matsumoto Atsushi or Tôtasu Matsumoto is a Japanese singer, actor and musician.
He is best known as the lead vocalist and member of the rock band Ulfuls, which was formed in 1992. Apart from his music career, Matsumoto has also appeared in various TV shows, films and stage productions. He made his acting debut in the 1996 film "Shimotsuma Monogatari" and has since appeared in several movies and dramas. Additionally, he has also lent his voice to various anime series and video games, including "One Piece" and "Final Fantasy". Matsumoto is known for his unique fashion sense, often sporting bright and colorful outfits on stage and in public. He is also an avid charity worker, supporting causes such as disaster relief and children's education. In 2020, he released his first solo album, "Tortoise Matsumoto Solo Debut Album THE 44th ARENA".
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Hiroki Tōchi
Hiroki Tōchi (May 26, 1966 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Tōchi Hiroki or Hiroki Touchi is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Law and became affiliated with Office Kaoru. Tōchi is most known for his roles as Tatsuya Madoka / Bouken Red in the Super Sentai series GoGo Sentai Boukenger, and as Captain Ginyu in Dragon Ball Kai. He has also voiced a variety of other characters in anime such as Baki the Grappler, Naruto, and Fairy Tail. Alongside his voice work, Tōchi has also acted in various films and TV dramas, including the 2004 film Socrates in Love.
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Último Dragón
Último Dragón (December 12, 1966 Nagoya-) also known as Saigon Dragon, Second Tiger, Tiger Dragon, Ultimate Dragon, Yoshihiro Asai or Ultimo Dragon is a Japanese wrestler and actor.
He began his wrestling career in the late 1980s in Japan, and quickly gained fame for his unique wrestling style, which incorporated elements of Mexican lucha libre and Japanese martial arts. In 1996, he made his debut in the United States with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he won multiple titles and became one of the company's most popular stars.
Outside of wrestling, Último Dragón has also appeared in several Japanese films and television shows. He has also trained many wrestlers, including some who have gone on to become major stars in their own right. Despite a few setbacks and injuries, Último Dragón continues to wrestle professionally to this day, and remains one of the most respected figures in the world of wrestling.
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Tetsushi Tanaka
Tetsushi Tanaka (February 18, 1966 Suzuka-) is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He graduated from Nihon University's College of Art, where he studied acting. Tanaka is known for his roles in popular Japanese TV dramas such as "Long Vacation" and "Love Revolution". He has also lent his voice to numerous anime series including "Dragon Ball Z", "Naruto", and "One Piece". In addition to TV and voice acting, Tanaka has also appeared in several films including "Outrage" and "Infection". He is affiliated with the talent agency Aoni Production.
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Masanobu Takashima
Masanobu Takashima (October 27, 1966 Tokyo-) also known as Takashima Masanobu is a Japanese actor.
He began his acting career in 1981 as a child actor and gained popularity for his role in the TV drama "Ningen no Shomei" in 1983. Takashima has since appeared in numerous TV dramas and movies such as "GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka)", "Takeshi's Castle", "Waterboys", and "The Last Samurai". He is also known for his work as a voice actor and has lent his voice to various anime and movies including "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" and "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children". Takashima was awarded the Best Supporting Actor award at the 11th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Big Man Japan" (2007). In addition to his acting career, he is also a singer and has released albums in both Japan and Korea.
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Kenji Kamiyama
Kenji Kamiyama (March 20, 1966 Chichibu-) otherwise known as Kamiyama Kenji is a Japanese film director, television director, screenwriter, artist, visual artist, actor and storyboard artist.
He is best known for his work as the director of the anime series "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" as well as its sequel "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG" and the movie "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society". Kamiyama has also directed several other popular anime series, including "Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" and "Eden of the East". Prior to his career in animation, he studied art in college and worked as a background artist on several popular anime productions. In addition to his directorial work, Kamiyama has also written scripts for various anime shows and films. He has won several awards for his work, including the best screenplay award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2013.
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Noriyuki Higashiyama
Noriyuki Higashiyama (September 30, 1966 Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-) also known as Higashiyama-san is a Japanese actor and singer.
He is one half of the popular Japanese boy band Shonentai, which was formed in 1985. In addition to his music career, Higashiyama has also had a successful acting career and has appeared in numerous television dramas and films since the early 1990s. Some of his notable works include "Fighting Girl" (1991), "Aoi Tori" (1997), and "Love and Honor" (2006). Higashiyama has also won several awards for his acting, including the Best Actor Award at the 24th Japan Academy Prize for his role in "Go" (2001). Aside from his entertainment career, he is also a well-known philanthropist and is actively involved in various charitable organizations.
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Ken Ishiguro
Ken Ishiguro (January 31, 1966 Tokyo-) is a Japanese actor.
Ken Ishiguro is a Japanese actor who is known for his acting skills in movies, TV dramas, and stage plays. He was born on January 31, 1966, in Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from the Faculty of Literature at Waseda University and pursued a career in acting.
Ishiguro has acted in many popular Japanese TV dramas, including "Undercover Agent Lizard," "Doctor X," and "The Emperor's Cook." He has also had roles in movies such as "The Magic Hour," "RoboGeisha," and "The Chasing World."
In addition to acting, Ishiguro has also done voice work for anime and video games. He has lent his voice to characters in popular titles such as "Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings," "Fairy Tail," and "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex."
Ishiguro is respected for his dedication to his craft and his ability to bring depth and emotion to his performances. He continues to act in a variety of roles and is considered one of the top actors in Japan.
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