Japanese movie stars born in 1968
Here are 12 famous actors from Japan were born in 1968:
Shin-ichiro Miki
Shin-ichiro Miki (March 18, 1968 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Miki-Shin, Shinichirô Miki, Sinichirou Miki, Miki Shinichirou, Shin'Ichirô Miki, Shin-ichirô Miki, Miki Shin'ichiroh, Miki Shinichiro, Miki Shin'ichirō or Shinichiro Miki is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is best known for his roles as Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist, Kisuke Urahara in Bleach, Kojiro in Pokémon, Takumi Fujiwara in Initial D, and James in the Japanese dub of Pokémon. Miki has also provided the voice of various video game characters such as Akira Yuki in Virtua Fighter, and Zelos Wilder in Tales of Symphonia. He has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Seiyu Awards in 2008 and the Overseas Fan Award at the 15th Seiyu Awards in 2021. In addition to his voice acting work, Miki has also acted in live-action dramas and films, and has released several singles as a musician.
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Tetsuo Kurata
Tetsuo Kurata (September 11, 1968 Koto, Tokyo-) also known as Kurata Tetsuo, Tetsuo Takayama or Takayama Tetsuo is a Japanese actor, restaurateur and singer.
He became popular in Japan and internationally for his lead role as Kotaro Minami in the tokusatsu series "Kamen Rider Black" in 1987. Kurata continued to act in various television dramas and movies, including "Odoru Daisousasen" and "Waterboys." He also released several albums and singles as a singer and held concerts in Japan and other countries.
In addition to his entertainment career, Kurata is also a successful entrepreneur. He owns several restaurants in Japan, including a yakiniku restaurant chain called "Kurata's Kitchen" and a Hawaiian-style bar called "Aloha Stand." Kurata is also known for his philanthropic work, supporting various causes and charities in Japan and overseas.
Despite his busy schedule, Kurata has remained active in the entertainment industry and continues to be a beloved figure among his fans in Japan and around the world.
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Mainoumi Shūhei
Mainoumi Shūhei (February 17, 1968 Ajigasawa-) also known as まいのうみ しゅうへい, 舞の海 秀平, ながお しゅうへい, Nagao Shuhei, Shuhei Nagao, Shuhei Mainoumi, the Department Store of Techniques, 技のデパート・本店, Waza no Depaato or Shuuhei Mainoumi is a Japanese sumo wrestler, actor, sports commentator, sports reporter, teacher and tv personality.
Mainoumi Shūhei began his sumo wrestling career in 1982 as a 14-year-old and became a professional wrestler in 1986. He made an immediate impact, winning the championship in the lower division in his first tournament, and was promoted to the top division just a year later. He was known for his small stature (at just 1.70 m or 5 ft 7 in, he was one of the shortest wrestlers in the top division) and his technical ability, earning him the nickname "the Department Store of Techniques".
Throughout his career, Mainoumi won three special prizes for his exceptional performances and was runner-up in three tournaments. He retired in 1996 at the age of 28 due to persistent knee injuries, but his legacy in the sport remains.
After retiring from sumo, Mainoumi became a sports commentator, sports reporter, and television personality, as well as a teacher and actor. He has also been involved in various charitable activities, particularly in helping children affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
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Yasuei Yakushiji
Yasuei Yakushiji (July 22, 1968 Tsukumi-) is a Japanese professional boxer and actor.
He began his boxing career in 1988 and won his first national title in 1990. Yakushiji went on to win several more national and international titles throughout his career. In 2007, he retired from boxing with a record of 34 wins, including 26 knockouts, and 4 losses.
Outside of boxing, Yakushiji has also had a successful career as an actor. He has appeared in several films and television dramas, including the popular Japanese drama "Gokusen". Yakushiji is also known for his work as a boxing commentator on Japanese television.
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Tsunku
Tsunku (October 29, 1968 Higashi-osaka-) also known as Terada Mitsuo or Mitsuo Terada is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, singer-songwriter, presenter, musician, talent manager and mixing engineer.
Tsunku is best known for being the founder and former lead vocalist of the popular J-pop group "Sharan Q". He started his music career in the early 1990s and later went on to write and produce music for various other artists, including several Hello! Project groups such as "Morning Musume" and "Berryz Kobo".
Apart from his work in the music industry, Tsunku has also dabbled in acting and television hosting. He has appeared in various television dramas, as well as hosted several television shows.
Another notable accomplishment of Tsunku's is his work as a talent manager. He has managed several famous names in the Japanese entertainment industry, including Ami Suzuki and Maki Goto.
Tsunku has been recognized for his contributions to the Japanese music industry with several awards, including the "Best Composer Award" at the 47th Japan Record Awards. He has also released several solo albums throughout his career, showcasing his talents as a singer-songwriter and musician.
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Kuranosuke Sasaki
Kuranosuke Sasaki (February 4, 1968 Kyoto-) otherwise known as 佐々木蔵之介, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Hideaki Sasaki or Sasaki Hideaki is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He has appeared in numerous films, television dramas, and stage productions throughout his career. Sasaki began his acting career in 1990 and gained recognition for his starring role in the 1994 television drama, "Asunaro Hakusho." He has since won multiple awards for his acting performances, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2012 Japan Academy Prize ceremony. In addition to acting, Sasaki is also a prolific voice actor and has lent his voice to various anime films and television series, including "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Neon Genesis Evangelion." Sasaki is considered one of the most accomplished actors of his generation in Japan.
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Akira Ohashi
Akira Ohashi (June 6, 1968-) also known as Akira Oohashi, Akira Ôhashi or Ōhashi Akira is a Japanese actor, stunt double, suit actor and film director.
He is best known for his work on tokusatsu series such as Kamen Rider, Super Sentai and Ultraman. Ohashi started his career in the entertainment industry in the late 1980s as a stunt double for various actors in tokusatsu TV series and movies. He eventually became a suit actor, donning the suits for monsters, villains and heroes in various tokusatsu productions.
In the late 2000s, Ohashi also started to work as a director, directing the action scenes and choreography for tokusatsu productions such as Kamen Rider W and Kamen Rider Fourze. He has also directed several episodes of other TV shows and movies outside of the tokusatsu genre.
Despite being primarily known for his tokusatsu work, Ohashi has also appeared in other TV shows and movies throughout his career, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
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Takao Osawa
Takao Osawa (March 11, 1968 Koto, Tokyo-) also known as Takao Ohsawa, Ōsawa Takao, Taka Osawa or Osawa Takao is a Japanese actor, model and film producer.
He began his career as a fashion model in the early 1990s, before transitioning into acting. Osawa has appeared in a variety of Japanese films and television dramas, and has also had roles in international productions, including the Hollywood film "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the Chinese film "The Taking of Tiger Mountain". In addition to his acting work, Osawa has produced a number of films, including the 2004 thriller "A Day on the Planet". He has won several awards for his acting, including the Best Actor award at the 27th Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his role in the film "White Night". Osawa is known for his handsome looks and laid-back demeanor, and has a devoted fan base both in Japan and abroad.
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Kazuma Suzuki
Kazuma Suzuki (October 8, 1968 Mishima-) is a Japanese actor, film director, model and fashion designer.
He started his career as a model and appeared in various fashion magazines in Japan during the 1990s. In 1997, he made his film debut with the movie "Tokyo Biyori" and has since then acted in numerous films and television dramas. He is known for his role in the popular Japanese drama series "Long Vacation". Suzuki has also directed several music videos and short films, and in 2020, he directed his first feature film "Hanataba Mitaina Koi wo Shita." Along with his successful career in the entertainment industry, Suzuki is also a fashion designer and runs his own clothing brand "GEKI".
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J.C. Bonnin
J.C. Bonnin (February 2, 1968 Okinawa-) otherwise known as Juan Carlos Bonnin, Juan Bonnin or Juan Carlos is a Japanese actor.
Born to a Japanese mother and Spanish father, J.C. Bonnin spent his childhood in various countries due to his father's military career. He attended high school in the United States before eventually returning to Japan to pursue his acting career. Bonnin first gained recognition in the Japanese entertainment industry in the early 1990s with his roles in popular TV dramas such as Rokubanme no Sayoko and Jinsei wa Jojo Da. He later expanded his career by branching out into film and theater. Throughout his career, Bonnin has become known for his versatile acting abilities and his ability to take on a range of diverse roles. In addition to his work as an actor, Bonnin is also known for his philanthropy and social activism, particularly in his work with organizations that support marginalized communities.
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Hōsei Tsukitei
Hōsei Tsukitei (February 15, 1968 Nishinomiya-) a.k.a. Yamasaki Hosei, Hôsei Yamasaki or Hôsei Tsukitei is a Japanese comedian and actor.
He is best known for being a member of the popular Japanese comedic duo Downtown, alongside Masatoshi Hamada. Tsukitei began his career as a comedian in the 1980s and rose to fame in the 1990s as part of Downtown. He is also a regular cast member on the popular Japanese variety show, "Gaki no Tsukai," and has appeared in numerous Japanese television dramas and films. In addition to his work as a comedian and actor, Tsukitei has also published several books and even hosted his own radio show.
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Satoshi Mikami
Satoshi Mikami (June 8, 1968 Tokyo-) is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He is best known for his work in Japanese animation, lending his voice to characters in popular anime series such as "Naruto," "Dragon Ball Super," and "One Piece." In addition to his voice acting work, Mikami has also appeared in live-action films and television dramas, showcasing his range as an actor. He made his debut in the entertainment industry in 1989 and has since become a respected figure among fans of Japanese pop culture. Mikami's versatility and talent have earned him numerous accolades, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2014 Seiyuu Awards for his role in the anime series "Prince of Stride: Alternative." Outside of his acting work, he is also known for his love of surfing and regularly participates in competitions.
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