Here are 14 famous actors from Japan were born in 1971:
Masahiro Kobayashi (May 16, 1971 Yakumo-) also known as Kobayashi Masahiro is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He was born in Yakumo, Hokkaido, Japan. Kobayashi has had an extensive career in the entertainment industry, starting out as a child actor in the mid-1970s. He has appeared in various TV dramas, films, and stage productions throughout his career. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Kobayashi has also lent his voice to various anime and video game characters, including the protagonist in the popular video game series "The Legend of Zelda." He is known for his versatile acting skills and has won several awards for his performances over the years. Kobayashi continues to be an active figure in the entertainment industry to this day.
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Ryohei Odai (February 23, 1971 Konohana-ku, Osaka-) a.k.a. Ryohei or Ryouhei is a Japanese actor.
Ryohei Odai started his acting career in the late 1990s, appearing in a number of dramas and movies in Japan. He gained popularity for his role in the TV drama "Kimi ga Omoide ni Naru Mae ni" and has since starred in various TV dramas such as "Jura no Yukai na Nakamatachi," "Iryu: Team Medical Dragon," and "Kekkon Aite wa Chusen de: Onii-chan to Yome?"
In addition to acting, Ryohei has also pursued a singing career, releasing several singles and albums in Japan. He has also dabbled in the fashion industry, launching his own clothing line in 2011.
Ryohei is known for his warm and friendly personality, as well as his good looks and fashion sense. He is a fan favorite among Japanese audiences and has been nominated for several awards for his performances in dramas and movies.
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Shigeki Hosokawa (December 16, 1971 Ogaki-) also known as Hosokawa Shigeki is a Japanese actor and model.
He began his career as a model in the 1990s and gained popularity as a fashion icon. He then transitioned to acting and made his debut in the 1996 film "Tokyo Biyori". He has since appeared in numerous films and television dramas, including "Water Boys" and "Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi". In addition to acting, Hosokawa is also known for his philanthropic work and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. He has been recognized for his contributions to society and was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2017.
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Kenji Matsuda (September 23, 1971 Ibaraki-) also known as Matsuda Kenji is a Japanese actor.
He is known for his work in television, film and theatre. Matsuda made his acting debut in 1992 in the television drama "Tokyo Love Story" and has since appeared in many popular Japanese dramas such as "Hana Yori Dango" and "Gokusen". He has also acted in numerous films including "The Taste of Tea" and "The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker".
In addition to his acting career, Matsuda has also worked as a voice actor in anime and video games. He has lent his voice to characters in popular anime series such as "One Piece" and "Naruto". Matsuda has won several awards for his acting including the Japanese Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "The Taste of Tea".
Outside of acting, Matsuda is also a skilled musician and plays multiple instruments including the guitar and bass. He has released several albums and has performed in concerts across Japan. Matsuda is known for his charity work and has been involved in various social and environmental causes throughout his career.
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Yutaka Takenouchi (January 2, 1971 Tokyo-) also known as Takenouchi Yutaka is a Japanese actor.
He first gained fame for his role in the popular Japanese drama, "Beach Boys." Since then, he has appeared in numerous successful TV series and films, including "Long Vacation," "With Love," and "The Fugitive: Plan B."
In addition to his acting career, Takenouchi is also a philanthropist and environmentalist. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and the founder of the nonprofit organization, Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund, which aims to protect endangered species.
Takenouchi is known for his good looks and has been voted one of Japan's most handsome men several times. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding and surfing.
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Hiroyuki Yabe (October 23, 1971 Suita-) also known as Yabe Hiroyuki is a Japanese comedian and actor. He has one child, Ryo Yabe.
Yabe Hiroyuki first rose to fame as a member of the comedy duo "Cocorico" which he formed with his partner Naoki Tanaka. They have appeared in numerous TV shows, hosting a wide range of programs such as variety shows, travel shows, and game shows. Yabe has also been involved in acting, appearing in dramas like "The Queen's Classroom" and movies such as "Thermae Romae II". He has won several awards throughout his career, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Japan Academy Prize in 2016. Yabe is also known for his charitable work, having participated in many fundraisers and donating generously to various causes.
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Masami Iwasaki (October 25, 1971 Tokyo-) also known as Iwasaki Masami is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is affiliated with Aoni Production and has lent his voice to several notable anime characters such as Kensei Ma in "Bleach", Denki Kaminari in "My Hero Academia", and Riki Nendou in "The Disastrous Life of Saiki K." In addition to his voice acting work, Iwasaki has also appeared in various stage plays and live-action dramas, including "Kamen Rider Gaim" and "Ultraman Ginga S". He is known for his deep and versatile voice, which allows him to portray a wide range of characters. Iwasaki has won several awards for his voice acting performances, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 10th Seiyuu Awards.
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Masato Hagiwara (August 21, 1971 Chigasaki-) also known as Hagiwara Masato is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He graduated from Tamagawa University, where he studied literature. Hagiwara is known for his roles in various popular anime series, such as Tetsuwan Birdy, Mobile Suit Gundam UC, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. He has also acted in numerous Japanese TV dramas, including AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo and Kamen Rider Kuuga. In addition to his work as an actor, Hagiwara has also done voice acting for video games, such as the popular Dragon Quest series. He has received several awards for his acting, including the award for Best Supporting Actor at the 25th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2002.
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Hidetoshi Nishijima (March 29, 1971 Hachioji-) also known as Nishijima Hidetoshi is a Japanese actor.
He debuted as an actor in 1996 in the television drama "Tokyo Bayside Shakedown" and quickly rose to fame with his role in the hit film "Dolls" in 2002. Nishijima has received critical acclaim for his performances in various films, including "License to Live," "Paco and the Magical Picture Book," and "The Great Passage," winning numerous awards for his work. He is also known for his roles in popular television dramas, such as "At Home Dad" and "Strawberry Night," as well as hosting the Japanese version of "Saturday Night Live." In addition to his acting career, Nishijima has also worked as a model and musician, playing guitar and singing in a band called NONA REEVES.
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Suneohair (May 6, 1971 Nagaoka-) a.k.a. Watanabe Kenji, Suneo hair or Kenji Watanabe is a Japanese actor, film score composer and musician.
He started his music career in college as a member of the band Yuuhi ni Owatte. After the band broke up, he began performing as a solo artist under the name Suneohair. He gained popularity for his unique singing style and emotive, introspective lyrics. In 2005, he released the song "WALTZ," which became a hit and was used as the opening theme for the anime series "Honey and Clover." He has since composed music for various anime series, films, and dramas. In addition to his music career, Suneohair has also appeared in several television dramas and films, including "Gokusen 2" and "Hana and Alice."
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山崎まさよし (December 23, 1971 Kusatsu-) otherwise known as やまざきまさよし, Yamazaki Masayoshi, Masayoshi Yamazaki, yamazaki_masayoshi or Yamazaki, Masayoshi is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and actor.
He began his career as a street musician in the 1990s before signing with an independent record label and releasing his debut album "From Here to There" in 1995. His breakthrough success came with the 1998 album "Home", which peaked at number one on the Oricon charts and featured the hit single "One More Time, One More Chance".
Yamazaki is known for his soulful and introspective lyrics that often explore themes of love, loss and personal growth. He has released over a dozen studio albums, won several awards for his music, and is widely regarded as one of Japan's most respected and influential musicians.
In addition to his music career, Yamazaki has also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as "Ping Pong" and "Honey and Clover" as well as stage productions. He is also a dedicated humanitarian, supporting various causes related to disaster relief, environmental issues and human rights.
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Ken Yasuda (May 2, 1971 Kyoto-) also known as Japan's Arnold Schwarzenegger or The Samurai Warrior is a Japanese bodybuilder, actor, baseball player and athletic trainer.
Ken Yasuda was born in Kyoto, Japan in 1971. He is known for his muscular physique which earned him the nickname "Japan's Arnold Schwarzenegger." Yasuda began his career in athletics as a professional baseball player for the Orix BlueWave, but he later shifted his focus to bodybuilding and became a successful competitor. He is a former Mr. Universe and Mr. Japan.
In addition to his athletic pursuits, Yasuda has also worked as an actor in Japan. He has appeared in numerous films and television dramas, often playing physically demanding roles that showcase his muscular physique. Yasuda is also a certified athletic trainer and has worked with professional athletes to help them improve their physical performance.
Outside of his professional career, Yasuda is known for his philanthropic work. He has worked with organizations that promote health and fitness in Japan, and he has used his platform to raise awareness about issues like obesity and diabetes.
Overall, Ken Yasuda is a multi-talented individual who has achieved success in a variety of fields. He remains a popular figure in Japan and around the world, admired for his athleticism, acting skills, and commitment to promoting health and fitness.
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Yūsuke Santamaria (March 12, 1971 Oita-) also known as Yūsuke Nakayama or Yusuke Nakayama is a Japanese graphic designer, animator, playwright, actor and singer.
He started his career as a graphic designer and animator, working for companies such as Softbank and Uniqlo. He also wrote plays and acted in various theatrical productions, including a Japanese production of "The Pillowman" by Martin McDonagh. In addition to his work in theater, he has also appeared in numerous television dramas, films, and commercials. He released his debut single "Tsunaide te" in 2006, and has since released several albums and singles as a singer. Throughout his career, he has won several awards for his work in various fields, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 34th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "A Bolt from the Blue".
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Tsuda Kenjiro (June 11, 1971 Osaka Prefecture-) also known as Kenjiro, Tsuda, Kenjirou Tsuda, Tsuda Kenjirou, Tsuda Kenjirō or Kenjirō Tsuda is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is affiliated with Stardust Promotion and has played a variety of roles in anime, video games, and Japanese dubs of foreign media. Some of his most notable roles include Seto Kaiba in the Japanese version of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Mikoto Suoh in K Project, Louis Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist, and Hannes in Attack on Titan. He has also lent his voice to characters in popular video games such as Final Fantasy XV, Fire Emblem Awakening, and Persona 5. In addition to his voice acting career, Tsuda has also acted in live-action films and television dramas.
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