Japanese movie stars born in 1976
Here are 14 famous actors from Japan were born in 1976:
Yūsuke Iseya
Yūsuke Iseya (May 29, 1976 Setagaya-) also known as Iseya Yūsuke or Yusuke Iseya is a Japanese actor, film director, screenwriter and businessperson.
He began his acting career in the late 1990s and has since become a prominent figure in the Japanese film industry, known for his versatile acting skills and captivating performances. Some of his notable works include "Sukiyaki Western Django," "Casshern," "Blindness," and "13 Assassins."
In addition to his acting career, Iseya has also directed several short films and music videos. He co-directed the acclaimed 2011 film "Smuggler" with Katsuhito Ishii, for which he also wrote the screenplay.
Outside of the entertainment industry, Iseya is also a successful businessperson. He founded his own eyewear brand, Iseya Glasses, in 2005 and has since expanded the business to multiple stores across Japan.
Overall, Yūsuke Iseya is a multi-talented individual who has made a significant impact in various industries in Japan.
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Joe Odagiri
Joe Odagiri (February 16, 1976 Tsuyama-) a.k.a. Jô Odagiri, Jo Odagiri, Jou Odagiri, Tom Jong Il, Odajō, Odagiri Jo, Odagiri Jō, Jō Odagiri, John Odagiri or Odagiri Joe is a Japanese actor and musician.
He first gained popularity through his roles in the TV dramas and movies like "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Mizo no Koe o Kiku Tetsudai", and "Koi no Mon". Later, he started working in international films and got recognition globally with his performances in movies like "Shinobi: Heart Under Blade", "Azumi", and "The Flavours of Youth".
Apart from acting, Joe Odagiri is also a musician and has released three albums and several singles. He is known for his unique style of blending rock and pop genres in his music. In 2002, he formed his own rock band called "Odagiri Joe Explosion".
Joe Odagiri has won several awards for his acting performances, including the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 for his role in "Miyuki". He continues to be a prominent figure in the Japanese entertainment industry and is regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
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Noriaki Sugiyama
Noriaki Sugiyama (March 9, 1976 Tokyo-) a.k.a. Noriyaki Sugiyama, Sugiyama Noriaki or Non-tan is a Japanese voice actor, singer and actor.
He is most famous for lending his voice to Sasuke Uchiha in the Japanese version of the popular anime series Naruto. Sugiyama has also voiced other notable anime characters such as Shirou Fujimoto in Blue Exorcist, England in Hetalia: Axis Powers, and Arataka Reigen in Mob Psycho 100. In addition to his voice acting career, Sugiyama has also made appearances in several Japanese TV dramas and films. He is also a skilled singer, having released several singles and albums throughout his career.
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Masaya Matsukaze
Masaya Matsukaze (September 9, 1976 Fukushima Prefecture-) also known as Matsukaze Masaya, Masaya Watanabe, Watanabe Masaya or Matsukaze, Masaya is a Japanese actor, radio personality, voice actor and tarento.
He initially pursued a career in athletics but shifted his focus to entertainment after a sports injury. Matsukaze made his debut as a voice actor in 2001, lending his voice to several anime series such as "Naruto," "Bleach," and "Gintama." He has also had roles in various video games including "Final Fantasy XIII" and "Fire Emblem Heroes."
In addition to his voice work, Matsukaze has appeared in several live-action dramas and films, including the popular television series "Hana Yori Dango" and "Aibou." He has also been a regular guest on various variety shows and been a guest co-host on a radio program.
Outside of entertainment, Matsukaze is known for his philanthropic efforts. He has been a spokesperson for the NPO "Sea Shepherd Conservation Society" and is an advocate for animal rights. In 2021, he was appointed as a "goodwill ambassador" for the United Nations Development Programme.
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Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (November 24, 1976 Hitachinaka-) is a Japanese actor.
He initially pursued a career in martial arts and became a karate champion before transitioning to acting. Ikeuchi is best known for his roles in Japanese period dramas and action films. He gained international recognition for his role as Lieutenant Ito in the Hollywood film "The Last Samurai" (2003) alongside Tom Cruise. Apart from acting, he is also a musician and has released several albums. Ikeuchi has won several awards for his acting, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the Japan Academy Film Prize and the Best Actor award at the Hochi Film Awards.
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Hiroki Shimowada
Hiroki Shimowada (April 8, 1976 Mie Prefecture-) also known as Hiroki Sjimowada is a Japanese voice actor, actor and musician.
Shimowada began his career as a musician, working with several bands as a vocalist and guitarist. He then shifted his focus to voice acting, making his debut as Katsuya Serizawa in the anime series "Gravitation." Since then, he has provided voices for many popular anime characters, including Yosuke Hanamura in "Persona 4: The Animation," Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd in "Fire Emblem: Three Houses," and Tamotsu Denkigai in "Akiba's Trip."
Aside from his voice acting work, Shimowada has also worked as an actor in live-action productions. He had a supporting role in the film "Puzzle" and has appeared in several stage productions, including the musicals "Prince of Tennis" and "Blood Blockade Battlefront." In addition, he has released several albums as a solo artist and has contributed to the soundtracks of various anime series.
Throughout his career, Shimowada has received critical acclaim for his versatile performances and has amassed a dedicated fanbase both in Japan and internationally.
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Shintarō Asanuma
Shintarō Asanuma (January 5, 1976 Morioka-) also known as Asanuma Shintarō, Shintarou Asanuma or Asanuma, Shintarou is a Japanese voice actor, actor, screenwriter, theatre director, designer and copywriter.
Asanuma started his acting career in the late 1990s, appearing in various stage plays and TV dramas. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a voice actor, lending his voice to popular anime characters such as Isami Aldini in Shokugeki no Soma and Takatoshi Tsuda in Seitokai Yakuindomo. Asanuma has also worked as a screenwriter, notably co-writing the script for the anime series Accel World. In addition to his work in entertainment, Asanuma is also a skilled designer and copywriter, having created original characters and slogans for various companies. Asanuma has won numerous awards for his work, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 5th Seiyu Awards in 2011.
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Go Jibiki
Go Jibiki (May 7, 1976 Tokyo-) also known as Jibiki Gō or Gô Jibiki is a Japanese actor.
He first rose to prominence in the entertainment industry with his role as the titular character in the hit TV drama, "Kamen Rider Kuuga," which aired in 2000. Since then, Jibiki has become a well-known figure in Japanese film and television, with notable roles in movies such as "Ichi the Killer" (2001) and "Autoreiji" (2010). He has also been recognized for his acting skills, winning the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 78th Kinema Junpo Awards in 2014 for his role in "The Light Shines Only There." In addition to acting, Jibiki has also worked as a stuntman and a voice actor for video games.
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Nobuhiro Yamashita
Nobuhiro Yamashita (August 29, 1976 Aichi Prefecture-) also known as Yamashita Nobuhiro is a Japanese film director, screenwriter, television director, actor and film editor.
He graduated from the Japan Institute of the Moving Image and made his directorial debut with the film "No One's Ark" in 2003. Yamashita is known for his realistic and character-driven storytelling, often exploring the themes of youth and coming-of-age in his works. Some of his notable films include "Linda Linda Linda" (2005), "Matsugane Ressha" (2013), and "Over the Fence" (2016). In addition to directing, Yamashita has also worked as a screenwriter, television director, actor and film editor, showcasing his versatility in the entertainment industry.
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Kohei Murakami
Kohei Murakami (June 1, 1976 Tokyo-) also known as Kôhei Murakami is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
He played his first major role as a voice actor in 2004 as the character Yu Kanda in the popular anime adaptation of D.Gray-man. Murakami has also played notable roles in other anime series, including Shiroe in Log Horizon, Touma Kamijou in A Certain Magical Index and its spinoffs, and Ryunosuke Akutagawa in Bungo Stray Dogs.
In addition to his voice acting career, Murakami has also appeared in live-action TV dramas, such as the Japanese adaptation of the American series, 24. He has also acted in stage plays, including a production of the popular manga series, Saint Seiya.
Murakami has won several awards for his voice acting, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 9th Seiyu Awards and the Overseas Fan Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards.
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Kazuma Horie
Kazuma Horie (July 23, 1976 Tokyo-) is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
He is affiliated with the talent agency, Across Entertainment. Horie is best known for his voice roles in anime series such as Tsukune Aono in Rosario + Vampire, Toyohisa Shimazu in Drifters, and Joe Shimamura in Cyborg 009: Call of Justice. In addition to his voice acting work, he has also appeared in several Japanese TV dramas and movies, including Kamen Rider W and the live-action adaptation of the manga Kakegurui. Horie's hobbies include playing guitar and working out.
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Ryuji Ito
Ryuji Ito (April 8, 1976 Iwate Prefecture-) is a Japanese actor and wrestler.
He is best known for his hardcore style of wrestling and has competed in various promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Deathmatch Village. In addition to his wrestling career, Ito has also appeared in several Japanese films and television dramas. He made his acting debut in the 2002 film "Manhole" and has since starred in various productions, including the 2006 drama "Prisoner" and the 2012 film "Mop Girl". Despite his success in both wrestling and acting, Ito is known for his humble personality and dedication to his craft. Outside of his career, he is also an avid collector of Japanese action figures and toys.
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Tsuyoshi Muro
Tsuyoshi Muro (January 23, 1976 Kanagawa Prefecture-) is a Japanese actor.
He made his acting debut in 1998 in the drama series "Gift". Since then, he has appeared in numerous TV dramas, films, and stage productions. Muro is best known for his roles in the TV dramas "Engine" (2005) and "Boss" (2009), as well as the films "Gatchaman" (2013) and "Sadako" (2019). He has won several awards for his performances, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 35th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Hankyu Railways - A 15 Minute Miracle" (2011). Apart from his acting career, Muro is also a skilled musician and has released several albums as a singer-songwriter.
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Masayoshi Haneda
Masayoshi Haneda (November 13, 1976 Chiyoda, Tokyo-) also known as Masayoshi Hanada is a Japanese actor.
He graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Haneda started his acting career in 1997 and has since appeared in numerous TV dramas, movies and stage productions. He is best known for his roles in popular Japanese dramas such as "Kamen Rider Agito", "Gal Circle", and "Shinzanmono". Haneda has won several awards for his acting, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 28th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Tsukiji Uogashi Sandaime". In addition to acting, he has also worked as a voice actor and has provided the Japanese dub voice for several Hollywood films. Haneda is known for his dedication to his craft, often undergoing intense physical training and preparation for his roles.
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