The saying “start them young” is very applicable to Japan’s acting world, particularly to its male actors. Some even appear on the screen at an early age of thirteen months old!
From child actors to internationally acclaimed veteran actors, the talents housed by Japan are all undeniably exceptional in what they do.
2017 List of Famous Japanese Male Actors Under 18
Hinata Igarashi (8)
Hinata Igarashi made his debut at the age of 4 on the TBS show, “Tonbi”. Since then, he has starred in several projects including tv film movies and drama series.
Place and Date of Birth: Japan; January 30, 2009
Movies: Your Home is My Business! Returns (2017)
Series: Tonbi (2013), Starman (2013), Tomorrow, Mom Won't Be Here (2014), Fathers (2014), Mama to Papa ga Ikiru Riyu (2014), Is There a Vet in the House? (2014), Mother Game (2015), Teddy Go! (2015), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2016), Toge (2016)
Kokoro Terada (9)
Kokoro Terada has already received a couple of awards for being a child actor. He is also known for being a charming television personality.
Place and Date of Birth: Aichi, Japan; June 10, 2008
Movies: L-DK (2014), Twilight: Saya in Sasara (2014)
Series: Tonbi (2013), Tomorrow, Mom Won't Be Here (2014), From Five To Nine (2015), Our House (2016)
Fuku Suzuki (13)
Fuku Suzuki made his debut in July 2006 when he was just 2 years old. Under the guidance of the Theatre Academy, he has continued to make waves in the acting world through supporting and main roles.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; June 17, 2004
Movies: Chonmage Purin (2010), Humanoid Monster, Bem (2012), Kid's Police (2013), My Little Nightmare: The Movie (2014), Rose Color's Buko (2014), Pirameki's Children Story (2015), Anniversary (2016), Neko Ninja (2017), Mix (2017)
Series: Shoni Kyumei (2008), Marumo no Okite (2011), CO Ishoku Coordinator (2011), Kodomo Keisatsu (2012), Husband’s Lover (2013), Neko nin (2017)
Shota Taguchi (13)
Shota Taguchi is represented by Amuse, Inc, the same agency that belonged to the actor Masaharu Fukuyama who Shota’s mother idolized when he was young.
Place and Date of Birth: Saitama, Japan; June 16, 2004
Movies: Tenku no Hachi (2015)
Series: Korette Aridesu ka (2011), Reiko and Reiko (2012), Hana Moyu (2015)
Seishiro Kato (16)
Seishiro Kato first appeared on the screen during the 13th month after he was born. In 2009, the Japanese community greatly took notice of him for his role in an NHK drama series known as Tenchijin.
Place and Date of Birth: Kanagawa, Japan; August 4, 2001
Movies: Shining Boy & Little Randy (2005), No More Cry (2009), Ninja Kids!!! (2011), For Love's Sake (2012), Assassination Classroom (2015), Assassination Classroom: Graduation (2016)
Series: Heart of a Samurai (2009), Wagaya no Rekishi (2010), Odd Family 11 (2011), Today is the Best Day (2012)
List of Top 5 Japanese Male Actors Under 25
Kento Yamazaki (22)
Kento Yamazaki is a part of the Agency Stardust Promotion. He started his acting career in 2010 and continues to show a promising future.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; September 7, 1994
Movies: The Wings of the Kirin (2011), Control Tower (2011), Another (2012), Love for Beginners (2012), Jinx!!! (2013), L.DK (2014), Death Note (2015), Heroine Disqualified (2015), Orange (2015), Wolf Girl and Black Prince (2016), Your Lie in April (2016), One Week Friends (2017)
Series: The Female Teacher in Black (2012), Water Polo Yankees (2014), Sukinahito ga Iru Koto (2016)
Ryoma Takeuchi (24)
Ryoma Takeuchi works as a model and actor under Horipro. He is best known for playing Shinnosuke Tomari in the Kamen Rider movies and series.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; April 26, 1993
Movies: Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Drive & Gaim: Movie War Full Throttle (2014), Superhero Wars GP: Kamen Rider #3 (2015), Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future (2015), Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Ghost & Drive: Super Movie War Genesis (2015), Yell for the Blue Sky (2016), Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider (2016), Teiichi: Battle of Supreme High (2017)
Series: Kamen Rider Drive (2014 – 2015)
Ryosuke Yamada (24)
Ryosuke Yamada is not only an actor but a lead singer, band member, and idol, as well. He received the Newcomers’ Japan Academy Award of the Year for his role in the movie, “Assassination Classroom” in 2015.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; May 9, 1993
Movies: Assassination Classroom (2015), Grasshopper (2015), Assassination Classroom: Graduation (2016), Fullmetal Alchemist (2017)
Series: Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo (1995), Shounen Club (2000), Scrap Teacher (2008), School Revolution! (2009), Perfect Son (2012), Cain and Abel (2016)
Ryunosuke Kamiki (24)
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Ryunosuke Kamiki is more active as a voice actor than a movie or tv show actor. Nonetheless, his long list of projects serves as a testament to his exceptional talent.
Place and Date of Birth: Saitama, Japan; May 19, 1993
Movies: Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998), Spirited Away (2001), Rockers (2003), Survive Style 5+ (2004), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), The Great Yokai War (2005), Zoo (2005), Hoshi o Katta Hi (2006), Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur (2006), Arthur and the Invisibles (2006), Big Man Japan (2007), The Perfect World of Kai (2007), Into the Faraway Sky (2007), Summer Wars (2009), Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009), The Secret World of Arrietty (2010), The Princess and the Pilot (2011), SPEC: Heaven (2012), The Kirishima Thing (2012), SPEC: Close (2013), Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014), Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (2014), As the Gods Will (2014), Poison Berry in My Brain (2015), Too Young To Die! (2016), The Sun (2016), Your Name (2016), March Comes in like a Lion (2017)
Series: Aikurushii (2005), Dondo Hare (2007), Keizoku 2: SPEC (2010), Kōkōsei Restaurant (2011), 11 Nin mo Iru! (2011), Taira no Kiyomori (2012), Samurai Sensei (2015)
Sota Fukushi (24)
Sota Fukushi is known for being a part of the Kamen Rider movies and series, among many other projects. He currently has two awards, both of which are for being the best newcomer of the year.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; May 30, 1993
Movies: Kamen Rider OOO Wonderful: The Shogun and the 21 Core Medals (2011), Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO: Movie War Mega Max (2011), Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen (2012), Kamen Rider Fourze the Movie: Space, Here We Come! (2012), Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum (2012), Library Wars (2013), Kamen Rider × Super Sentai × Space Sheriff: Super Hero Taisen Z (2013), Enoshima Prism (2013), Detective Conan: The Sniper from Another Dimension (2014), Say 'I Love You' (2014), In the Hero (2014), As the Gods Will (2014), Strobe Edge (2015), Library Wars: The Last Mission (2015), Tomorrow I Will Date With Yesterday's You (2016), Blade of the Immortal (2017)
Series: Kamen Rider Fourze (2011 – 2012), Starman Kono Hoshi no Koi (2013), The Clinic on the Sea (2013), Koinaka (2015)
List of Top 5 Japanese Male Actors Over 30
Ryo Nishikido (32)
Ryo Nishikido is better known for being a singer, songwriter, and idol but he has also had his fair share of the acting industry, being part of various projects since 2005.
Place and Date of Birth: Osaka, Japan; November 3, 1984
Movies: Niini no Koto o Wasurenaide (2009), A Boy and His Samurai (2010), Eight Ranger (2012), Kenchô omotenashi ka (2013), I Just Wanna Hug You (2014), Eight Ranger 2 (2014)
Series: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi (2005), 1 Litre of Tears (2005), Kanjani8 no Janiben (2007), Last Friends (2008), Ties of Shooting Stars (2008), Can!Jani (2008 – 2009), Joker Yurusarezaru Sosakan (2010), Full Throttle Girl (2011), Papadoru! (2012), Welcome to Fortune Telling Onmyo Shop (2013), Gomen ne Seishun! (2014), Samurai Sensei (2015)
Toma Ikuta (32)
Toma Ikuta is among Japan’s esteemed actors who have an innate talent for portraying diverse characters. Other than tv series and movies, he has also starred in musicals, tv news programs, and feature films.
Place and Date of Birth: Hokkaido, Japan; October 7, 1984
Movies: For You in Full Blossom - Ikemen Paradise (2007), Hanamizuki (2010), The Fallen Angel (2010), Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year Enigma (2011), We Were Here: Part 1 (2012), The Brain Man (2013), The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji (2013), Miracle: Devil Claus' Love and Magic (2014), Prophecy (2015), Grasshopper (2015), The Top Secret: Murder in Mind (2016), Close-Knit (2017)
Series: Hana Yori Dango (2005), Maō (2008), Unubore Deka (2010), Osozaki no Himawari (2012), Gunshi Kanbei (2014), Ouroboros (2015)
Hiro Mizushima (33)
Hiro Mizushima serves as an actor, writer, creative director, and producer. As such, the majority of his previous projects as an actor consists of roles in tv shows.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; April 13, 1984
Movies: Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love (2006), Love*Com: The Movie (2006), Drop (2009), Black Butler (2014)
Series: Brother Beat (2005), Kamen Rider Kabuto (2006 – 2007), Watashitachi no Kyōkasho (2007), For You in Full Blossom - Ikemen Paradise (2007), Zettai Kareshi (2008), Mei-chan no Shitsuji (2009), Tokyo Dogs (2009)
Mokomichi Hayami (33)
Mokomichi Hayami made his debut as an actor in 2002 in the tv series, “You’re Under Arrest”. Simultaneously, he also maintains a successful modeling career.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; August 10, 1984
Movies: Rough (2006), Kochikame-The Movie: Save The Kachidiki Bridge! (2011), Princess Jellyfish (2014)
Series: You're Under Arrest (2002), Drop-out Teacher Returns to School (2003), My Darling Little Witch (2003), Destiny of Love (2004), Brother Beat (2005), Gokusen 2 (2005), Train Man: Densha Otoko (2005), After the Rains and Dreams (2005), Rondo (2006), Regatta (2006), Jotei (2007), Hataraki Man (2007), Tokyo Tower (2007), Absolute Boyfriend (2008), Oh! My Girl!! (2008), Kochikame (2009), Hammer Session! (2010), Diet Rebound (2011), Houkago wa Mystery Totomo ni (2012), Jun & Ai (2012 – 2013), Strategist Kanbe (2014), Emergency Interrogation Room (2014), From Five To Nine (2015)
Osamu Mukai (35)
Osamu Mukai graduated with a degree in Genetic Engineering from Meiji University. He worked at a bar before being recruited by a talent agency group.
Place and Date of Birth: Kanagawa, Japan; February 7, 1982
Movies: Wrestling with a Memory (2008), Redline (2009), Hanamizuki (2010), Paradise Kiss (2011), We Can't Change the World. But, We Wanna Build a School in Cambodia (2011), SPEC: Heaven (2012), Girls for Keeps (2012), Yellow Elephant (2013), Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum (2013), SPEC: Close (2013), My Pretend Girlfriend (2014), Her Granddaughter (2014), Oh Brother, Oh Sister! (2014), S The Last Policeman - Recovery of Our Future (2015), The Big Bee (2015), Nobunaga Concerto (2016)
Series: Nodame Cantabile (2006), Atashinchi no Danshi (2009), Shinzanmono (2010), Gō (2011), Summer Rescue - Hospital Of Sky (2012), Hungry! (2012), Toto Neechan (2016)
List of Top 10 Japanese Male Actors Over 40 and 50
Tadanobu Asano (43)
Tadanobu Asano is known for being an esteemed musician and actor. His popular roles include the Dragon Eye Morrison, Mamoru Arita, and Kenji.
Place and Date of Birth: Kanagawa, Japan; November 27, 1973
Movies: Maborosi (1995), Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (1998), Ichi the Killer (2001), Last Life in the Universe (2003), Zatōichi (2003), Survive Style 5+ (2004), The Taste of Tea (2004), Mongol (2007), Thor (2011), Battleship (2012), Thor: The Dark World (2013), 47 Ronin (2013), Journey to the Shore (2015), Silence (2016), The Wasted Times (2016)
Yutaka Takenouchi (46)
Yutaka Takenouchi debuted as an actor in 1994 through a local drama series. Prior to his acting career, he worked as a model.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; January 2, 1971
Movies: Between Calmness and Passion (2001), The Hovering Blade (2009), Oba: The Last Samurai (2011), The Apology King (2013), The Tale Of Nishino (2014), At Home (2015), A Living Promise (2016), Godzilla Resurgence (2016)
Series: Mada Koi wa Hajimaranai (1995), Long Vacation (1996), Beach Boys (1997 – 1998), With Love (1998), Seikimatsu no Uta (1998), Dekichatta Kekkon (2001), Drop-out Teacher Returns to School (2003), Ruri's Island (2005), BOSS (2009 – 2011), Nagareboshi (2010)
Hiroshi Abe (53)
Hiroshi Abe continues to work as an actor and model up to this day. He has been nominated for several awards throughout his career and has won the majority of them.
Place and Date of Birth: Kanagawa, Japan; June 22, 1964
Movies: Godzilla Millenium (1999), Tokyo Raiders (2000), Hana and Alice (2004), Hasami Otoko (2005), Taitei no ken (2007), Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust (2007), Team Batista no Eikō (2008), Still Walking (2008), The Wings of the Kirin (2011), A Ghost of a Chance (2011), Thermae Romae (2012), After the Storm (2016)
Series: Trick (2000 – 2014), Kekkon Dekinai Otoko (2006), Heart of a Samurai (2009), Shiroi haru (2009), Shinzanmono (2010), Going My Home (2012)
Hiroyuki Sanada (56)
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Hiroyuki Sanada, also known as Hiroyuki Shimosawa, originally planned to be an action star. Throughout the years, he has proven his ability to take on different characters and effortlessly convince any person of his role. He also serves as a father to two children.
Place and Date of Birth: Tokyo, Japan; October 12, 1960
Movies: Ring (1998), The Twilight Samurai (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), The White Countess (2005), The Promise (2005), Rush Hour 3 (2007), Sunshine (2007), Speed Racer (2008), The City of Your Final Destination (2009), The Railway Man (2013), 47 Ronin (2013), The Wolverine (2013), Mr. Holmes (2015), Life (2017)
Ken Watanabe (57)
Ken Watanabe is among the esteemed Japanese actors recognized on a global scale. He is often associated with tragic characters in Western films.
Place and Date of Birth: Koide, Japan; October 21, 1959
Movies: Bruce's Fists of Vengeance (1980), MacArthur's Children (1984), Tampopo (1985), The Sea and Poison (1986), Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald (1997), Space Travelers (2000), Sennen no Koi Story of Genji (2001), The Last Samurai (2003), Batman Begins (2005), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Year One in the North (2005), Memories of Tomorrow (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), The Unbroken (2009), Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009), Shanghai (2010), Inception (2010), Unforgiven (2013), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Godzilla (2014), San Andreas (2015), The Sea of Trees (2015), Rage (2016), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Koji Yakusho (61)
Koji Yakusho first starred in films during the year 1979. Since then, he has built quite the filmography and won more than twenty awards.
Place and Date of Birth: Nagasaki, Japan; January 1, 1956
Movies: Tampopo (1985), Shall We Dance? (1996), Lost Paradise (1997), The Eel (1997), Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Babel (2006), Tokyo Sonata (2008), 13 Assassins (2010), Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011), Chronicle of My Mother (2011), The Woodsman and the Rain (2011), The Kiyosu Conference (2013), The World of Kanako (2014), A Samurai Chronicle (2014), The Boy and the Beast (2015), The Emperor in August (2015)