The vast world of Japanese films is brutal to restrict. A diverse list to jumpstart your opening or further your excess in modern Japanese movies, post-war masterpieces, feminist shorts and silent movies.
1. Mackenyu
Mackenyu's hugely popular young actor is the charming Mackenyu Arata, or simply Mackenyu. Fluent in English and Japanese, he separates his tour between Tokyo and LA, taking on tasks in both countries. He earned his Hollywood debut in Pacific Rising Uprising (2018).
2. Sho Kosugi
The former All Japan Karate Champion starred in a trilogy of martial arts ninja films during the 1980s. Kosugi even used to run a group of martial arts acting schools when he was permanently staying in Japan. Sho Kosugi may have become a prominent film figure during the 1980s, but he began his proficient acting profession by playing a handful of uncredited movie roles.
3. Juzo Itami
Best known for his second feature film Tampopo which proved to be a renowned hit internationally, he was an actor, screenwriter, and director par excellence. Juzo Itami may have met with a rather unfortunate and mysterious death, but he is one of the few film personalities who lived his life with a purpose. While he was also a decent actor, Itami is fondly remembered for directing films that touched upon the various sensitive aspects of Japanese society.
4. Kyu Sakamoto
Sakamoto was the first Asian recording artist to have a number-one song on the United States Billboard Hot 100 list. Kyu Sakamoto, who made his acting debut in the 1955 drama film Takekurabe, is better known for his impactful singing than his acting. However, he has been a part of several film projects. He was best known outside his home country for his song "Sukiyaki."
5. Yoshimasa Hosoya
The actor earned an award for Best Supporting Actor at both the 8th Seiyu Awards and the 10th Seiyu Awards, respectively. A voice actor and narrator, Yoshimasa Hosoya first participated in a television show titled Aria: The Animation in 2005. However, in the first half of 2017, Hosoya announced that he would need to take a break from performing to undergo treatment for his throat.
6. Hiroshi Tamaki
The actor, who found further fame after enacting a role in the drama Nodame Cantabile, also started his singing career with the release of the single "Seasons" in 2004. Aside from being an actor, Hiroshi Tamaki is also a singer and model who was uncovered by a skilled agent while shopping with mates.
7. Masaki Suda
The actor, who has been a close junior to other film personalities such as Shun Oguri and Takayuki Yamada, released his debut song, "Mita Koto mo Nai Keshiki" shortly after becoming famous. A well-regarded actor and singer in Japan, Masaki Suda has received the Japan Academy Film Prize for Superior Execution by a Performer in the Greatest Function for his amazing performance in Wilderness.
8. Takuya Kimura
Takuya Kimura, who made his acting debut in the television movie About Her Brother in 1990, is also a singer and radio personality. Soon after, Kimura was dubbed "The King of Ratings" by the media and his supporters. This is because several of the shows that he starred in went on to generate high ratings. He was a leading member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia.
9. Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe has been a reliable big-screen name for as long as thirty years. The actor starred in the hugely popular television series Dragon Zakura. It is said that on the night that it first aired, the show captured almost 30% of Japan's entire television viewing population. He is best known for his character projection in features such as Still Walking, Chocolate, and Godzilla 2000: Millennium.
10. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
This Japanese-born American actor, film producer, and martial artist was first seen playing a part in the 1986 feature film Big Trouble in Little China. He delivered praiseworthy performances in titles such as The Last Emperor, Mortal Kombat, Licence to Kill, American Me, and Rising Sun. The performer created a character for himself by mostly playing negative roles in some of his most popular motion pictures.
