Currently, it’s becoming common for actors to change their names and this culture also applies to the Japanese film industry. There are several reasons for changing the name of the actors. Some don’t like their original name. Some change their names for privacy as it’s harder to find them on the web or in a phone directory as it helps to keep their families out of public scrutiny.
Given some of the top Japanese actors, who have gained recognition and fame through their acting, changed their names. They adopted new stage names for their profession.
1. Sessue Hayakawa
Kintarō Hayakawa ( Hayakawa Kintarō).Born on June 10, 1886, and died on November 23, 1973, he is known professionally as Sessue Hayakawa (Hayakawa Sesshū), was a Japanese actor who starred in American, Japanese, French, German, and British films and was also a matinee idol. He was one of the most popular stars in Hollywood during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s. Sessue was the first actor of Asian descent to realize high status as a leading man in the United States and Europe. His "broodingly handsome" good looks and typecasting as a sinister villain with sexual dominance made him a heartthrob among American women. In Hollywood, he became the first male sex image, many years before Rudolph Valentino.
2. Tadanobu Asano
Tadanobu Satō, popularly known by his stage name Tadanobu Asano is a Japanese actor. His father, an actor's agent, suggested entering the film industry. He made his first role in the TV show Kinpachi Sensei at 16. His film debut was in Swimming Upstream in 1990. Later he starred in Shunji Iwai’s Fried Dragon Fish in 1993. It was his first major critical success. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Gennosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, A man in Survive Style 5+ and many more movies. Through his acting, he gained a lot of fame and popularity.
3. Sonny Chiba
Shinichi Chiba, known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was born as Sadao Maeda in Fukuoka, Japan, on January 22, 1939. He was an influential Japanese actor and martial artist and was one of the first Hollywood stars to gain recognition for his martial arts skills. He is the CEO of the film studio Toei, which bestowed him with his stage name Shinichi Chiba. Later he was discovered as a new face. Chiba started his career in superhero shows after graduating in crime thriller films. Chiba has acted in over 125 films for Toei Studios and won many awards in Japan for his acting.SONNY Chiba was well known for his starring in Kill Bill. He passed away on August 19, 2021, after fighting against pneumonia caused by COVID. He died at the age of 82.
4. Kane Kosugi
Kane Takeshi Kosugi, well known for his stage name Kane Kosugi, is an American martial artist, actor, and media personality of direct Chinese and Japanese descent. Kane is the son of martial arts film star Sho Kosugi. His acting career started as a child actor, starring opposite his father Sho Kosugi in films like Revenge of the Ninja and Pray for Death. He was born in California. He is half Japanese and half Chinese. His training in martial arts started when he was one and a half years old. He moved to Japan at age 18 and did numerous movies and TV shows, becoming the nation’s most recognizable talent. He worked in many action movies with great actors like Jackie Chan and many other famous actors. He appeared in both Japanese and American media for his fabulous acting.
5. Masaki Suda
Taishō Sugō, known professionally and popularly as Masaki Suda, is a Japanese actor and singer. For Outstanding Performance by the actor in a Leading Role, he won the “Japan Academy Film Prize. His debut song was Mita Koto mo Nai Keshiki. He set his goal to become an actor in his childhood. He met many talent agents while he was in school. Finally, he joined the agency named Top Coat. He is well-known for his acting in Wilderness: Part One (2017), Kamen Rider Movie War Mega Max: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO (2011), and Kamen Rider W (2009) and gained a lot of fans under his name for his marvelous performance. He married Nana Komatsu and became a family man among the audience and his fans.
6. Hiroshi Fujioka
Kunihiro Fujioka, popularly known for his stage name Hiroshi Fujioka, is a Japanese actor. He is well known for playing the hero Takeshi Hongo in the tokusatsu superhero series “Kamen Rider” and later the Sega Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro. Fujioka is a famous cultural icon in Japan.
Fujioka began his acting career and joined an acting troupe at age 19, which helped him to act in his first movie and later his first drama.
He gained national attention with his role as Takeshi Hongo in Kamen Rider in 1971. He stole the hearts of many people and gained popularity for his stunts in the movies with his performances. Later, due to an accident, he stopped stunts as they were too risky. He is also a voice actor and lent his voice in many manga series and films.
7. Shidō Nakamura II
Shido was born on September 14, 1972, in Tokyo, Japan. He is a Japanese actor, director, and also a kabuki actor. He is well known for his roles in Fearless in 2006, Letters from Jima in 2006, Red Cliff in 2008, and many more. His original name is Mikihiro Ogawa. He was married to Yuko Takeuchi, who starred with him in a romance drama named Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu(Be With You). Later they divorced due to some personal reasons. He is the son of a famous Japanese Kabuki actor, a form of dance drama. He is also a voice actor. He is the voice of Yoshitaka Mine, Chairman of the Hakuho Clan in Yakuza 3. He starred in many TV series, movies, and dramas.
In 2003 he received the Best Newcomer Award for his role in Ping Pong movie. In 2003 he also received the Rookie of the Year award for his role in Ping pong. He made his kabuki debut at the age of eight. He started his acting career at the age of thirty.
8. Hiro Mizushima
Tomohiro Saitō, popularly and professionally known as Hiro Mizushima, is a Japanese actor, creative director, writer, and model. He appeared in numerous Japanese films and TV dramas, including Mei-chan no Shitsuji, Hanazakari no Kimitachi, and Zettai Kareshi. Hiro Mizushima was born on April 13, 1984. He is well known for acting in Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love released in 2006, and Black Butler in 2014. He is married to Ayaka. He was from Tokyo, Japan.
9. Takeshi Kaga
Takeshi Kaga, real name Shigekatsu Katsuta who was born October 12, 1950, is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan. He is well known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji Tv. He joined a group called the Kanazawa City Boys choral Group, through which he had his first stage experience, at age 7. In 1972, he joined a Japanese theatrical company named Gekidan Shiki. Later under this company, he played various roles in movies and starred in some dramas. He acted in different characters in films which gained popularity for him.
10. Toshiaki Karasawa
Kiyoshi Karasawa popularly known as Karasawa Toshiaki or Toshiaki Karasawa, born on June 3, 1963. He is from Tokyo, Japan. He is a Japanese film actor. In 1987 he made his theatrical debut in the play Boy's Revue Stay Gold. He is well known for his roles in Casshern(2004), Happy Wedding in1991, and Domain of Murder in 1991. He is married to Tomoko Yamaguchi, a Japanese actress and voice actress-singer from Tochigi. He has been nominated for the Japanese Academy Prize for the “ Outstanding Performance by an actor in a leading role” for Welcome back and Mr. McDonald. He specialized in theatrical action sequences such as swordplay and fighting. He is well known for his swordplay and his handsome looks.
