Top Japanese Actors to Watch in 2021: First thing to remember about the Japanese Entertainment Industry is that although Japanese manga and anime are famous in the first place and well known as well around the world for years, the movies and television dramas of Japan have not received much popularity yet. But with the passage of time, Japan has remarkably made a mark in the world of live-action movies as well. Additionally, Japanese movies particularly in the genre of sci-fi, action-thriller, and romantic-comedy are also capturing the attention of audiences across the globe eventually.
With this in mind, it’s also a fact that Japan is blessed with many hunky, skillful, and brilliant actors. These actors are not only well-acclaimed inside Japan but also in Asia as well as in Europe too. In fact, some of the mainstream actors of Japan are now proudly working in Hollywood mega projects in the lead roles. To enumerate, we can fairly claim that these talented and handsome actors will surely be a delight to watch in future projects too.
What Is the Criteria for the Selection of Top Japanese Actors?
As we are the inhabitants of a rapidly changing as well as improving world, the old tools of ranking of the entertainment industry have been upgraded too. A few years back, the key elements to judge and select the top actors were mainly:
- First, the acting skills of the actors
- Second, the revenue of their movies
- Third, the awards won by them
But, with the expansion of social media platforms during the past few years, in addition to the above-mentioned requirements to be noticed while creating a list of top actors, we have the following further tools now too, to observe while this process:
- The appearance of the actors
- Social Media following of actors
- Brands endorsement
- Twitter Trends
In short, we have created this list of the top 20 Japanese Actors by keeping in view not only the traditional components of criteria but also the latest ones. So, given these points, we have created a list of the top 20 talented as well as handsome Japanese actors.
Prior to this, you can also check the Top 20 Japanese Actresses 2021 – Most Beautiful & Talented, another well-compiled list here related to the Japanese Entertainment Industry.
Most Talented Japanese Actors 2021
Best Japanese Actors of All Time:
- Minoru Chiaki
- Toshiro Mifune
- Takashi Shimura
- Tatsuya Nakadai
- Ken Watanabe
Highest Paid Japanese Actors:
- Kento Yamazaki ( Net worth= $10-$20 million)
- Jun Matsumoto ( Net worth= $2-$5 million)
- Takeru Satoh ( Net worth= $3-$10 million)
- Haruma Miura ( Net worth= $2.5-$5 million)
- Toma Ikuta ( Net worth= $1.5 million)
Famous Japanese Actors in Hollywood:
- Tadanobu Asano: Thor, Mortal Combat, 47 Ronin, Silence
- Mako Iwamatsu: Conan the Destroyer, Silent Assassins
- Masi Oka: Spies in Disguise, The Meg, Friends with Benefits
- Hiroyuki Sanada: The Last Samurai, Mortal Combat, Avengers Endgame
- Ken Watanabe: the last samurai, Godzilla, Inception, Batman Begins
Japanese Actors Over 40:
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Ken Watanabe (61 Years)
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Hiroyuki Sanada (60 Years)
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Takuya Kimura (48 Years)
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Takeshi Kaneshiro (47 years)
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Tadanobu Asano (47 Years)
Japanese Actors under 40:
- Tsumabuki Satoshi
- Yamada Takayuki
- Moriyama Mirai
- Matsuda Ryuhei
- Nagayama Eita
Japanese Actors Under 30:
- Akaso Eiji
- Akutsu Nichika
- Aoi Yo
- Arai Atsushi
- Bando Ryota
↓ 20 – Koji Seto
Born: May 18, 1988
Age: 33 Years
From: Kama, Fukuoka, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Singer
Years Active: 2005-present
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Website: blog.watanabepro.co.jp/setokoji/information.php
Instagram: kojiseto0518
Koji Seto is one of the first-rated actors of the Japan Film and TV Industry at the present time. He is well-known for playing some versatile roles chiefly Wataru Kurenai in Kamen Rider Kiva and supporting roles as Satoru Okura in Atashinchi no Danshi, as well as Ariake Yamato in Otomen. He is the only actor to appear in Ju-On and The Ring, two of Japan’s most famous horror movie series.
↓ 19 – Jin Akanishi
Born: May 18, 1988
Age: 36 Years
From: Koto City, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Singer/Song-Writer
Years Active: 1998-present
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Website: Jin Akanishi Official Site
Instagram: jinstagram_official
Next, Jin Akanishi, a very talented and striking singer turned actor is on our list. He has been active since 1998, being a part of the popular J-pop boy-band KAT-TUN. He started his solo singing career in 2009, furthermore, he owns a youtube channel with a recognizable fan following too. In 2008, he dubbed the Japanese version of the movie Speed Racer.
↓ 18 – Osamu Mukai
Born: February 7, 1982
Age: 39 Years
From: Kanagawa, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 2006-present
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Another cute, as well as polished Japanese actor, is none other than Osamu Mukai. During his student life, he was a bartender. While working as a bartender, he got into the magazine Tokyo Graffiti. Mukai’s first main role was in the 2006 Japanese television drama Nodame Cantabile. Moreover, he was honored with the GQ Japan Man of the Year in 2010.
↓ 17 – Yamada Ryosuke
Born: May 9, 1993
Age: 28 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Singer/Actor
Years Active: 2004-present
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Ryosuke Yamada is an aspiring Japanese singer, actor, and dancer. He is considered hot as well as talented among the young actors of Japan. Alongside, he is a member of the popular J-Pop boy band Hey! Say! JUMP since 2007 until the present. Yamada came to prominence as a teen idol in 2007 following his role in the Japanese television series Tantei Gakuen Q.
Meanwhile, he is the winner of the Japan Academy Award for Newcomers of the Year in 2016 and his role as Semi in Grasshopper in 2015 won him the Rookie Actor of the Year in Japan Film Critics Award 2016 as well.
↓ 16 – Tomohisa Yamashita
Born: April 9, 1985 (age 36 years)
Age: 36 Years
From: Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
Occupation: Singer/Actor/Radio Host/ TV Presenter
Years Active: 1996-present
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Website: Tomohisa Yamashita Official Site
Instagram: tomo.y9
If we have to decide on a single name in the Japanese entertainment industry, capable of singing as well as acting with good looks, straightaway Tomohisa Yamashita is a perfect choice. Widely known as Yamapi or Tomo, he is a TV/radio host too. He has a huge fan following of 4.9M on Instagram. His latest movie Code Blue the movie (2018) was the highest-grossing domestic movie In Japan for the year 2018 and also was number 5 for all-time highest-grossing live-action movies in Japan. He also received the Best Actor award at the 94th Television Drama Academy Awards for the same movie.
↓ 15 – Teppei Koike
Born: January 5, 1986
Age: 35 Years
From: Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Singer/Song-Writer
Years Active: 2002-present
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Instagram: teppei.koike_official
Next, we have a very talented and good-looking Japanese singer and actor on our list. That is none other than Teppei Koike. He immediately rose to fame after appearing in the television drama Tentai Kansoku in 2002. Since then, he has appeared in several movies as well as television series such as Love*Com: The Movie, Dragon Zakura, and particularly The Homeless Student. In short, teppei is quite a good combination of good looks and skills indeed.
↓ 14 – Kenichi Matsuyama
Born: March 5, 1985
Age: 36 Years
From: Mutsu, Aomori, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 2001-present
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Website: horipro.co.jp/talent/PM026
Although Kenichi Matsuyama started his career as a model and then he started doing minor roles for TV as well, however, he landed his breakthrough role when he was cast as ‘L’ in Death Note: The Last Name and L: change the world. He was subsequently a recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Japan Academy Award twice. He was the face of Pepsi Nex, NTT DoCoMo, Uniqlo, and 2 Percent Fashion. Currently, he is working on a couple of interesting movies.
↓ 13 – Masaki Okada
Born: August 15, 1989
Age: 31 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 2006-present
Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Website: www.stardust.co.jp/talent/121.html
Whenever the most good-looking and talented actors of Japan are considered, the name of Masaki Okada will be the prominent one beyond any doubt. He is famous for his roles as Sekime Kyogo in the drama For You in Full Blossom – Ikemen Paradise and as Takuma Kakinouchi in the 2009 film, I Give My First Love to You. He is playing the lead in the upcoming movie Cube. He is the winner of the Newcomer of the Year Award in 2010 at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize Awards.
↓ 12 – Kentarô Sakaguchi
Born: July 11, 1991
Age: 29 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Model/Actor
Years Active: 2010-present
Height: 6 feet 0 inches
Website: Kentaro
Instagram: sakaguchikentaro
Kentarô Sakaguchi is a Japanese model turned actor. Since 2010, he is the leading face of the covers of countless magazines particularly Men’s Non-no for which he was an exclusive model for 7 years. In 2014, Sakaguchi made his film debut as Shun in Shanti Days 365 Days, Happy Breath. Besides this, his well-liked shows are Signal, No Longer Heroine, and especially Kounodori. He is surely one of the most promising actors in Japan.
↓ 11 – Jun Matsumoto
Born: August 30, 1983
Age: 37 years
From: Toshima City, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Singer/Radio Host/Model
Years Active: 1996-present
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Associated Acts: Arashi
The list of the top competent and hot Japanese actors will be incomplete without this actor to be sure. Jun Matsumoto often called by his nickname MatsuJun is a leading Japanese actor of the current era. His best work in Japanese television drama is his portrayal of Dōmyōuji Tsukasa in the Hana Yori Dango series markedly, in which he won GQ Japan’s Man of the Year Award under the actor category for his work in the drama. He is also a popular singer of the J-pop genre as well as a radio host.
↓ 10 – Hiro Mizushima
Born: April 13, 1984
Age: 37 years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Writer/Actor
Years Active: 2005-present
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Instagram: hiro_mizushima_official
Youtube: Hiro Mizushima
Now, we have a full package next on our list of the top Japanese actors by the name of Hiro Mizushima, who is a very successful writer, actor, producer, creative director, and furthermore a YouTuber. He has worked in a number of Japanese dramas including Mei-chan’s Butler, Tokyo Dogs, and especially Black Butler, additionally, he wrote his first novel, Kagerou, which was chosen as the winner of the 5th Popular Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction and was published in 2010.
↓ 9 – Ryo Nishikido
Born: November 3, 1984
Age: 36 years
From: Kadoma, Osaka, Japan
Occupation: Singer/Actor/Song-Writer
Years Active: 1997-present
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Instagram: ryonishikido_official
Website: ryonishikido.com
Ryo Nishikido is definitely one of the most promising young actors and singers of Japan. He also has his own Youtube Channel by the name of Ryo Nishikido with a fastly growing fan following of 181 until now.
↓ 8 – Mokomichi Hayami
Born: August 10, 1984
Age: 36 years
From: Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Model/TV-Host
Years Active: 2000-present
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Instagram: mocomichi_hayami
Mokomichi Hayami a Japanese actor, chef, TV presenter, entrepreneur, and model. He is running his Youtube Channel 【OFFICIAL CHANNEL】M’s TABLE by Mocomichi Hayami too. In a word, he is a crush of a lot of girls due to his looks and hotness. Currently, his Netflix show The Guy Is the Biggest Mistake Of My Life is doing well on television as well.
↓ 7 – Shun Oguri
Born: December 26, 1982 (age 38 years)
Age: 38 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Voice-Actor
Years Active: 1994-present
Height: 6 feet 0.5 inches
Website: Shun Oguri Official Website
Since Shun Oguri belongs to a family that has a notable cinematic background, consequently he started his acting career at the early age of 13. He has played a lot of famous characters for instance Genji Takiya in 2007’s action/thriller movie Crows Zero, Gintoki Sakata in 2017’s action/comedy Gintama, and significantly Ren Serizawa in 2021’s sci-fi action movie of Hollywood Godzilla vs. Kong above all. He has more than 100 credits to his name now.
↓ 6 – Sota Fukushi
Born: May 30, 1993
Age: 28 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 2010-present
Height: 6 feet 0 inches
Website: www.ken-on.com/fukushi
Instagram: fukushi_sota_official
At the present time, Sota Fukushi’s name is obviously among the top handsome as well as talented young actors of Japan. He has appeared in 31 movies and 17 TV shows till now. He rose to fame portraying Gentaro Kisaragi in the Kamen Rider franchise and has starred in television series Koinaka and My Lover’s Secret, as well as films Strobe Edge, My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday, and Bleach. Furthermore, Sota Fukushi is the winner of Newcomer of the year in the 38th Japan Academy Awards.
↓ 5 – Takeru Satoh
Born: March 21, 1989
Age: 32 Years
From: Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 2006-present
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Website: satohtakeru.com
Instagram: satohtakeruid
When we talk about the latest crush of the Japanese generation, Takeru Satoh is surely on the top. With 35 movies and 16 TV shows, he is truly a leading and most talented Japanese actor. He is best known for his leading role as Ryotaro Nogami in the Kamen Rider Den-O franchise, and as Himura Kenshin in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film and its sequels. While some actors tend to portray characteristically similar roles throughout their careers, Takeru chose to showcase his versatility through various kinds of roles. Moreover, he is one of the nicest guys in the industry.
↓ 4 – Kento Yamazaki
Born: September 7, 1994
Age: 26 Years
From: Itabashi City, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Model
Years Active: 2010-present
Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Website: Kento Yamazaki
Instagram: kentooyamazaki
Kento Yamazaki is one of the most popular Japanese actors of the current era. He is young as well as talented. He is best known for his roles such as L in the live-action television series Death Note (2015), and as the lead Minato Shindo in the Japanese medical drama remake Good Doctor (2018). Currently, he is playing the lead role in Netflix sci-fi and thriller series Alice in Borderland. He is a well-acclaimed model too, his music video Sayonara Elegy has 137M views till now. In 2020, he got much appreciation especially, having a name in Forbes Asia 100 Digital Stars.
↓ 3 – Takuya Kimura
Born: November 13, 1972
Age: 48 Years
From: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor/Singer
Years Active: 1987-present
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Instagram: takuya.kimura_tak
Takuya Kimura also known as “Kimutaku” is a renowned Japanese actor, singer as well as a radio personality. He is considered an icon in the Japanese Entertainment Industry. He was given the title, “The King of Ratings“, as his subsequent television series continued to generate high ratings and each show became a social phenomenon as it aired since 1996 when he got a lead role as Hidetoshi Sena in the TV series Long Vacation.
Chiefly, his most popular shows are Grand Maison Tokyo, Hero, and Howl’s, Moving Castle. Further, he was also a popular member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in East Asia. He is also the winner of many awards throughout his career including the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Best Actor Award in 2007.
↓ 2 – Ken Watanabe
Born: October 21, 1959
Age: 61 Years
From: Hirokami, Niigata , Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 1979-present
Height: 6 feet 0 inches
Twitter: Ken Watanabe
Buy and large, Ken Watanabe is one of the most renowned and gifted actors in Japan. Likewise, he is a popular celebrity in Hollywood too. Though he has been a part of several great movies such as Inception, Batman Begins, Godzilla, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and many more yet his best role till now is, surely, Lord Katsumoto Moritsugu in the Tom Cruise starter The Last Samurai, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2004.
Source
↓ 1 – Hiroyuki Sanada
Born: October 12, 1960
Age: 60 Years
From: Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Actor
Years Active: 1965-present
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
From time to time, many actors from Japan have appeared in Hollywood movies but when it comes to prominent characters, there are not a lot of examples to quote except a few. The most famous Japanese Actor’s name in Hollywood that instantly comes to our mind is definitely Hiroyuki Sanada. He has worked in plenty of box-offices acclaimed movies for instance The Twilight Samurai, Rush Hour, The Wolverine, Army of the Dead, and Avengers: Endgame.
His latest released movie Mortal Kombat is a massive hit too. Above all, he is the talk of the town nowadays as he has been cast in John Vick Chapter 4 that is one of the most anticipated movies of next year after all.
Without delay, checkout Top Japanese Dramas – 10 Japanese Dramas To Watch In 2021, which will be definitely helpful in selecting a perfect Japanese drama to watch next.
FAQs
Q. Who is the most famous Japanese actor?
A. The most famous Japanese actor is obviously Hiroyuki Sanada at the present as he is the talk of the town after joining the cast of John Vick Chapter 4 recently.
Q. Who is the highest-paid Japanese actor?
A. The highest-paid Japanese actors are Kento Yamazaki, Jun Matsumoto, Takeru Satoh, Haruma Miura, and Toma Ikuta.
Q. Who is the most handsome Japanese actor?
A. Some of the most handsome Japanese actors are Jin Akanishi, Koji Seto, Takeru Satoh, and Mokomichi Hayami particularly.
Q. Who is No. 1 actor in Japan?
A. Specifically, there is not an exact measure to choose the No. 1 actor but currently, Hiroyuki Sanada, as well as Ken Watanabe, are the two most trending actors of Japan.
