30 most popular Japanese actors who made it in Hollywood

Several talents are emerging every day in Hollywood. The industry has welcomed top actors from all corners who come to sharpen their acting skills and create new audiences for their films. Who are the most famous Japanese actors who made it in Hollywood?

Japanese cinema and performances have captivated audiences around the world for decades. Exciting comedies, romantic dramas, action flicks, and literary works are all available in the country's cinema sector. Some of the Japanese celebrities are also performing exceptionally well in Hollywood.

Japanese actors in Hollywood

Here is a list of Hollywood's most famous Japanese actors who gained popularity due to their skills and awards.

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1. Hiroyuki Sanada

• Date of birth: 12 October 1960
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Rokyoku Komori-Uta

Hiroyuki Sanada is a martial artist and actor from Japan who began his acting career in the film Rokyoku Komori-Uta when he was just five years old. Since then, the actor's film and television credits include The Twilight Samurai, Wolverine, John Wick: Chapter 4, and Army of the Dead.

2. Ken Watanabe

• Date of birth: 21 October 1959
• Birthplace: Koide, Japan
• Debut movie: Mibu no Koiuta

With his role in Mibu no Koruna, Ken Watanabe debuted his television acting in 1983. His acting credits include features such as Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Detective Pikachu, The King and I, Transformers: The Last Knight, and The Memories of Happiness. Watanabe is among the Japanese voice actors who speak English.

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3. Sota Fukushi

• Date of birth: 30 May 1993
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Misaki Number One

The role of Gentaro Kisaragi in Kamen Rider Fourze catapulted Sota Fukushi to stardom. The actor's film and television credits include many hits, including My Love from the Star and The Head.

4. Hiro Kanagawa

• Date of birth: 13 October 1963
• Birthplace: Hokkaido, Japan
• Debut movie: Born Too Soon

The Killing, Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, The 100, and other films and television shows helped propel Hiro Kanagawa, one of the famous Japanese actors.

In 2015, he was honoured with the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award and his roles in Godzilla, Elekta, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

5. Masi Oka

• Date of birth: 27 December 1974
• Birthplace: Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Straight White Male

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Masi Oka became a household name after starring as Hiro Nakamura in Heroes (NBC). He was also Hawaii Five-0's Doctor Max Bergman.

While winning the TV Land Future Award in 2007, he was also nominated for a Golden Globe. These qualities elevated him to the ranks of the top Japanese actors. Oka is one of the famous Japanese-American actors.

6. Noriyuki Pat Morita

• Date of birth: 28 June 1932
• Birthplace: Isleton, California, USA
• Debut movie: Car Thieves

Comedian, voice actor, and filmmaker Noriyuki Pat Morita was Japanese American. He appeared in several movies and TV shows, including American Fusion, The Biggest Fan, and Remove All Obstacles. Morita passed away in 2005 due to kidney failure caused by an infection in her gallbladder and urinary tract.

7. Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa

• Date of birth: 27 September 1950
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Big Trouble in Little China

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Films such as Mortal Kombat, Pearl Harbour, Planet of the Apes, Licence to Kill, and Memoirs of a Geisha have showcased Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa's skills. He became a Russian citizen after collaborating with Russian film stars. Tagawa is famous for his villainous performances.

8. Toshiro Mifune

• Date of birth: 1 April 1920
• Birthplace: Qingdao, China
• Debut movie: Snow Tail

Among the most famous Japanese actors of the twentieth century, Toshiro Mifune appeared in over 150 films. Rashomon, Throne of Blood, Seven Samurai, and The Hidden Fortress are just a few of the sixteen masterpieces he collaborated with Akira Kurosawa.

In 1986, he was named Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival and earned the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon. In 2016, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

9. George Takei

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• Date of birth: 20 April 1937
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
• Debut movie: Rodan

George Takei became famous after starring as Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek television series. He has appeared in numerous Hollywood films, solidifying his position as one of the most successful Japanese-American actors. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the entertainment business, Takei was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

10. Takuya Kimura

• Date of birth: 13 November 1972
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: About Her Brother

Takuya has done it all: acted, sang, and hosted radio shows. His most famous film roles include Hero, Love and Honor, and Howl's Moving Castle. With a net worth of $200 million, the Japanese singer and actor is regarded as one of the richest actors in Japan.

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11. Brian Tee

• Date of birth: 15 March 1977
• Birthplace: Okinawa, Japan
• Debut movie: What Planet Are You From?

Famous for his roles in Chicago, The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Wolverine, Jurassic World, and Teenage Mutant: Ninja Turtles, Brian Tee (real name Jae-Beom Takata) was a Japanese film actor who became a Hollywood star after making his debut in the film What Planet Are You From? (2000).

12. Mako Iwamatsu

• Date of birth: 10 December 1933
• Birthplace: Kobe, Japan
• Debut movie: Never So Few

Playing Po-Han in The Sand Pebbles is what made Mako Iwamatsu famous. He was nominated for the Oscars and the Golden Globes with this picture. His other notable film appearances are Pacific Overtures, Seven Years in Tibet, Conan the Destroyer, and Conan the Barbarian.

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13. Kento Yamazaki

• Date of birth: 7 September 1994
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Atami no Sosakan

Kento Yamazaki, one of the young Japanese actors in Hollywood, became famous in Japan and Hollywood for his roles as L in Death Note and Minato Shindo in Good Doctor. His acting skills earned him the Television Drama Academy Award.

14. Tadanobu Asano

• Date of birth: 27 November 1973
• Birth place: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
• Debut movie: Mr Kinpachi in Class 3B

Tadanobu Asano made his television debut in Class 3B with Mr. Kinpachi at the age of six. He has collaborated with various filmmakers on films such as Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, and Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan.

15. Takeshi Kaneshiro

• Date of birth: 11 October 1973
• Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
• Debut movie: Executioners

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Leaping from pop star to actor was no picnic for Takeshi Kaneshiro. Takeshi, on the other hand, became one of the top Japanese actors in Hollywood following his debut in the film Executioners. Fallen Angels, Lost and Found, Chungking Express, House of Flying Daggers, and countless more worldwide successes have included him.

16. Takeshi Kitano

• Date of birth: 18 January 1947
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Go

Although he began his career as a comedian, Takeshi Kitano became a successful film director and hosted games like Takeshi Castle. He established himself in Hollywood with films like Blood and Bones, Violent Cop, and Outrage Coda. Takeshi Kitano is a well-known TV host, actor, director, and author.

17. Hiroshi Abe

• Date of birth: 22 June 1964
• Birth place: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
• Debut movie: Yawara!

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Hiroshi Abe made his acting debut in the film Yawara! Along with Godzilla 2000: Millennium, he starred in Chocolate, Still Walking, After the Storm, and other Hollywood features. Because of these films, he rose to prominence as one of Hollywood's most renowned Japanese performers. Hiroshi is among the famous Japanese movie stars in Hollywood.

18. Sessue Hayakawa

• Date of birth: 10 June 1886
• Birthplace: Minamiboso, Japan
• Debut movie: The Typhoon

Sessue Hayakawa was an early Japanese Hollywood celebrity during the silent film period. He became the first American male gender symbol and was famed for portraying beautiful, domineering villains. Due to these qualities, he became the favourite actor of American women. One of the longest-running Japanese celebrities is Hayakawa.

19. Tomohisa Yamashita

• Date of birth: 9 April 1985
• Birthplace: Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
• Debut movie: Dangerous Relationship

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After acting in the TV series Dangerous Relationship, Tomohisa Yamashita became one of the top Japanese actors to reach Hollywood. He was featured in several films, including Monsters, Operation Proposal Special, and The Man from Toronto, solidifying his position as an actor.

20. Yuji Okumoto

• Date of birth: 20 April 1959
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, US
• Debut movie: I Do Mind Dying

Cobra Kai, Inception, and The Karate Kid Part II are just a few of Yuji Okumoto's notable film roles. He resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Angela and their three daughters.

21. Takanori Iwata

• Date of birth: March 6, 1989
• Birthplace: Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
• Debut movie: Shokubutsu Zukan ("Evergreen Love")

His first leading part was in the June 2016 film Evergreen Love, and his performance earned him the Best New Artist Award at the 41st Hochi Film Awards. Before that, Iwata made his acting debut in the play Attack No. 1 in September 2013.

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22. Hayato Isomura

• Date of birth: September 11, 1992
• Birthplace: Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
• Debut movie: Kamen Rider Ghost

Isomura-san gets serious about his sauna time. In the years following his appearance in the TV drama "Sado," he developed a severe obsession with saunas and began to visit them often. Soul Mate, the newest Asian offering from Netflix, follows the romantic journey of two young men over a decade.

23. Takehiro Hira

• Date of birth: July 27, 1972
• Birthplace: Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: The Deer Cry

For his role as "Kenzo Mori" opposite Kelly Mcdonald in the Netflix/BBC series Giri/Haji, Takehiro Hira received a BAFTA nomination. He has appeared in numerous films directed by Takashi Miike, such as Ace Attorney, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, and Aku No Kyoten.

24. Shun Oguri

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• Date of birth: December 26, 1982
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Hachidai Shogun Yoshimune

Shun began performing in a children's theatre at eleven in 1994. In 1995, at thirteen, he made his television debut in the NHK drama "Hachidai Shogun Yoshimune." Since then, Shun has made numerous appearances in television dramas, typically in supporting roles.

25. Takuya Kimura

• Date of birth: November 13, 1972
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Asunaro Hakusho

Kimura and his bandmates made their acting debut in the 1988 TV series Abunai Shonen III. He had guest starred on several TV shows before obtaining a position in the highly acclaimed 1993 series Asunaro Hakusho, which brought him widespread recognition.

26. Takeru Sato

• Date of birth: March 21, 1989
• Birthplace: Iwatsuki, Saitama
• Debut movie: Kamen Rider Den-O: I'm Born!

His most famous roles are acting as Himura Kenshin in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin films and their sequels and Ryotaro Nogami in the Kamen Rider Den-O series. Since assuming the role of Kenshin Himura in 2012, actor Takeru Satoh has been pulling off all of his stunts.

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27. Takumi Kitamura

• Date of birth: November 3, 1997
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: Dive

In his first film role, he portrays a young diver with big dreams in Dive, which also stars Hayashi Kento, Ikematsu Sosuke, and Mizobata Junpei. In Surely Someday, he describes his namesake, the character later played by Oguri Shun, the film's director. As the band's leader, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals for DISH.

28. Taishi Nakagawa

• Date of birth: June 14, 1998
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: When I Was a Child

From his roles as Hogo Kyudai/Uchu Jupiter in Cosmic Sentai Uchukaiger to Elemental Sentai Ninjaman's Hiroshi Yosuke/Black Ninja, this Japanese actor, TV host, and model has done it all. His breakout roles were as Hana Yori Dango's Tenma Hase in Season 2 and Yuiji Kira in the live-action Closest Love To Heaven.

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29. Mackenyu

• Date of birth: November 16, 1996
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
• Debut movie: Take a Chance

Mackenyu is the son of martial artist and actor Sonny Chiba. Actor Mackenyu Arata has been in several live-action and animated features. Mackenyu portrays the role of Seiya, a young orphan who learns that he must defend the goddess Athena's reincarnation and fight alongside her to rescue humanity.

30. Ren Mugero

• Date of birth: February 16, 1997
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Debut movie: My Love Mix-Up!

The acting prowess of Snow Man member Ren Meguro has recently garnered acclaim. The fantasy/period drama, which stars Meguro as the dashing military soldier Kiyoka Kudo, is adapted from the same-titled novel series by Akumi Agitogi. Mugero is one of the young Japanese male actors in Hollywood.

What are Japanese celebrities called?

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• Kimutaku: Takuya Kimura is an example of a well-known Japanese celebrity whose name is often abbreviated.

What American celebrities are famous in Japan?

Advertisers in Japan pay vast sums of money to have famous Japanese people endorse their products. James Franco, Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy are just a few American celebrities who have starred in ads that have only aired in Japan.

Some famous Japanese actors have graced Hollywood screens due to their fantastic acting skills. They have earned tons of fans and inspired many young Japanese actors hoping to star in Hollywood.

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