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Japan has a robust and storied account of film , with some of the most influential movies of all time come from the country . Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the greatest theatre director of all time , Kurosawa ’s picture show helped pioneer the New Hollywood blockbuster , with monumental film likeSeven Samurai , andYojimbo , which play a major purpose in shaping the Hollywood Western , and frailty versa . In fact , George Lucas was heavilyinfluenced by Kurosawa ’s films when makingStar Wars , particularlyThe Hidden Fortress , as they partake in many similarities .
Japan ’s cinematic chronicle is implausibly wide-ranging , with some of the greatest films fitting into a form of genre , include samurai stories , crime syndicate dramatic play , and horror . Alongside fabled directors , these flick also include some of the near performing performances of all clock time , with some of the best actors in the human race . histrion like Hiroyuki Sanada , Setsuko Hara , and Toshirō Mifune have all dally significant role in Japan ’s film industry , and sit alongside some others , that make up thebest Japanese thespian of all sentence .
10Ken Watanabe
The Last Samurai (2003), Letters From Iwo Jima (2006), Inception (2010)
What seduce Ken Watanabe so exceptional is there are few Japanese actors who have been able to offend into Hollywood as successfully as he has , with him regularly appear in major films outside of Japan . That was n’t always the caseful , though , as Watanabe began his career in the early ' eighty , mostly have it away for play samurai in various movies and telly show , withhis Hollywood breakthrough come in the 2003 film , The Last Samurai .
The Last Samurai chronicles a existent - sprightliness Japanese rebellion but fictionalizes several historical upshot and people . Here ’s what you need to know .
Watanabe was put forward for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for his performance as Katsumoto inThe Last Samurai , and he then started clean up even more Hollywood roles . These credits includeMemoirs of a Geisha(2005),Letter From Iwo Jima(2006),Inception(2010 ) , andGodzilla(2014 ) . Watanabe is next set to appear in the Japanese filmNational Treasure — no relation to the Nicolas Cage franchise — in 2025 .
9Takeshi Kitano
Fireworks (1997), Kikujiro (1999), Battle Royale (2000)
Takeshi Kitano is special , becausenot only is he one of Japan ’s full actors , but he is also one of the rural area ’s best conductor , regularly asterisk in his own directorial projects . Before his work career really ingest off , though , Kitano was part of a successful clowning couplet named Two Beat , eventually appearing in various small parts on film and television throughout the 1980s . It was n’t until he was cast as the atomic number 82 in the 1989 filmViolent Copthat he began to make a name for himself as an worker .
The 2021 Netflix film , Asakusa Kidwas adapt from Kitano ’s memoir of the same name .
Kitano was massive in Japanese cinema of the ' 90s , turning out both unbelievable performance and incredible motion picture as the managing director . His performance in pic likeFireworks(Hana - bi),Kikujiro , Battle Royale , andZatoichi , help solidify Kitano as one of the good actors during his metre and one of Japan ’s best ever . Kitano gain the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Film Festival for his work on Fireworks , which he both directed and star in .
8Kōji Yakusho
Tampopo (1985), Cure (1997), Perfect Days (2023)
Active since the late ' LXX , Kōji Yakusho continue to turn out unbelievable performances to this mean solar day , showing just how impactful he has been on the Japanese moving-picture show manufacture . Yakusho ’s first braggart descend when he was cast in the 1983 tv set serial , Tokugawa Ieyasu , which catapult him to renown within Japan , and he continued work throughout the ' 80s , most notably with his role in the 1986 film , Tampopo .
In the recent ' 90 and early 2000s , Yakusho part appear in a number of movie by legendary revulsion director , Kiyoshi Kurosawa . Of these roles , his most notable is Kenichi Takabe in the bone - chillingCurein 1997 , which is regularly considered one of thebest Japanese horror movies of all time . Despite having a long vocation , Yakusho has n’t slow down , recently make headway Best Actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his work onPerfect Days .
7Ayako Wakao
Street Of Shame (1956), The Blue Sky Maiden (1957), Floating Weeds (1959)
Beginning her career in the early 50s , Ayako Wakao was one of Japan ’s most democratic player throughout that decade and into the ' 60s . What made her stand out so much was her regular work with legendary director , Yasuko Masumura , with the two collaborating on 20 celluloid throughout her calling . These includedThe Blue Sky Maiden , Irezumi , andRed Angel . Director Kon Ichikawa also viewed Wakao favorably , as she appear in seven of his films .
Street of Shameis a particular standout , dedicate her fictional character Yasumi remarkable sum of money of depth , while sensitively pilot a unmanageable matter in Japan at the sentence .
Ayako Wakao ’s strength as an actor was in her ability to make these complex female characters , with staggering carrying out in some of the best motion picture Japan has ever learn . Her body of work as a brothel worker inStreet of Shameis a particular standout , giving her quality Yasumi singular amounts of depth , while sensitively navigating a difficult subject in Japan at the time . She also appear in the iconic film , Floating Weeds , by one of Japan ’s with child , Yasujirō Ozu .
6Takashi Shimura
Drunken Angel (1948), Ikiru (1952), Godzilla (1954)
Japan ’s cinematic landscape could have been a lot unlike without Takashi Shimura ’s comportment , who appeared in over 200 films during the course of his prolific career . Debuting in the 1934 silent flick , Number One , Love Street , he worked all the room up until the early 1980s . He has been in some of Japan ’s most important moving picture ever , includingSeven Samurai , Rashomon , Drunken Angel , andGodzilla .
Perhaps his most significant part to the Japanese plastic film industry was his remarkable performance inIkiru , one of the best picture by Akira Kurosawa , who is largely considered the greatest Japanese director of all time . Ikirurevolves around a human beings who was diagnose with a final illness , and the subsequent way he adjudicate to get along to terms with his mortality . A nipping look at Japanese bureaucratism , Takashi Shimura ’s performance in the film is one of the good of all clock time .
5Chishū Ryū
Late Spring (1949), Tokyo Story (1953), Late Autumn (1960)
Like Takashi Shimura , Chishū Ryū played a substantial role in shaping the Japanese film industriousness , get over 230 act quotation to his name over the course of his 65 - year career . Ryū began his career in 1928 , being cast in the Yasujirō Ozu moving-picture show , Dreams of Youth . It was n’t until 1936 , though , that he gravel his first heavy role inCollege is a Nice Place , another Ozu - directed movie . His first big breakthrough was in the 1936 moving-picture show , The Only Son , which opened the room access for his calling to take off .
While many of Japan ’s greatest actors worked oftentimes with sure film director , Ryū and Ozu ’s frequent collaborations are implausibly telling . In fact , Ryū seem in 52 of Ozu ’s 54 films throughout his vocation . Some of Ryū ’s most famed Ozu films includeLate Spring , Tokyo Story , Late Autumn , Tokyo Twilight , andFloating Weeds .
4Hiroyuki Sanada
Ringu (1998), Round About Midnight (1999), Shogun (2024)
Hiroyuki Sanada is arguably Japan ’s good modern - day actor , having appeared in some significant films over the course of his career . Like Ken Watanabe , Sanada was able to break out of Japan and find success in some esteemed Hollywood productions , including2024’sShōgun , where he took home a Primetime Emmy for Best Actor . It ’s one of his good performances ever , read everyone just how good he is as an worker .
The FX historical drama idiot box serial Shōgun made story at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards , but the ticktock record should have happened already .
Before his outside twenty-four hour period , though , Sanada began his calling in the mid-’60s at the age of 5 . Sanada ’s piece of work in the ' 80s helped constitute him as an action at law star , while his performance in the 1988 film , Kaitō Ruby , was a fun flavour at him playing against character . Sanada ’s liberal discovery for international audience was his performance inRingu , one of Japan ’s most influential horror movie of the belated ' 90s , which helped pave the means for horror across the world .
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3Tatsuya Nakadai
Harakiri (1962), Kwaidan (1964), Kagemusha (1980)
commence his career in 1952 , Tatsuya Nakadai spend several long time in very minor roles , including an uncredited appearance inSeven Samurai . It was n’t until 1957 that Nakadai had his first big breakout role in the picture , Black River . After that , his calling took off , and he became a frequent collaborator with music director Masaki Kobayashi , result in some of the greatest flick ever made .
Harakiriis actually Tatsuya Nakadai ’s personal favorite among his films .
Nakadai was in some really monumental films throughout his life history , which helped mold Japan ’s cinematic story . Some of his most notable use were in film like , The Human Conditiontrilogy , Kwaidan , Ran , andKagemusha . Perhaps his most substantial , though , is the 1962 filmHarakiri , which is largely considered one of the greatest movies ever made , even outdoors of Japan . It ’s a milepost in Japanese cinema and Nakadai ’s performance in it is one of the country ’s secure ever .
2Setsuko Hara
Late Spring (1949), Early Summer (1951), Tokyo Story (1953)
Setsuko Hara is doubtless one of the greatest Nipponese actors of all time , while also being one of the most deep . Starting her calling in 1935 , Hara seem in the film , Do Not Hesitate Young Folks!,at 15 eld of age , and had her first handsome breakthrough in the 1937 film , The Daughter of the Samurai . She had a prolific career for near 30 age , with significant performances in a identification number of Ozu ’s films , as she was another of his frequent partner in crime .
Among those , her most important industrial plant includeLate Spring , Early Summer , andTokyo Story . She also appear in the Akira Kurosawa film , No Regrets for Our Youth . After Ozu give way in 1963 , Setsuko Hara hit the hay from play that same year , spending most of the ease of her life story secluded in Kamakura , where she refused photos and interview . Hara eventually submit that she never savour represent and her only reason for pursuing it was to aid affirm her family . The 2001 Zanzibar copal film , Millennium Actresswas loosely found on Hara ’s lifespan in film .
1Toshirō Mifune
Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954), High and Low (1963)
Is there a bigger Nipponese worker than Toshirō Mifune?Mifune ’s unbelievably impressive filmographyhelped put Japan ’s cinema industry in the international spotlight , and his frequent collaboration with Akira Kurosawa are a main raw material of it . Not only did his plastic film influence and shape Japan ’s entertainment industry over the days , but they were implausibly influential throughout the world . His ability to command the screen door in his performances is almost unmatched .
Starting his career in 1947 , Toshirō Mifune has more than 180 credits to his name , and appeared in 16 Kurosawa films throughout his vocation . Some of his most important works includeSeven Samurai , The Hidden Fortress , Rashomon , High and Low , andYojimbo . Mifune won several Best Actor awards at the Venice Film Festival throughout his calling and is generally considered one of thebest actor of all clip .
