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1-50 of 217
- Japanese character actor Takashi Shimura was one of the finest film actors of the 20th century and a leading member of the "stock company" of master director Akira Kurosawa. A native of southern Japan, Shimura was a descendant of the samurai warrior class. Following university training, he founded a theatre company, Shichigatsu-za ("July Theatre"). In 1930 he joined a professional company, Kindai-za ("Modern Theatre"). Four years later he signed with the Kinema Shinko film studio. He found a niche playing samurai roles for various studios, then signed a long-term contract with Toho Studios in 1943. He appeared in an average of six films a year for Toho over the next four decades. His greatest critical acclaim came in more than 20 roles for Kurosawa, though he is almost as well recognized outside Japan for his kindly doctor role in the original "Godzilla" (Godzilla (1954)). Shimura's triumph was his unforgettable performance as a dying bureaucrat in Kurosawa's Ikiru (1952). He continued to act steadily, in good films and bad, almost until his death, culminating with Kurosawa's Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980). He is often described as filling the spot for Kurosawa that Ward Bond filled for John Ford--an ever-present and reliable character player who consistently supplied a solidity and strength to whatever film he appeared in. Shimura was definitely a finer actor than Bond, of the most versatile "chameleons" in the world cinema, a great artist with enormous range in sublime interpretations, from Ikiru (1952)'s diffident clerk to the leader of the Seven Samurai in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954). He died in 1982, a reluctant icon of Japanese cinema.
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Hitoshi Matsumoto and his childhood friend Masatoshi Hamada teamed up as comedy duo Downtown. When they had their own TV shows in late 80s, they became phenomenal pop culture among young Japanese people. Unlike other comedy duos in Japan, they are still together, and they dominate prime time TV shows in Japan. They are most notably famous for their yearly "batsu" TV special aired on New Years Eve from 18:30 - 00:00 that has been running for 10 consecutive years which gained a large following internationally via YouTube.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Nobushige Suematsu was born on 30 January 1983 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Babel (2006), Old days (2019) and Haru and Low (2015).- Actor
- Music Department
Show Hayami was born on 2 August 1958 in Takasago, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Trigun (1998), Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) and Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984). He is married to Rei Igarashi.- Tarô Yamamoto was born on 24 November 1974 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Battle Royale (2000), Moon Child (2003) and Get Up! (2003). He was previously married to Julie Warisaya.
- Arata Furuta was born on 3 December 1965 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for 13 Assassins (2010), Harlock: Space Pirate (2013) and Shin Godzilla (2016). He is married to Yayoi Nishihaa. They have one child.
- Seina Nakata was born on 6 January 2000 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Meet Me After School (2018), My Hot Sexless Lover (2022) and Passion for Punchlines (2023).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kohei Higuchi was born on 30 November 2000 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He is an actor, known for Avataro Sentai Donbrothers (2022), Avataro Sentai Donbrothers vs. Zenkaiger (2023) and Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger vs. Donbrothers (2024).- Actor
- Executive
- Soundtrack
Tetsuya Watari was born on 28 December 1941 in Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor and executive, known for Yakuza Graveyard (1976), Waga kokoro no ginga tetsudo: Miyazawa Kenji monogatari (1996) and Yukai (1997). He died on 10 August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Shinobu Hashimoto was born on 18 April 1918 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was a writer and director, known for The Hidden Fortress (1958), Harakiri (1962) and Ikiru (1952). He died on 19 July 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.- Mari Hamada was born on 27 December 1968 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Shomuni (1998), The Cat Returns (2002) and Inuyashiki (2018). She was previously married to Maki Fujii.
- Jun Amaki was born on 16 October 1995 in Itami, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Flower and the Beast (2017), Iron Girl: Final Wars (2019) and Hop Step Jump! (2018).
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Non (born: Rena Nounen) was born in Kamikawa town in Hyogo, Japan and raised in this beautiful rural town. She won the prize of Nicola Model Audition when she's the 7th grade, and started the modeling carrier. On graduating her junior high school, she moved to Tokyo to pursue her dream to be an actress. She is best known for Amachan (2013), Hot Road (2014) , Kurage-Hime(Princess Jellyfish) (1995) and Kono Sekai No Katasumi Ni (In This Corner Of The World) (2016).- Chihiro Yamamoto was born on 29 August 1996 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Ultraman Geed (2017), Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider (2016) and Alice in Borderland (2020).
- Ryôta Takeuchi was born on 22 September 1982 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015), Overwatch (2016) and The Ancient Magus' Bride (2017).
- Composer
- Music Department
- Sound Department
Yôko Shimomura was born on 19 October 1967 in Hyogo, Japan. She is a composer, known for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (2022) and Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016).- Actor
- Additional Crew
Kichijirô Ueda was born on 10 March 1904 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was an actor, known for Rashomon (1950), The Hidden Fortress (1958) and Seven Samurai (1954). He died on 3 November 1972 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan.- Nao Asuka was born on 18 September 1961 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Lost in Translation (2003), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) and Lonely Heart (1985).
- Katsuhisa Namase was born on 13 October 1960 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Yattâman (2009), Trick (2000) and Kamen Rider Zi-O (2018).
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
Born in Japan in 1930, Shogoro Nishimura joined Nikkatsu Studios in 1954, and was first promoted to director in 1963 with the well-received Keirinshô ningyô jôki. He spent the rest of that decade directing Nikkatsu programmers of varying quality. With the 1970s came the studio's shift to making exclusively soft-core "Roman porno" films (usually more story-driven and elaborate than their Western counterparts). Rather than look for work elsewhere, Nishimura found this to be a genre which agreed with him: by the time of his retirement, he had completed fully 83 films in that.- Fujio Suga was born on 27 July 1927 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He was an actor, known for Shinsengumi shimatsuki (1963), A Japanese Tragedy (1953) and Tateshi Danpei (1962). He died on 20 July 1998.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Minako Kotobuki was born on 17 September 1991 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger (2016), Gekijôban Dôbutsu Sentai Jûôjâ Tai Ninninjâ Mirai kara no Messêji Furomu Sûpâ Sentai (2017) and Guilty Crown (2011).- Kokuten Kôdô was born on 29 January 1887 in Takasago, Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor, known for Seven Samurai (1954), Godzilla (1954) and The Hidden Fortress (1958). He died on 22 January 1960.
- Kento Handa was born on 4 June 1984 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider 555 (2003), Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost (2003) and Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3 (2015).
- Tsuki Fukutomi was born on 21 September 2002 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Brothers in Arms- Silhouette's Gambit (2023), Billlie: Ring Ma Bell (What a Wonderful World) (2022) and Billlie & Yoon Jong Shin: Patbingsu (2022).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Noriko Eguchi was born on 28 April 1980 in Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Stigmatized Properties (2020), Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1998) and Erased (2017).- Tsunehiko Watase was born on 28 July 1944 in Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor, known for The Incident (1978), Heaven and Earth (1990) and Furueru shita (1980). He was married to Iho and Reiko Ôhara. He died on 14 March 2017 in Tokyo, Japan.
- Kosuke Takaguchi was born on 15 December 1978 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He is an actor, known for Guilty Crown (2011), Tensou Sentai Goseiger (2010) and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger vs. Space Sheriff Gavan: The Movie (2012).
- Takeshi Sakamoto was born on 21 September 1899 in Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor, known for A Story of Floating Weeds (1934), Passing Fancy (1933) and An Inn in Tokyo (1935). He died on 10 May 1974 in Hyogo-ken, Japan.
- Masaki Terasoma was born on 8 May 1962 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Kamen Rider Black (1987), Kamen Rider Den-O (2007) and Kamen Rider × Super Sentai: Super Hero Taisen (2012).
- Jun Hashimoto was born on 25 February 1964 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Shin Godzilla (2016), Alice in Borderland (2020) and Library Wars (2013).
- Director
- Animation Department
- Art Department
Yasuhiro Takemoto was born on 5 April 1972 in Hyogo, Japan. He was a director, known for Full Metal Panic! (2002), Tokyo Underground (2002) and Clannad (2007). He died on 18 July 2019 in Kyoto, Japan.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yoichi Hayashi was born on 14 February 1942 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor and assistant director, known for Dokugan-ryu Masamune (1987), Gungrave (2002) and Kwaidan (1964). He was previously married to Tomoko Ogawa.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Yasuaki Uegaki was born on 26 September 1948 in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He is an assistant director and director, known for Pink Curtain 2 (1982), Pink Curtain (1982) and Shin pinku no kaaten (1991).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yôichi Maeda was born on 14 December 1934 in Hyogo, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Botchan (1977), I'll Do Anything But Work (1970) and Kigeki migimuke hidari! (1970).- Hirofumi Araki was born on 14 June 1983 in Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Juken Sentai Gekiranger (2007), Engine Sentai Go-onger VS Gekiranger (2009) and Tennis no oujisama (2006).
- Shûhei Nomura was born on 14 November 1993 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for Memoirs of a Murderer (2017), The Youngsters (2014) and Secret Unrequited Love (2019).
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Masatoshi Hamada and his childhood friend Hitoshi Matsumoto teamed up as comedy duo Downtown. When they had their own TV shows in late 80s, they became phenomenal pop culture among young Japanese people. Unlike other comedy duos in Japan, they are still together, and they dominate prime time TV shows in Japan.- Akira Tozawa was born on 22 July 1985 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan. He is an actor, known for WWE: 205 Live (2016), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WWE NXT (2010).
- Actress
- Composer
- Music Department
Nao Matsushita was born on 8 February 1985 in Kawanishi, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress and composer, known for XX (ekusu kurosu): makyô densetsu (2007), Mampuku (2018) and Mirai yosouzu (2007).- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
- Director
Masato Tanno was born in Ono, Hyôgo, Japan. He is known for Enter the Void (2009), Equals (2015) and Ichi the Killer (2001).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kiriô Urayama was born on 14 December 1930 in Hyogo, Japan. Kiriô was a director and writer, known for Kyûpora no aru machi (1962), Hikô shôjo (1963) and Taiyo no ko teda no fua (1980). Kiriô died on 20 October 1985.- Kenzo Okuzaki was born on 1 February 1921 in Akashi, Hyogo, Japan. He was an actor, known for Saezaete nao kokkeina tsuki (2012), The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987) and Kami-sama no ui yatsu (2001). He died on 16 June 2005 in Kobe, Japan.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Daikei Shimizu was born in 1948 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Hentai rape: Kyôshi susuri-naku (1998), Tandem (1994) and Chikan bus: Back mo alright (1987).- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Writer
Toshirô Enomoto was born on 16 June 1965 in Hyôgo, Japan. He is a director and assistant director, known for Hitozuma deaikei site: Otto no shiranai tsuma no seiheki (2002), Kinjirareta jôji: Furinzuma ômata biraki (1996) and Jukujo soap: Tsukinuke hassha (1998).- Eri Nakao was born on 15 May 1980 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Xenoblade Chronicles (2010), Project X Zone 2 (2015) and Witchblade (2006).
- Director
- Animation Department
- Art Department
Morio Asaka was born on 11 March 1967 in Hyogo, Japan. He is a director, known for Sword Art Online (2012), Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (1989) and Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990).- Midoriko Kimura was born on 15 October 1961 in Sumoto, Hyogo, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kansen rettô (2009), Gintama 2: Rules are Made to be Broken (2018) and It's Me, It's Me (2013).
- Son of doctors, his first intention was to be a doctor, too, but during his attendance at the Tokyo Medical College in 1947, one novel he wrote was awarded a prize by a detective novel magazine, and after graduation in 1950, he decided to be a novelist. His favourite genres were the detective story and the ninja, "Koga Ninpocho" being the most famous. In 1956, two of his detective novels were converted into films, but from 1963 on, almost all of his 16 large screen adaptations were ninja novels. The success of the first movie, "Edo Ninpocho: Nanatsu no Kage" ("Record of Edo Ninjas: Seven Shadows") followed by "Tsukikage Ninpocho: Nijuichi no Manako" ("Account of Moon Shadow Ninjas: 21 Eyes" the same year, encouraged Toei Film Production into doing an entire film series about Yamada novels until 1969, firstly in B/W and CinemaScope.
In 1964, Toei started the "Kunoichi" film series, with female ninjas, and this was be the key to its success. At the beginning of the 1980s, Toei produced two films more Samurai Reincarnation (1981) ("Samurai Reincarnation") and Death of a Ninja (1982) ("Iga Magic Story"), which centered on the fantastic side of Yamada ninja novels. Yamada wrote his last novel, "The Death of Jûbei Yagyu" in 1991, but his popularity did not weaken. From 1991 to 1998 "Kunoichi" and "Makai Tensho" were converted into two original video series. And again, two films were produced based on these stories in 1998 and 2003, respectively. - Kaede Aono was born on 21 November 1992 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She is an actress, known for Kei×Yaku: Dangerous Partners (2022), Asura Girl: A Blood-C Tale (2017) and Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger (2019).