Japan has a robust and storied cinematic history, with some of the most influential films of all time coming from the country. Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the greatest directors of all time, Kurosawa's films helped create the modern Hollywood blockbuster, with monumental films such as Seven Samuraiand Yojimbo, which played an important role in shaping the Hollywood Western and vice versa. In fact, George Lucas was heavily influenced by Kurosawa's films when making Star Warsparticularly The Hidden Fortressas they share many similarities.
Japan's cinematic history is incredibly varied, with some of the greatest films falling into a variety of genres, including samurai stories, family dramas, and horror. Alongside legendary directors, these films also include some of the best performances of all time, with some of the best actors in the world. Actors such as Hiroyuki Sanada, Setsuko Hara and Toshirō Mifune have played significant roles in the Japanese film industry and are alongside a few others, who make up the best japanese actors of all time.
10
Ken Watanabe
The Last Samurai (2003), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Inception (2010)
What makes Ken Watanabe so special is that few Japanese actors have managed to break into Hollywood as successfully as he has, with him regularly appearing in major films outside of Japan. But it wasn't always this way, as Watanabe began his career in the early 1980s. , best known for playing samurai in several films and television shows, with his Hollywood breakthrough in the 2003 film, The Last Samurai.
Watanabe was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars for his performance as Katsumoto in The Last Samurai, and he then started getting even more roles in Hollywood. These credits include Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Letter from Iwo Jima (2006), Start (2010), and Godzilla (2014). Watanabe will be next to appear in the Japanese film National Treasury — no relation to the Nicolas Cage franchise — in 2025.
9
Takeshi Kitano
Fireworks (1997), Kikujiro (1999), Battle Royale (2000)
Takeshi Kitano is special because He is not only one of Japan's best actors, but also one of the country's best directorsregularly starring in his own directorial projects. Before his acting career really took off, Kitano was part of a successful comedy duo called Two Beat, eventually appearing in several small film and television roles throughout the 1980s. It wasn't until he was cast in the lead role that in the 1989 film Violent Police that he began to stand out as an actor.
Kitano was massive in 90s Japanese cinema, delivering incredible performances and films as a director. His performances in films such as Fireworks (Hana-bi), Kikujiro, Battle royaleand Zatoichiit helped solidify Kitano as one of the best actors of his era and one of Japan's best of all time. Kitano won the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Film Festival for his work on Fireworks, which he directed and starred in.
8
Koji Yakusho
Tampopo (1985), Healing (1997), Perfect Days (2023)
Active since the late 70s, Kōji Yakusho continues to deliver incredible performances to this day, showing just how impactful he has been on the Japanese film industry. Yakusho's first major success came when he was cast in the 1983 TV series, Tokugawa Ieyasu, which catapulted him to fame in Japan and he continued working throughout the 1980s, particularly with his role in the 1986 film Tampopo.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, Yakusho began appearing in several films by legendary horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Of these roles, his most notable is Kenichi Takabe in the chilling Cure in 1997, which is regularly considered one of the best Japanese horror films of all time. Despite having a long career, Yakusho hasn't slowed down, recently winning the Best Actor award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for his work in Perfect Days.
7
Ayako Wakao
Street of Shame (1956), Maiden of the Blue Sky (1957), Floating Weeds (1959)
Starting her career in the early 1950s, Ayako Wakao was one of Japan's most popular actresses during that decade and well into the 1960s. What made her stand out so much was her regular work with legendary director Yasuko Masumura, with the two collaborating in 20 films throughout his career. These included The maiden of the blue sky, Irezumiand Red Angel. Director Kon Ichikawa also viewed Wakao favorably, as she appeared in seven of his films.
Street of Shame is a particular highlight, giving her character Yasumi remarkable depth while sensitively navigating a difficult topic in Japan at the time.
Ayako Wakao's strength as an actress was in her ability to create these complex female characterswith amazing performances in some of the best films Japan has ever seen. Her job as a brothel worker in Street of Shame is a particular highlight, giving her character Yasumi remarkable depth while sensitively navigating a difficult topic in Japan at the time. She also appeared in the iconic film, Floating Weedsby one of Japan's greatest, Yasujirō Ozu.
6
Takashi Shimura
Drunk Angel (1948), Ikiru (1952), Godzilla (1954)
Japan's film scene could have been very different without the presence of Takashi Shimura, who appeared in over 200 films throughout his prolific career. Debuting in the 1934 silent film Number One, Love Street, he worked until the early 1980s. He was in some of Japan's most important films, including Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Drunk Angeland Godzilla.
Perhaps his most significant contribution to the Japanese film industry was his notable performance in Ikiru, one of the best films by Akira Kurosawa, considered the greatest Japanese director of all time. Ikiru revolves around a man who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and the subsequent way he tries to come to terms with his mortality. A scathing look at Japanese bureaucracy, Takashi Shimura's performance in the film is one of the best of all time.
5
Chishū Ryū
Late Spring (1949), Tokyo Story (1953), Late Autumn (1960)
Like Takashi Shimura, Chishū Ryū played a significant role in shaping the Japanese film industry, having more than 230 acting credits to his name throughout his 65-year career. Ryū began his career in 1928 by being cast in the film Yasujirō Ozu, Youth Dreams. However, it was only in 1936 that he got his first big role in College is a cool placeanother film directed by Ozu. His first big breakthrough was in the 1936 film The only sonwhich opened the doors for his career to take off.
While many of Japan's greatest actors often worked with certain directors, Ryū and Ozu's frequent collaborations are incredibly impressive. In truth, Ryū appeared in 52 of Ozu's 54 films throughout his career. Some of Ryū's most notable Ozu films include Late spring, History of Tokyo, Late autumn, Tokyo twilightand Floating Weeds.
4
Hiroyuki Sanada
Ringu (1998), Around Midnight (1999), Shogun (2024)
Hiroyuki Sanada is arguably the best modern Japanese actor, having appeared in some major films throughout his career. Like Ken Watanabe, Sanada managed to break out of Japan and find success in some prestigious Hollywood productions, including 2024 Shogun, where he took home a Primetime Emmy for Best Actor. It's one of his best performances, showing everyone how good he is as an actor.
Before his international days, however, Sanada began his career in the mid-60s at the age of 5. Sanada's work in the 1980s helped establish him as an action star, while his performance in the 1988 film, Kaito Ruby, it was fun to see him play against the character. Sanada's greatest breakthrough for the international public was his performance in Ringuone of Japan's most influential horror films of the late 90s, which helped pave the way for horror across the world.
3
Tatsuya Nakadai
Harakiri (1962), Kwaidan (1964), Kagemusha (1980)
Beginning his career in 1952, Tatsuya Nakadai spent several years in minor roles, including an uncredited appearance in Seven Samurai. It was not until 1957 that Nakadai had his first major film role Rio Negro. After that, his career took off and he became a frequent collaborator with director Masaki Kobayashi, resulting in some of the greatest films ever made.
Nakadai was in some truly monumental films throughout his career, which helped shape Japan's cinematic history. Some of his most notable roles were in films such as, The Human Condition trilogy, Kwaidan, Runningand Kagemusha. Perhaps most significant, however, is the 1962 film Harakiriwhich is widely considered one of the best films ever made, even outside of Japan. It is a landmark in Japanese cinema and Nakadai's performance is one of the country's best ever.
2
Setsuko Hara
Late Spring (1949), Early Summer (1951), Tokyo Story (1953)
Setsuko Hara is undoubtedly one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time, while also being one of the most mysterious. Starting his career in 1935, Hara appeared in the film Don't hesitate, young people!, at the age of 15 and got his first big breakthrough in the 1937 film The Samurai's Daughter. She had a prolific career for nearly 30 years, with significant performances in several Ozu films.as she was another of his frequent collaborators.
Among them, his most important works include Late spring, Early summerand History of Tokyo. She also appeared in Akira Kurosawa's film No regrets for our young people. After Ozu died in 1963, Setsuko Hara retired from acting that same year, spending most of the rest of her life in isolation in Kamakura, where she refused photographs and interviews. Hara ultimately stated that she never enjoyed acting and that her only reason for pursuing it was to help support her family. The 2001 anime film, Actress of the Millennium it was loosely based on Hara's life in film.
1
Toshiro Mifune
Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954), High and Low (1963)
Is there a greater Japanese actor than Toshirō Mifune? Mifune's incredibly impressive filmography helped put Japan's film industry in the international spotlightand his frequent collaborations with Akira Kurosawa are one of the main pillars of this. Not only have his films influenced and shaped the Japanese entertainment industry over the years, but they have also been incredibly influential across the world. His ability to command the screen in his performances is almost unparalleled.
Starting his career in 1947, Toshirō Mifune has over 180 credits to his name and has appeared in 16 Kurosawa films throughout his career. Some of his most important works include Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, Rashomon, High and Lowand Yojimbo. Mifune won several Best Actor awards at the Venice Film Festival throughout his career and is generally considered one of the best actors of all time.