Koji Yakusho

Japanese actor (born 1956) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kōji Hashimoto (橋本 広司, Hashimoto Kōji; born 1 January 1956), known professionally as Kōji Yakusho (役所 広司, Yakusho Kōji), is a Japanese actor. He is known internationally for his starring roles in Shall We Dance? (1996), Cure (1997), 13 Assassins (2010), The Third Murder (2017), The Blood of Wolves (2018), Under the Open Sky (2020) and The Days (2023). For his performance in Perfect Days (2023), he was awarded the Best Actor award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

Born
Kōji Hashimoto

(1956-01-01) 1 January 1956 (age 70)
Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan
OccupationActor
Yearsactive1978–present
Spouse
Saeko Kawazu
​
(m. 1982)​
Quick facts Born, Occupation ...
Koji Yakusho
Yakusho at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2023
Born
Kōji Hashimoto

(1956-01-01) 1 January 1956 (age 70)
Isahaya, Nagasaki, Japan
OccupationActor
Years active1978–present
Spouse
Saeko Kawazu
​
(m. 1982)​
Children1
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Early life and education

Yakusho was born in Isahaya, Nagasaki, the youngest of five brothers. After graduation from Nagasaki Prefectural High School of Technology in 1974, he worked at the Chiyoda municipal ward office, or kuyakusho, in Tokyo, from which he later took his stage name.[1]

Career

In 1976, he saw a production of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths (Played by Tatsuya Nakadai) and was inspired, first to watch, and then later to take part in, as many plays as possible.[1] In the spring of 1978 he auditioned for Tatsuya Nakadai's the Mumeijuku (Studio for Unknown Performers) acting studio, and was one of four chosen out of 800 applicants.[1]

In 1983, he landed the role of Oda Nobunaga in the year-long NHK drama Tokugawa Ieyasu and was catapulted to fame. He also appeared in a TV version of Miyamoto Musashi from 1984 to 1985. For several years, he played Kuji Shinnosuke (or "Sengoku"), one of the title characters in the jidaigeki Sanbiki ga Kiru!. He played a major character in Juzo Itami's 1986 Tampopo.[1]

In 1988, he was given a special award for work in cinema by the Japanese Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture and continued to appear in films and in a number of TV shows through the '90s.[1]

In 1996 and 1997, Yakusho enjoyed several major successes. The Eel, directed by Shohei Imamura, in which he played the eel-loving lead, won the Palme d'Or at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.[2] Lawrence Van Gelder in the New York Times called his performance "unerring."[3] Lost Paradise, about a double-suicide, was second only to Princess Mononoke at the Japanese box office.[4]

International breakthrough: Shall We Dance?

Shall We Dance? was such a major hit in Japan that it inspired a domestic dance craze. Ballroom groups and dance schools multiplied in the country after the film's release, and people who previously would never admit to taking lessons announced that they did with pride.[5] Director Masayuki Suo said of his lead, who until that point was known mostly for playing good-looking samurai, "we thought he could play this overworked, tired Japanese businessman, and he did.... He pulled everything off and took his dance training so seriously."[5]

The film also was one of Japan's highest-grossing movies outside the country.[1][5] It earned $9.5 million in the US and inspired a remake starring Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere, with Gere playing Yakusho's role.[6]

Koji Yakusho at the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival in 2019

Yakusho next won the Hochi Film Award for Best Actor for Bounce Ko Gals, a film which dealt with high school prostitution specifically, and money worship in general. He collaborated with horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa in Cure,[1] License to Live,[7] Seance, Charisma,[1] Pulse,[8] Doppelganger,[9] Retribution,[10] and Tokyo Sonata.[11] Yakusho found further recognition with international audiences to some extent with roles in such films as Memoirs of a Geisha and Babel. In the latter, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, he played the father of the deaf person played by Rinko Kikuchi.[12]

Continued success

In 2009, he debuted as director of Toad's Oil.[13] In 2010 and 2011 he was part of both ensemble casts in Takashi Miike's samurai films, 13 Assassins and Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai. The latter was in 3D and the first 3D film to be in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.[14]

In the 2011 war drama film Rengō Kantai Shirei Chōkan: Yamamoto Isoroku, Yakusho portrayed Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Yakusho was reportedly the only actor considered for the role; had he not accepted it, the film would have been canceled.[15]

In 2018 he was in The Blood of Wolves. For his performance in Perfect Days, directed by Wim Wenders, Yakusho won best actor at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[16] In the same year, he has been selected 2023 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival’s filmmaker in focus.[17]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1979 Hunter in the Dark Kuwano [18]
Eireitachi no oenka: saigo no sôkeisen [19]
1980 Twelve Months Young soldier (voice) [20]
1981 Willful Murder Journalist [21]
1982 Onimasa Kondō [22]
Himeyuri no Tô Otaka [23]
The Legend of Sayo Hatsutaro [24]
1985 Tampopo Man in White Suit [25]
1987 The Great Department Store Robbery Cello player [26]
1988 Another Way: D-Kikan Joho Naoto Sekiya Lead role [27]
1990 Pod severnym siyaniyem Genzo Tamiya Lead role [28]
1993 Gurenbana Kenzo Nakada [29]
Drug Connection Ryosuke Kano Lead role [30]
1994 Osaka Gokudo Senso: Shinoidare Ippei Yoshikawa [31]
1995 Kamikaze Taxi Kantake Lead role [32]
1996 Shall We Dance? Shohei Sugiyama Lead role [33]
Sleeping Man Kamimura [34]
Shabu Gokudo Makabe Lead role [35]
1997 Lost Paradise Shoichiro Kuki Lead role [36]
The Eel Takuro Yamashita Lead role [37]
Bounce Ko Gals Oshima Lead role [38]
Cure Kenichi Takabe Lead role [39]
1998 Kizuna Takaaki Ise/Tetsuro Haga [40]
Tadon to chikuwa Kida Lead role [41]
1999 License to Live Fujimori [42]
Charisma Goro Yabuike Lead role [43]
Spellbound Hiroshi Kitano Lead role [44]
2000 Swing Man Movie star [45]
Dora-heita Koheita "Dora-heita" Mochizuki Lead role [46]
Eureka Makoto Sawai Lead role [47]
2001 Pulse Ship captain Cameo [48]
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge Yosuke Sasano Lead role [49]
2002 The Choice of Hercules Atsuyuki Sassa Lead role [50]
2003 Doppelganger Michio Hayasaki Lead role [9]
Fireflies: River of Light Mr. Takiguchi [51]
11′09″01 September 11 "Japan" segment [52]
2004 The Hunter and the Hunted Detective Jin Sekikawa Lead role [53]
Tokyo: Level One The Governor of Tokyo Lead role [54]
Lakeside Murder Case Shunsuke Namiki Lead role [55]
University of Laughs Mutsuo Sakisaka Lead role [56]
2005 Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean Masami Shin'ichi Lead role [57]
Memoirs of a Geisha Nobu American film [58]
2006 The Uchōten Hotel Heikichi Shindo Lead role [59]
Babel Yasujiro Wataya Foreign film [60]
Retribution Noboru Yoshioka Lead role [61]
2007 I Just Didn't Do It Masayoshi Arakawa [62]
Argentine Baba Satoru Wakui Lead role [63]
Silk Hara Jubei Foreign film [64]
Walking My Life Yukihiro Fujiyama Lead role [65]
2008 Paco and the Magical Book Onuki Lead role [66]
Tokyo Sonata The Robber [67]
2009 Mt. Tsurugidake Morisaku Furuta [68]
Gelatin Silver Love Client [69]
Toad's Oil Takuro Yazawa Lead role & director [13]
2010 13 Assassins Shinzaemon Shimada Lead role [70]
The Last Ronin Magozaemon Senoo Lead role [71]
2011 Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai Kageyu Saito [72]
Isoroku Isoroku Yamamoto Lead role [73]
Chronicle of My Mother Kōsaku Lead role [74]
The Woodsman and the Rain Katsuhiko Lead role [75]
2012 A Terminal Trust Shinzo Egi [76]
2013 The Kiyosu Conference Shibata Katsuie Lead role [77]
2014 The World of Kanako Akikazu Fujishima Lead role [78]
A Samurai Chronicle Shūkoku Toda Lead role [79]
2015 The Emperor in August Korechika Anami Lead role [80]
The Boy and the Beast Kumatetsu (voice) Lead role [81]
Mifune: The Last Samurai Himself Documentary film [82]
2017 Sekigahara Tokugawa Ieyasu [83]
Oh Lucy! Komori American-Japanese film [84]
The Third Murder Misumi [85]
2018 The Blood of Wolves Shōgo Ōgami Lead role [86]
Mirai Grandpa (voice) [87]
2019 Wings Over Everest Jiang Yuesheng Lead role; Chinese film [88]
Whistleblower Kase Cameo [89]
2021 Under the Open Sky Masao Mikami Lead role [90]
The Supporting Actors In Byplaywood Himself [91]
Belle Suzu's father (voice) [92]
2022 The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai Kawai Tsugunosuke Lead role [93]
2023 Perfect Days Hirayama Lead role; Japanese-German film [94]
Familia Seiji Lead role [95]
Father of the Milky Way Railroad Masajirō Miyazawa Lead role [96]
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window Sōsaku Kobayashi (voice) [97]
2024 Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality Takizawa Bakin Lead role [98]
2025 Snowflowers: Seeds of Hope Hino Teisai [99]
Scarlet Claudius (voice) [100]
2026 The Brightest Sun [101]
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1980 Shishi no Jidai Murakami Taiji Taiga drama [102]
Natchan no Shashinkan Second Lieutenant Kayama Asadora [103]
1981 Onna Taikōki Oda Nobutaka Taiga drama [104]
1983 Tokugawa Ieyasu Oda Nobunaga Taiga drama [105]
1984–1985 Miyamoto Musashi Miyamoto Musashi Lead role [106]
1986 Inochi Hamamura Taiga drama [107]
1987 Chotchan Iruru Kamiya Asadora [108]
1987–1995 Sanbiki ga Kiru! Kuji "Sengoku" Shin'nosuke 7 seasons [109]
1990 Moeyo Ken Hijikata Toshizō Lead role; miniseries [110]
1991 Takeda Shingen Takeda Shingen Lead role; TV movie [111]
1994 Hana no Ran Ibuki Saburo Nobutsuna Taiga drama [112]
2000 Aikotoba wa Yūki Jintaro Akatsuki Lead role [113]
Seance Sato Lead role; TV movie [114]
2010 Wagaya no Rekishi Narrator Miniseries [115]
2011 Early Autumn Shinpei Matsubara Lead role; TV movie [116]
2014 Fathers Sōsuke Aoki Lead role; episode 2 [117]
2017 Ties: A Miraculous Colt Masayuki Lead role; miniseries [118]
Rikuoh Kōichi Miyazawa Lead role [119]
The Supporting Actors Himself Episode 1 [120]
2019 Idaten Kanō Jigorō Taiga drama [121]
2021 Pension Metsa Tsuneki Episode 1 [122]
Matrilineal Family Yoshizō Yajima Special appearance; miniseries [123]
2023 The Days Masao Yoshida Lead role [124]
Vivant Nogoon Beki [125]
2026 Did Someone Happen to Mention Me? Gen Takasegawa Lead role [126]
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Japanese dub

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2001 Band of Brothers Richard Winters Voice dub for Damian Lewis [127]
2006 Over the Hedge RJ Animation [128]
2009 Astro Boy Dr. Bill Tenma Animation [129]
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Commercials

Accolades

Awards and nominations

More information Organizations, Year ...
Organizations[a] Year[b] Category Work Result Ref.
Agency for Cultural Affairs 1998 Art Encouragement Prizes[c] The Eel, Lost Paradise, Bounce Ko Gals, Cure Won [133]
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2017 Best Performance by an Actor The Third Murder Nominated [134]
2023 Best Performance Perfect Days Nominated [135]
Asia-Pacific Film Festival 2023 Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated [136]
Asian Film Awards 2011 Best Actor in a Leading Role 13 Assassins Nominated [137]
2012 Chronicle of My Mother Nominated [138]
2019 The Blood of Wolves Won [139]
Excellence In Asian Cinema Award[d] Honored
2021 Best Actor in a Leading Role Under the Open Sky Nominated [141]
2024 Perfect Days Won [142]
2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honored [143]
Blue Ribbon Awards 1997 Best Actor Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won [144]
1998 The Eel, Lost Paradise, Cure Won [145]
2016 The Emperor in August Nominated [146]
2018 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder, Sekigahara Nominated [147]
2019 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Nominated [148]
2022 Under the Open Sky Nominated [149]
2024 Perfect Days Nominated [150]
Cannes Film Festival 2023 Best Actor Won [151]
Chicago International Film Festival 2001 Silver Hugo – Best Actor Warm Water Under a Red Bridge Won [152]
2020 Silver Hugo – Best Performance Under the Open Sky Won [153]
Chlotrudis Award 1998 Best Actor Shall We Dance? Nominated [154]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2007 Best Acting Ensemble Babel Nominated [155]
Deauville Asian Film Festival 2008 Tribute Won [156]
Dubai International Film Festival 2011 Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature – Best Actor The Woodsman and the Rain Won [157]
Elan d'or Awards 1984 Newcomer of the Year Won [158]
Gold Derby Awards 2007 Best Ensemble Cast Babel Nominated [159]
Gotham Awards 2006 Best Ensemble Cast Won [160]
GQ Japan 2021 Men of the Year Best Actor Won [161]
Hawaii International Film Festival 2012 Career Achievement Award[e] Honored [163]
Hochi Film Award 1996 Best Actor Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won [164]
1997 The Eel, Lost Paradise, Bounce Ko Gals Won
2017 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder, Sekigahara Won [165]
2018 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Won [166]
2021 Under the Open Sky Nominated [167]
Japan Academy Film Prize 1991 Best Actor in a Leading Role Pod severnym siyaniyem Nominated [168]
1997 Shall We Dance? Won [169]
1998 The Eel Won [170]
1999 Kizuna Nominated [171]
2000 Spellbound Nominated [172]
2001 Dora-heita Nominated [173]
2002 Warm Water Under a Red Bridge Nominated [174]
2003 The Choice of Hercules Nominated [175]
2005 University of Laughs Nominated [176]
2007 The Uchōten Hotel Nominated [177]
2008 Walking My Life Nominated [178]
2009 Paco and the Magical Book Nominated [179]
2011 13 Assassins Nominated [180]
2012 The Last Ronin Nominated [181]
2013 Chronicle of My Mother Nominated [182]
Isoroku Nominated
2015 A Samurai Chronicle Nominated [183]
2016 The Emperor in August Nominated [184]
2018 Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Third Murder Won [185]
Sekigahara Nominated
2019 Best Actor in a Leading Role The Blood of Wolves Won [186]
2022 Under the Open Sky Nominated [187]
2024 Perfect Days Won [188]
Japan Cuts 2012 Excellence in Film[f] Honored [190]
Japanese Movie Critics Awards 1996 Best Actor Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won [191]
Kinema Junpo Awards 1997 Best Actor Shall We Dance? Won [192]
1998 The Eel, Lost Paradise Won [193]
2022 Under the Open Sky Won [194]
2024 Perfect Days, Familia and Father of the Milky Way Railroad Won [195]
Kyoto International Film and Art Festival 2014 Toshiro Mifune Award[g] Honored [197]
Mainichi Film Awards 1996 Best Actor Kamikaze Taxi Won [198]
1997 Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won [199]
2018 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder Won [200]
2019 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Nominated [201]
2022 Under the Open Sky Nominated [202]
Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2013 Golden Nymph for Outstanding Actors Early Autumn Nominated [203]
Nikkan Sports Film Award 1996 Best Actor Shall We Dance? Won [204]
2017 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder, Sekigahara Won [205]
2018 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Nominated [206]
2024 Best Actor Perfect Days, Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality Nominated [207]
Nippon Connection 2017 Nippon Honor Award[h] Honored [209]
Osaka Cinema Festival 2019 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Won [210]
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2007 Best Ensemble Cast Babel Won [211]
San Diego Film Critics Society 2006 Best Ensemble Won [212]
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2007 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated [213]
Singapore International Film Festival 2017 Cinema Legend Award[i] Honored [215]
Sitges Film Festival 2014 Best Actor The World of Kanako Won [216]
Tama Film Awards 2012 Best Actor Isoroku, Chronicle of My Mother, The Woodsman and the Rain Won [217]
2021 Best Actor Under the Open Sky, The Supporting Actors, Belle Won [218]
The Men's Fashion Unity 2007 Best Dresser Award Won [219]
Tokyo International Film Festival 1997 Best Actor Cure Won [220]
Tokyo Sports Film Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder Nominated [221]
2019 Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Nominated [222]
Yokohama Film Festival 1997 Best Actor Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won [223]
2005 University of Laughs, Yudan Taiteki, Tokyo Genpatsu Won [224]
2019 The Blood of Wolves Won [225]
2025 Perfect Days and Hakkenden: Fiction and Reality Won [226]
Zenkoku Eiren Awards 1997 Best Actor Shall We Dance? Won [227]
2013 Chronicle of My Mother Won
2018 Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder Won
2022 Best Actor Under the Open Sky Won
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State honors

More information Country, Year ...
Country Year Honor Ref.
Japan 2012 Medal with Purple Ribbon [228]
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Notes

  1. [a]
    Awards, festivals, honors and other miscellaneous organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
  2. [b]
    Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
  3. [c]
    On the official website of the Agency for Cultural Affairs definition, "...for New Artists are presented to persons whose outstanding achievements have opened up new vistas in a given year."[132]
  4. [d]
    Per Tokyo International Film Festival, "The Excellence in Asian Cinema Award aims to highlight distinguished talents and affirm their achievements and contributions to Asian film industry and culture."[140]
  5. [e]
    Per Hawaii International Film Festival, "The HIFF Golden Maile Award for Career Achievement is bestowed to an artist who has reached the career pinnacles very few have achieved via industry awards and accolades and a body of work that is known globally."[162]
  6. [f]
    Reporting from Movie Walker Press, "Cut Above Award for Excellent in Film, which was established to honor the contributions made to the film industry over the years."[189]
  7. [g]
    Kyoto International Film and Art Festival describes the award, "The Toshiro Mifune Award... honors an actor who has great potential for international success."[196]
  8. [h]
    Quoted verbatim from the 22nd Nippon Connection Film Festival, "The award... honors outstanding personalities for their merits in the Japanese film industry."[208]
  9. [i]
    Singapore International Film Festival wrote, "The Cinema Legend Award is awarded to a luminary Asian actor who has made an indelible mark with his/her performance, celebrating outstanding achievements in bringing Asia’s story to life on screen."[214]

References

External links

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