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Kōji Yakusho

Kōji Yakusho

Actor, also producer · Born January 1, 1956 (70) · Isahaya, Japan

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 2 other major award bodies

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), 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 in the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1956 (70)
From
Isahaya, Japan
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 132 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 5% in 30 days

What are Kōji Yakusho's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
27%
Morality
21%
Bonds
20%
Survival
13%
Society
9%
Ideas
8%
Power
2%
Purpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 8 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 16 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 8

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 14

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

31 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 17 of 31 analyzed roles.

Hero
17 of 31
Shadow
9 of 31
Mentor
5 of 31
Show the 31 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Contemplative
16
Melancholic
15
Warm
13
Hopeful
8
Other
26

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous11

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kōji Yakusho's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kōji Yakusho's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

132 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Did Someone Happen to Mention Me? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 1 episode · as Gen Takasegawa

  • Children Untold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Jinbe Yamai / Jinbei

  • The Brightest Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Scarlet(2025)

    as Claudius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Tales of the Bizarre: 35th Anniversary Special – Autumn Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Snowflowers: Seeds of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Hakkenden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Bakin Takizawa

  • Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window(2023)

    as Sōsaku Kobayashi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Perfect Days(2023)

    Executive Producer · as Hirayama

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Vivant(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · as Nogōn Beki

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Days(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Masao Yoshida

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Father of the Milky Way Railroad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Miyazawa Masajiro

  • Família (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Seiji Kamiya

  • The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Kawai Tsugunosuke

  • Gratitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Matrilineal Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kazo Yajima

  • Belle(2021)

    as Suzu's Father (voice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Supporting Actors in Byplaywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Under the Open Sky(2020)

    as Mikami Masao

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Pension Metsä (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 7 episodes · as Tsuneki

  • Wings Over Everest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Jiang Yuesheng

  • Whistleblower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 47 episodes · as 嘉納治五郎

  • Mirai(2018)

    as Grandfather (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Blood of Wolves(2018)

    as Shogo Ogami

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Oh Lucy!(2017)

    as Takeshi Komori / Tom

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Rikuoh(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Koichi Miyazawa

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Third Murder(2017)

    as Takashi Misumi

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Sekigahara(2017)

    as Tokugawa Ieyasu

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Ties: A Miraculous Colt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Masayuki Matsushita

  • The Emperor in August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as General Korechika Anami

  • The Boy and the Beast(2015)

    as Kumatetsu (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A Samurai Chronicle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Toda

  • Back of Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Aoki Sosuke

  • The World of Kanako(2014)

    as Akikazu Fujishima

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • I Am Searching For Myself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Kiyosu Conference (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Katsuie Shibata

  • The Terminal Trust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Shinzo Egi

  • Chronicle of My Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Kosaku

  • The Woodsman and the Rain(2011)

    as Katsuhiko

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet(2011)

    as Isoroku Yamamoto

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai(2011)

    as Kageyu

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Early Autumn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • The Last Ronin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Magozaemon Senoo

  • 13 Assassins(2010)

    as Shinzaemon Shimada

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Morisaku Furuta

  • Toad's Oil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · as Takuro Yazawa

  • Ekiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Det. Yobuno

  • Gelatin Silver, Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Client

  • Tokyo Sonata(2008)

    as Robber

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Paco and the Magical Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Onuki

  • Walking My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Yukihiro Fujiyama

  • The Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Silk(2007)

    as Hara Jubei

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Argentine Hag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Satoru Wakui

  • Retribution(2006)

    as Noboru Yoshioka

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • I Just Didn't Do It(2006)

    as Masayoshi Arakawa

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Babel(2006)

    as Yasujiro Wataya

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Suite Dreams(2006)

    as Heikichi Shindo

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Memoirs of a Geisha(2005)

    as Nobu

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Masami Shin'ichi

  • The Lakeside Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Shunsuke Namiki

  • University of Laughs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mutsuo Sakisaka

  • People Without a Fort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Nagasaka Fumio

  • Fireflies: River of Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mr. Takiguchi

  • Séance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sato

  • Tokyo: Level One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Governor of Tokyo

  • The Hunter and the Hunted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Detective Jin

  • Doppelganger(2003)

    as Michio Hayasaki

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Choice of Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Atsuyuki Sassa

  • The Life of Bangaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 10 episodes · as Ajigawa Bantake

  • Warm Water Under a Red Bridge(2001)

    as Yosuke Sasano

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Pulse(2001)

    as Ship Captain

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Eureka(2000)

    as Makoto Sawai

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Password is Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Dora-heita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Koheita Mochizuki

  • Charisma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Goro Yabuike

  • Jubaku: Spellbound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Hiroshi Kitano

  • Keijitachi no Natsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • License to Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Fujimori

  • Tadon and Chikuwa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Bonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Takaaki Ise / Tetsuro Haga

  • Yukon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Takayuki Iwabuchi

  • Cure(1997)

    as Kenichi Takabe

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Bounce Ko Gals(1997)

    as Oshima

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Middle-aged Bachelors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • The Eel(1997)

    as Takuro Yamashita

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Lost Paradise(1997)

    as Shoichiro Kuki

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Shabu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Sleeping Man(1996)

    as Kamimura

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Shall We Dance?(1996)

    as Shohei Sugiyama

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Kamikaze Taxi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Kazumasa Kantake

  • History of Jirocho Shimizu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Osaka Gokudo Senso: Shinoidare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • 39th Edogawa Rampo Prize "Kao ni Furikakaru Ame" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Hana no Ran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 37 episodes · Actor

  • Hacchōbori Torimono Banashi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Dark Society in the East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ryosuke Kano

  • Crimson Lotus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Suzume Iro Doki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • サハリンの薔薇 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Takeda Shingen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Takeda Shingen

  • Takeda Shingen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Takeda Shingen

  • Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Aurora Borealis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Genzo

  • Megumi no Sekai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Naoto Sekiya

  • 「愛に燃える戦国の女」−豊臣家の人々より− (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Great Department Store Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Lethal Three (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 101 episodes · Actor

  • New Yotsuya Kaidan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Chotchan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 156 episodes · as 神谷容

  • Inochi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 50 episodes · as Naohiko Hamamura

  • Tampopo(1985)

    as White Suit Man

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • 宮本武蔵 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Miyamoto Musashi

  • 水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 45 episodes · as 宮本武蔵

  • The Fox Dancing in the Dusk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Fir Trees Remain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 50 episodes · as Oda Nobunaga

  • The Legend of Sayo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Hatsutaro (Sayo's brother)

  • The Law of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Genzô

  • Eternal Monument (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Ootaka

  • Onimasa(1982)

    as Kondo

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Willful Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Journalist

  • Kinagashi Bugyō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Magistrate of the Floating World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • 空よ海よ息子たちよ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • The Battle of Port Arthur: Will Love Die? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Twelve Months(1980)

    as Young soldier (voice)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Hunter in the Dark(1979)

    as Kuwano

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ars longa, vita brevis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 132 titles, 131 of them dated from 1979 to 2026; peak year 1996.

Biggest box office

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

$162M worldwide

Highest rated

Tampopo (1985)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Vivant (2023)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19792026

Peak 1996 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 19 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting132 of 132: 130 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thDirecting1 of 132: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 132: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s30 · acting2000s31 · 31 acting · 1 crew2010s25 · acting2020s20 · 20 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 54% of 37 roles
82020712

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

1 major award from 3 major nominations, 2007–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Cannes award, won
  2. 2007
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Acting Ensemble

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Kōji Yakusho's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 37; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 85th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 40 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Twelve Months (1980)

62nd percentile spread · 12% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Tampopo (1985)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kōji Yakusho's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and sex & nudity run heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles25–98 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles11–69 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles6–50 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles8–49 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles28–90 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kōji Yakusho work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kōji Yakusho's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Minami Ichikawa shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles