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Ken'ichi Matsuyama

Ken'ichi Matsuyama

Actor · Born March 5, 1985 (41) · Mutsu, Aomori, Japan

Kenichi Matsuyama (松山 ケンイチ, Matsuyama Ken'ichi, born March 5, 1985) is a Japanese actor. He is known for his affinity for strange character roles, and he is best known internationally for playing L in the 2006 films Death Note, Death Note 2: The Last Name and L: Change the World in 2008, as well as voicing Gelus in the Death Note animated adaptation. He was cast to play lead character Toru Watanabe in the film adaptation of Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood, which was released in December 2010.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 5, 1985 (41)
From
Mutsu, Aomori, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 107 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 26Down 45% in 30 days

What are Ken'ichi Matsuyama's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th 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
Bonds
27%
Self
20%
Morality
18%
Survival
15%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 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 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 13

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 10

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

Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 6

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 4 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 11

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 20 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 20
Hero
7 of 20
Shadow
4 of 20
Mentor
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
13
Contemplative
7
Thrilling
7
Warm
6
Other
18

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous7

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 Ken'ichi Matsuyama's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken'ichi Matsuyama'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

107 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 2 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 Kazuki Kawashima

  • Nagi Notes(2026)

    as Yoshihiro Iguchi

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Until the T-Shirt Dries(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mitsuru Seo

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Is It Too Late for Sushi? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · as Oedo Umiya

  • Reboot(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as Riku Hayase (Before Reboot)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Themis's Uncertain Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kiyoharu Ando

  • New Interpretation of the End of Edo Period (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Oi, Dazai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle?(2025)

    Show 10 episodes · as Yoshiteru Matsukaze

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Saint Young Men The Movie ~Holy Men vs Demon Army~ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Jesus

  • The Tiger and Her Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 130 episodes · as Katsuraba Toichiro

  • Farewell Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • We're Broke, My Lord! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Shinjiro Matsudaira

  • Do Unto Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Munenori Shiba

  • Why Didn't I Tell You a Million Times?(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · as Uozumi Yuzuru

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Dousuru Ieyasu(2023)

    Show 50 episodes · as Honda Masanobu

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dreaming of the Meridian Arc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Noise(2022)

    as Jun Tanabe

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • hana –1970, Koza ga moeta hi– (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Riverside Mukolitta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Takeshi Yamada

  • Japan Sinks: People of Hope(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Kōichi Tokiwa

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • My Beloved One: The Other Side of Japan Sinks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Koichi Tokiwa

  • Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Nobuto Urita

  • Brave: Gunjyou Senki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Nobunaga Oda

  • Komoribito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hotel Royal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Satoshi Miyagawa

  • Mio's Cookbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Saint Young Men 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as イエス

  • Distorted Ripples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kumio Mitazono

  • 歪んだ波紋 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • From Miyamoto to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Kazuo Jinbo

  • Saint Young Men 2nd Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Jesus

  • Promare(2019)

    as Galo Thymos (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Promare / Side: Galo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Galo Thymos (voice)

  • Promare / Side: Lio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Galo Thymos (voice)

  • The Great White Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 5 episodes · as Shuji Satomi

  • Fortress of Skulls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Saint Young Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Jesus Christ

  • From Miyamoto to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 12 episodes · as 神保和夫

  • Residential Complex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Daiki Igarashi

  • Yurigokoro(2017)

    as Yosuke

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Sekigahara(2017)

    as Naoe Kanetsugu

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A Life: A Love(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Igawa Sota

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Satoshi: A Move for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Satoshi Murayama

  • Death Note: Light Up the New World(2016)

    as L

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Death Note: Genius of the Counterattack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as L

  • Rage(2016)

    as Tetsuya Tashiro

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Chinyuki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Taro Yamada

  • Something Like, Something Like It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Shinden Defunetei

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

    as Takeo Sasaki

  • Dokonjō Gaeru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Hiroshi

  • Chasuke's Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Chasuke

  • Futagashira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Legacy of Soma: Ao no Ran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kojiro Masakado

  • The Day Kouhaku Was Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Shindo Tatsuya

  • A Far Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Climbing to Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Toru

  • Homeland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Jiro

  • Buddha 2: The Endless Journey(2014)

    as Tatta (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Olympic Ransom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

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

    as Hidemasa Hori

  • Bokukyû: A ressha de iko(2011)

    as Kei Komachi

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Taira no Kiyomori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 50 episodes · as Taira no Kiyomori

  • Bunny Drop(2011)

    as Daikichi Kawachi

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • My Back Page (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Umeyama

  • Gantz: Perfect Answer(2011)

    as Masaru Kato

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Another Gantz(2011)

    as Masaru Kato

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Gantz(2010)

    as Masaru Kato

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Japanese Americans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Norwegian Wood(2010)

    as Toru Watanabe

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Yûji Miwa

  • Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler(2009)

    as Makoto Sahara

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Kamui Gaiden(2009)

    as Kamui

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Bare Essence of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Youjin Mizuki

  • Money Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 9 episodes · as Gamagori Futaro

  • Detoroito Metaru Shiti(2008)

    Theme Song Performance · as Sôichi Negishi / Johannes Krauser II

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Detroit Metal City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · as Makoto Hokazono (voice)

  • Death Note: L Change the World(2008)

    as L

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Don't Laugh at My Romance(2007)

    as Mirume

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Man who was Made a Fool by L the Most - Detective Matsuda's Case File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as L / Ryuzaki

  • Tsubaki Sanjuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Iori Isaka

  • South Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Officer Niigaki

  • Prodigy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Oto Kikuna

  • Dolphin Blue: Soar Again, Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Sekushii Boisu Ando Robo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Sexy Voice and Robo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 11 episodes · as Robo

  • 1 Litre Of Tears SP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Yuji Kawamoto

  • Ten Nights of Dreams(2006)

    as Shotaro

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Death Note: The Last Name(2006)

    as L

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Death Note(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Geius (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Vanished (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Tomohiko

  • Death Note(2006)

    as L

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Angels with Broken Wings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Shingo

  • Yamato(2005)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Custom Made 10.30 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Tamotu

  • Furyo shonen no yume (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • 1 Litre of Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Yuji Kawamoto

  • Nana(2005)

    as Shinichi Okazaki

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Be-Bop High School 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Linda Linda Linda(2005)

    as Makihara

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Taste of Tea(2004)

    as Young Man in Red T-Shirt

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Be-Bop High School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jun Kawabata

  • The Locker 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Yôsuke Shinohara

  • Winning Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Perfect Education 4: Secret Basement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Bright Future(2002)

    as Jun

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Gokusen(2002)

    Show 12 episodes · as Kenichi Mori

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 2002 to 2026; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

Death Note: The Last Name (2006)

$48M worldwide

Highest rated

Linda Linda Linda (2005)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Gokusen (2002)

Film career

20022026

Peak 2009 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 3 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
Acting107 of 107: 106 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew1 of 107: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

2000s36 · 36 acting · 1 crew2010s43 · acting2020s28 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 31% of 26 roles
030813

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.

How do Ken'ichi Matsuyama's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 27; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Dousuru Ieyasu (2023)

69th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Linda Linda Linda (2005)

Midcredits 94th · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 43. 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 Ken'ichi Matsuyama's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles14–49 · median 22 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32

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 Ken'ichi Matsuyama work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken'ichi Matsuyama's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kenji Kawai shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers