Masahiro Motoki
Masahiro Motoki, born in 1965, is one of the most respected Japanese actors of his generation, celebrated for reinventing himself from teen idol to serious dramatic performer. He first came to fame in the eighties as a member of the pop trio Shibugakitai, then studied acting seriously and appeared in films such as Takashi Miike's Fudoh: The New Generation (1996) and Takashi Kawabata's Tokyo Marigold (2001). His defining role came in Yojiro Takita's Departures (2008), where his performance as a young cellist turned encoffiner earned him the Japanese Academy Award for best actor and helped the film win the Oscar for best foreign language film. He has continued working in prestige Japanese dramas and international coproductions with a quiet, meticulously prepared style.
Masahiro Motoki
30 Movies
12 Series
Masahiro Motoki, born in 1965, is one of the most respected Japanese actors of his generation, celebrated for reinventing himself from teen idol to serious dramatic performer. He first came to fame in the eighties as a member of the pop trio Shibugakitai, then studied acting seriously and appeared in films such as Takashi Miike's Fudoh: The New Generation (1996) and Takashi Kawabata's Tokyo Marigold (2001). His defining role came in Yojiro Takita's Departures (2008), where his performance as a young cellist turned encoffiner earned him the Japanese Academy Award for best actor and helped the film win the Oscar for best foreign language film. He has continued working in prestige Japanese dramas and international coproductions with a quiet, meticulously prepared style.
Movies
Plays Daigo Kobayashi
Departures
2008
Plays Araki Murashige
The Samurai and the Prisoner
2026
Plays Snake (voice)
Tekkonkinkreet
2006
Plays Takahashi
Touch
2024
Plays Hiromasa Kimoto
Shall We Dance?
1996
Plays Junichi Mitsuya
Gonin
1995
Plays Emperor Showa
The Emperor in August
2015
Plays Yukio Daitokuji
Gemini
1999
Plays Naoki Mizushima
The Longest Night in Shanghai
2007
Plays Hidemi Ozaki
Spy Sorge
2003
Plays Hisashi Kono
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
Plays Shuhei Yamamoto
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
1992
Plays Kogoro Akechi
The Mystery of Rampo
1994
Plays Shiono Yohei
Fancy Dance
1989
Plays Takeo Youki
Raffles Hotel
1989
Plays Wada
The Bird People in China
1998
Plays Sachio Kinugasa
The Long Excuse
2016
Plays Ichitaro Kosugi
Heat Wave
1991
Plays 孙悟空
Saiyūki
1993
Plays Mishima
The Big Bee
2015
Plays Neighbour
The Works and Days (of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin)
2022
Plays Hirata
Playtime Never Ends
1991
Plays Ryuji Tsuyama
Silence of the Sea
2024
Last Song
1994
Plays Hiroo Terada
Tokiwa: The Manga Apartment
1996
Plays Musashi Miyamoto
Ganryujima
2003
Plays Daisuke
Come On Girls!
1982
Plays Kenji
Dioxin from Fish!
1992
TV Shows
Plays Saitou Toshimasa / Saito Dousan [the "Viper of Mino"]
Awaiting Kirin
2020
Plays 秋山真之
Clouds Over the Hill
2009
Plays Eiichiro Sakura
A Wednesday Love Affair
2001
Plays Aoki Kosuke
White Love Story
1995
Plays 山根光彦
The Only One I Can't See
1992
Plays Narukawa Shuhei
Prince of Happiness
2003
Plays Takagi Koichi
The Neighbours Are Secretly Laughing
1999
Plays Tomonaga Akiyuki
On the Single Bed Tonight
2005
Plays Ryota Yuminari
Man of Destiny
2012
Plays Fukuhara
Giri/Haji
2019
Plays Takao Satomi
Asura
2025
Plays Umayado no ouji
Prince Shotoku
2001
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Samurai and the Prisoner
Full Filmography
The Samurai and the Prisoner
Araki Murashige
2026
Film
Asura
Takao Satomi · 7 episodes
2025
TV
Silence of the Sea
Ryuji Tsuyama
2024
Film
Touch
Takahashi
2024
Film
The Works and Days (of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin)
Neighbour
2022
Film
Awaiting Kirin
Saitou Toshimasa / Saito Dousan [the "Viper of Mino"] · 44 episodes
2020–
TV
Giri/Haji
Fukuhara · 8 episodes
2019
TV
The Long Excuse
Sachio Kinugasa
2016
Film
The Big Bee
Mishima
2015
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Masahiro Motoki?
Masahiro Motoki is 60 years old, born on December 21, 1965.
What are the most famous roles of Masahiro Motoki?
Masahiro Motoki is best known for roles in Departures, Tekkonkinkreet, Shall We Dance?.
How many movies has Masahiro Motoki been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1982), Masahiro Motoki has appeared in 30 movies and 12 TV shows.
What was Masahiro Motoki's first movie?
The career of Masahiro Motoki began with Come On Girls! (1982).
What is Masahiro Motoki's most recent movie or series?
Masahiro Motoki's most recent release is The Samurai and the Prisoner, which premiered on June 19, 2026.
What TV shows has Masahiro Motoki appeared in?
On television, Masahiro Motoki has appeared in Giri/Haji, Asura, Clouds Over the Hill, Awaiting Kirin.
Masahiro Motoki
1965-12-21
Masahiro Motoki (本木雅弘 Motoki Masahiro, born December 21, 1965 in Okegawa, Japan) is a Japanese actor. He portrayed protagonist Daigo Kobayashi in Departures, which won the 81st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. His performance earned him the Award for Best Actor at the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, at the 3rd Asian Film Awards and at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize.