Kōji Yakusho

Kōji Hashimoto (橋本 広司, Hashimoto Kōji, born 1 January 1956),[1] known professionally as Kōji Yakusho (役所 広司, Yakusho Kōji), is a Japanese actor.[2]

Kōji Yakusho
Kōji Yakusho at the 26th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2015
Born
Kōji Hashimoto

(1956-01-01) 1 January 1956
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 12 in)
Spouse(s)Saeko Kawatsu (1982present)

Biography

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. In 1976, he saw a production of Maxim Gorky's The Lower Depths 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] While at the school he met actress Saeko Kawatsu, whom he married in 1982. Their son was born in 1985.

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 Sambiki 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.[3] Lawrence Van Gelder in the New York Times called his performance "unerring."[4] A Lost Paradise, about a double-suicide, was second only to Princess Mononoke at the Japanese box office.

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.... [H]e 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]

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-mute played by Rinko Kikuchi.[12]

Later work

In 2009, he debuted as director and writer of Toad's Oil. 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.

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.[13]

In 2018 he was in The Blood of Wolves.

Filmography

Kōji Yakusho at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival in 2018

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1979Hunter in the DarkKuwanoHideo Gosha
The Last Game
1980Twelve MonthsYoung soldier (voice)
1981Willful MurderJournalist
1982OnimasaKondōHideo Gosha
Eternal MonumentOtaka
The Legend of SayoHatsutaro
1985TampopoMan in White SuitJuzo Itami
1987The Great Department Store RobberyCello player
1988Another Way: D-Kikan JohoNaoto SekiyaLead role
1990Under AuroraGenzo TamiyaLead role
1993GurenbanaKenzo Nakada
Drug ConnectionRyosuke KanoLead role
1994Osaka Gokudo Senso: ShinoidareIppei Yoshikawa
1995Kamikaze TaxiKantakeMasato HaradaLead role
1996Shall We Dance?Shohei SugiyamaMasayuki SuoLead role
Sleeping ManKamimuraKōhei Oguri
Shabu GokudoMakabeLead role
1997Lost ParadiseShoichiro KukiYoshimitsu MoritaLead role
The EelTakuro YamashitaShohei ImamuraLead role
Bounce Ko GalsOshimaLead role
CureKenichi TakabeKiyoshi KurosawaLead role
1998BondsTakaaki Ise/Tetsuro Haga
Tadon to chikuwaKidaLead role
1999License to LiveFujimoriKiyoshi Kurosawa
CharismaGoro YabuikeKiyoshi KurosawaLead role
SpellboundHiroshi KitanoMasato HaradaLead role
2000Swing Man
Dora-heitaKoheita "Dora-heita" MochizukiLead role
EurekaMakoto SawaiLead role
2001PulseShip captainKiyoshi KurosawaCameo
Warm Water Under a Red BridgeYosuke SasanoLead role
2002The Choice of HerculesAtsuyuki SassaLead role
2003DoppelgangerMichio HayasakiKiyoshi KurosawaLead role
Fireflies: River of LightMr. Takiguchi
2004The Hunter and the HuntedDetective JinLead role
Tokyo: Level OneThe Governor of TokyoLead role
Lakeside Murder CaseShunsuke NamikiLead role
University of LaughsMutsuo SakisakaLead role
2005Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific OceanMasami Shin'ichiLead role
Memoirs of a GeishaNobuRob MarshallAmerican film
2006The Uchōten HotelHeikichi ShindoKōki MitaniLead role
BabelYasujiro WatayaAlejandro González IñárrituForeign film
RetributionNoboru YoshiokaKiyoshi KurosawaLead role
2007I Just Didn't Do ItMasayoshi ArakawaMasayuki Suo
Argentine BabaSatoru WakuiNaoki NagaoLead role
SilkHara JubeiFrançois GirardForeign film
Walking My LifeYukihiro FujiyamaSatoshi IsakaLead role
2008Paco and the Magical BookOnukiTetsuya NakashimaLead role
Tokyo SonataThe RobberKiyoshi Kurosawa
2009Mt. TsurugidakeMorisaku FurutaDaisaku Kimura
Gelatin Silver LoveClientKazumi Kurigami
Toad's OilTakuro YazawaHimselfLead role, also director and writer
201013 AssassinsShinzaemon ShimadaTakashi MiikeLead role
The Last RoninMagozaemon SenooShigemichi SugitaLead role
2011Hara-Kiri: Death of a SamuraiKageyu SaitoTakashi Miike
IsorokuIsoroku YamamotoIzuru NarushimaLead role
Chronicle of My MotherKōsakuMasato HaradaLead role
The Woodsman and the RainKatsuhikoShūichi OkitaLead role
2012A Terminal TrustShinzo EgiMasayuki Suo
2013The Kiyosu ConferenceShibata KatsuieKōki MitaniLead role
2014The World of KanakoAkikazu FujishimaTetsuya NakashimaLead role
A Samurai ChronicleShūkoku TodaTakashi KoizumiLead role
2015The Emperor in AugustKorechika AnamiMasato HaradaLead role
The Boy and the BeastKumatetsu (voice)Mamoru HosodaLead role
Mifune: The Last SamuraiHimselfSteven OkazakiDocumentary film
2017SekigaharaTokugawa IeyasuMasato Harada
Oh Lucy!KomoriAtsuko HirayanagiAmerican-Japanese film
The Third MurderMisumiHirokazu Kore-eda
2018The Blood of WolvesShōgo ŌgamiKazuya ShiraishiLead role
MiraiGrandpa (voice)Mamoru Hosoda
2019Wings Over EverestJiang YueshengFay YuLead role, Chinese film
WhistleblowerKatsuo FukuzawaCameo
2021Touge: The Last SamuraiKawai TsugunosukeTakashi KoizumiLead role
Under the Open SkyMasao MikamiMiwa NishikawaLead role[14]
The Supporting Actors: The MovieHimselfDaigo Matsui[15]

Television

Year Title Role Network Notes Ref(s)
1980Natchan no shashinkanKayamaNHKAsadora
Shishi no JidaiMurakami TaijiNHKTaiga drama
1981Onna TaikōkiOda NobutakaNHKTaiga drama
1983Tokugawa IeyasuOda NobunagaNHKTaiga drama
1984–85Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto MusashiNHKLead role
1986InochiHamamuraNHKTaiga drama
1987–1995Sanbiki ga Kiru!Kuji Shin'nosukeEX
1990Moeyo KenHijikata ToshizōTXLead role, miniseries
1991Takeda ShingenTakeda ShingenTBSLead role, TV movie
1994Hana no RanIbuki Saburo NobutsunaNHKTaiga drama
2000Aikotoba wa YūkiJintaro AkatsukiCXLead role
SeanceSatoCXLead role, TV movie
2010Wagaya no RekishiNarratorCXMiniseries
2014Oyaji no SenakaSōsuke AokiTBSLead role, episode 2
2017Ties: A Miraculous ColtMasayukiNHKLead role, miniseries
RikuōKōichi MiyazawaTBSLead role
The Supporting ActorsHimselfTXEpisode 1
2018The Supporting Actors 2HimselfTXEpisode 1
2019IdatenKanō JigorōNHKTaiga drama
2021Pension MetsaTsunekiWowowEpisode 1[16]

Dubbing roles

Live-action
Animation

Awards and Honors

Awards
Year Award Category Work(s) Result
1984 8th Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Himself Won
1996 50th Mainichi Film Award Best Actor Kamikaze Taxi Won
21st Hochi Film Award Best Actor Shall We Dance?, Sleeping Man, Shabu gokudo Won
9th Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Actor Won
1997 18th Yokohama Film Festival Best Actor Won
51st Mainichi Film Award Best Actor Won
70th Kinema Junpo Award Best Actor Won
39th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actor Won
6th Japanese Film Critics Awards Best Actor Won
20th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Shall We Dance? Won
22nd Hochi Film Award Best Actor The Eel, Lost Paradise, Bounce ko GALS Won
10th Tokyo International Film Festival Best Actor Cure Won
1998 42nd Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Actor The Eel Won
21st Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Won
40th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actor The Eel, Lost Paradise, Cure Won
71st Kinema Junpo Award Best Actor The Eel, Cure Won
1999 22nd Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Kizuna Nominated
2000 23rd Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Spellbound Nominated
2001 24th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Dora-heita Nominated
37th Chicago International Film Festival Best Actor Warm Water Under a Red Bridge Won
2002 25th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Nominated
2003 26th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor The Choice of Hercules Nominated
2005 28th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor University of Laughs Nominated
26th Yokohama Film Festival Best Actor University of Laughs, Yudan Taiteki, Tokyo Genpatsu Won
2007 30th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor The Uchōten Hotel Nominated
2008 31st Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Walking My Life Nominated
2009 32nd Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Paco and the Magical Book Nominated
2011 8th Dubai International Film Festival: Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature Best Actor The Woodsman and the Rain Won
34th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor 13 Assassins Nominated
5th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
2012 35th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor The Last Ronin Nominated
6th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Chronicle of My Mother Nominated
2013 36th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Chronicle of My Mother, Isoroku Nominated
2014 47th Sitges Film Festival Best Actor The World of Kanako Won
1st Kyoto International Art and Film Festival Toshiro Mifune Award Himself Won
2015 38th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor A Samurai Chronicle Nominated
2016 58th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actor The Emperor in August Nominated
39th Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Nominated
2017 28th Silver Screen Awards Cinema Legend Award Himself Won
42nd Hochi Film Award Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder, Sekigahara Won
30th Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Supporting Actor Won
2018 60th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated
72nd Mainichi Film Awards Best Supporting Actor The Third Murder Won
27th Tokyo Sports Film Award Best Actor Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Nominated
41st Japan Academy Prize Best Supporting Actor Won
Sekigahara Nominated
43rd Hochi Film Award Best Actor The Blood of Wolves Won
31st Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Actor Nominated
2019 40th Yokohama Film Festival Best Actor Won
73rd Mainichi Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
61st Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actor Nominated
28th Tokyo Sports Film Award Best Actor Nominated
14th Osaka Cinema Festival Best Actor Won
42nd Japan Academy Prize Best Actor Won
13th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Won
Excellence In Asian Cinema Award Himself Won
2020 56th Chicago International Film Festival Best Performance Under the Open Sky Won
Honors
Year Honor
2012 Medal with Purple Ribbon

References

  1. "Koji Yakusho". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  2. "Yakusho Kōji", Nihon jinmei daijiten+Plus, Kōdansha, retrieved 13 February 2012
  3. "Festival de Cannes: The Eel". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  4. "The Eel:Passion That Seethes Under the Surface". New York Times. 1998-08-21. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  5. "Masayuki Suo's Whole Wide Whirl". San Francisco Chronicle. 1997-07-13.
  6. "Shall We Dance?". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  7. Mes, Tom (15 August 2001). "Midnight Eye review: License to Live". Midnight Eye.
  8. Kipp, Jeremiah (June 20, 2005). "Pulse". Slant Magazine.
  9. Mes, Tom (15 April 2004). "Midnight Eye review: Doppelgänger". Midnight Eye.
  10. Bourne, Christopher (January 27, 2012). "Review: Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Retribution"". Meniscus.
  11. Rafferty, Terrence (March 6, 2009). "This Time, the Horror's in the Normality". The New York Times.
  12. "Review: Babel". LA Weekly. 2006-10-26. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  13. "Yakusho Koji portrays WWII naval commander Yamamoto Isoroku". TokyoGraph. May 14, 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  14. "役所広司、西川美和監督と初タッグ! 仲野太賀、長澤まさみら共演「すばらしき世界」21年公開". eiga.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  15. "映画「バイプレイヤーズ」の新キャスト8名解禁!有村架純、天海祐希、役所広司ら". Natalie. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  16. "役所広司&石橋静河&光石研ら、小林聡美と2人芝居「ペンションメッツァ」". Cinema Cafe. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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