--- name: "Issey Takahashi" canonical: "https://film.one/person/issey-takahashi" fi1m_id: "issey-takahashi" imdb_id: "nm1534063" tmdb_id: 87662 wikidata_id: "Q10856410" roles: ["Actor"] born: "9 December 1980" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 77 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-28T04:31:47.619140+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Issey Takahashi ## Identity Issey Takahashi - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/issey-takahashi - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** issey-takahashi - **IMDb ID:** nm1534063 - **TMDB ID:** 87662 - **Wikidata ID:** Q10856410 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issey_Takahashi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10856410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1534063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87662 Actor. Born 9 December 1980 in Tokyo, Japan. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 9 December 1980, Tokyo, Japan - **Active:** 1995–present - **Also known as:** Issei Takahashi - **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 82 (1), 2000s 74 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 2, Crime 2, Animation 1, Drama 1, Family 1, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $3,483m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issey_Takahashi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10856410, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1534063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87662 ## Coming up - *Political Lupin* (2026-10-07), as Masakado Natsume - *ghost - end of night* (2027-02-11), as Masu (voice) ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Whisper of the Heart*](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart.md) (82) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Issey Takahashi > Issey Takahashi has spent more than thirty years being cast as the calm man with something odd going on underneath. We first met him as a warm, untroubled boy in *Whisper of the Heart*, and it is the trouble we would now like to see. The scene we keep from *Whisper of the Heart* (1995) is a boy at a workbench under a shop, asking a girl to sing while he plays the violin. She does, badly at first, and then three old men come down the stairs with a lute, a recorder and a tambourine and join in without a word. The boy is Seiji Amasawa, and the voice is Issey Takahashi's, still in his teens. He plays Seiji warmly, and it moved us more than a scene about a school song had any right to. We think it was the tambourine. It is also the only time we have had a proper chance to weigh him, and the part gives him little to weigh. Seiji knows what he wants, he is already good at it, and Hayao Miyazaki's script hands him no doubts worth the name; next to Shizuku he barely exists. Takahashi does what can be done with a boy who has already arrived, which is to make him kind. Shizuku's friend Yuko, in five minutes, is more truthful than Seiji manages in the whole film, and that is not the actor's fault. The career since has been long and, for most of it, quiet. He began as a child actor in 1990, voiced a part in *Only Yesterday* (1991) before *Whisper*, and spent his twenties in supporting roles: Ikeda-senpai in *All About Lily Chou-Chou* (2001), one of the Crazy 88 in *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003). It was television that changed things, *Tami-ō* in 2015 and then *Quartet* in 2017, where the supporting work was noticed for its restraint. Bigger parts followed: Ryu Yasuda in *Shin Godzilla* (2016), Yūsaku Fukuhara in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's *Wife of a Spy* (2020), and the manga artist Rohan Kishibe in *Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan* (2020–), a role he has now played across several series and films and which has stuck to him. What he is cast as, over and over, is the composed man with something odd going on underneath, and Rohan is the purest case. By reputation the delivery turns slightly theatrical when the material asks for it and stays plain when it does not. He has said of Rohan that "in the world of figments, things become reality if you're convinced by them", which is as good a description of a stylised performance as we have heard from an actor. He has also said he worries about being seen through a fixed image, and with *Black Jack* (2024) added to Rohan the worry is not idle. We have heard the warmth. The cool we know only by reputation, and reputation is not a review. The boy who was already certain of himself has grown into a man who plays certainty with something wrong behind it, and we would like to see that in a film we can sit down with and judge. ## Biography Issey Takahashi, also credited as Issei Takahashi, is a Japanese actor and singer. Born on 9 December 1980 in Tokyo, he began his career as a child actor and provided early voice roles in Studio Ghibli films, including Seiji Amasawa in *Whisper of the Heart* (1995) and a classmate in *Only Yesterday* (1991). He has appeared in numerous films, among them *All About Lily Chou-Chou* (2001), *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003) as a member of the Crazy 88, *The Taste of Tea* (2004), *Shin Godzilla* (2016) and *Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning* (2021). Takahashi is also known for television work, including the lead role of Rohan Kishibe in the *Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe* series, and for voicing Ultraman in *Shin Ultraman* (2022). He trained at Horikoshi High School and has been married to actress Marie Iitoyo since 2024. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* (2004), Fi1m 77, as Crazy 88 — [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-2.md) - *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Crazy 88 #4 — [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-1.md) - *Whisper of the Heart* (1995), Fi1m 82, as Seiji Amasawa (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart.md) ## Complete filmography (111) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *ghost - end of night* (2027), as Masu (voice) - *Political Lupin* (2026), series, as Masakado Natsume - *The Criminal* (2026), series, as Ryosuke Soma - *Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: Kyoka Izumi Will Not Be Silenced* (2026), as Rohan Kishibe - *泉京香は黙らない* (2026), series, as Rohan Kishibe - *Rhapsody, Rhapsody* (2026), Actor - *Reborn* (2026), series, as Neo Kosei / Eito Nomoto - *The Forest of Sunekosuri* (2026), as 謎の男 - *1972 Fireflies on the Shore* (2025), series, as Taichi Maeda - *Zero Day Attack* (2025), series, as Fujiwara Isamu - *Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan: At a Confessional* (2025), as Rohan Kishibe - *Black Jack* (2024), as Black Jack - *Rohan at the Louvre* (2023), as Rohan Kishibe - *6-second Trajectory: Fireworks Expert Mochizuki Seitaro's Melancholy* (2023), series, Actor - *2020* (2022), Actor - *Shin Ultraman* (2022), as Ultraman (voice) - *Invisible* (2022), series, as Takafumi Shimura - *Snow Country* (2022), as Shimamura - *雪国 -SNOW COUNTRY-* (2022), series, as 島村 - *Two People Who Can't Fall in Love* (2022), series, Actor - *Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning* (2021), as Kogoro Katsura - *Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange* (2021), series, as Hidaka Haruto - *Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan* (2020), series, as Rohan Kishibe - *Wife of a Spy* (2020), as Yūsaku Fukuhara - *Path of the Dragons* (2020), series, as Ryuji Yabata - *Ima da kara, shinsaku drama tsukuttemimashita* (2020), series, as Issei Takahashi - *Romance Doll* (2020), as Tetsuo Kitamura - *Samurai Shifters* (2019), as Genemon Takamura - *Nagi's Long Vacation* (2019), series, as Gamon Shinji - *Tokyo Bachelors* (2019), series, as Tarou Ishibashi - *Until I Meet September's Love* (2019), as Susumu Hirano - *Crescent Moon* (2019), series, as Oshima Goro - *Million Dollar Man* (2018), as Tsukumo - *Miracles* (2018), series, as Kazuki Aikawa - *Recall* (2018), as Kazuaki Izaki - *blank13* (2018), as Koji Hashida - *The Lies She Loved* (2018), as Kippei Koide - *My Long Awaited Love Story* (2017), as Kurokawa Soichiro - *The Public Enemy* (2017), series, as Makoto Todo - *The Limit of Sleeping Beauty* (2017), as Kaito Sada - *Warotenka* (2017), series, Actor - *March Goes out Like a Lamb* (2017), as Takashi Hayashida - *March Comes In Like a Lion* (2017), as Takashi Hayashida - *Quartet* (2017), series, as Yutaka Iemori - *Naotora: The Lady Warlord* (2017), series, as Ono Masatsugu - *Princess Maison* (2016), series, as Seiichi Date - *Shin Godzilla* (2016), as Ryu Yasuda : Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology · Research / Promotion Bureau Director - *The Prime Minister's Chef* (2016), series, as Haruki Kiyosawa - *Tales of the Bizarre: 2016 Spring Special* (2016), Actor - *Tamio Bangai Hen: Hisho Kaibara to 6 Nin no Ayashi Kyaku* (2016), series, as Mohei Kaibara - *民王スピンオフ～恋する総裁選～* (2016), Actor - *My Dangerous Wife* (2016), series, as Kujirai Kazuki - *Love That Makes You Cry* (2016), series, as Joji Sabiki - *Wise and Foolish* (2015), series, as 貝原茂平 - *Toward the Wilderness* (2015), series, as Kameda Shogo - *Nobunaga Concerto* (2014), series, as Nagamasa Azai - *Funeral Parade of St.Peter* (2014), series, Actor - *Devoted Cookbook* (2014), Actor - *Mosaic Japan* (2014), series, as Yoshiaki Kui - *Mosaic Japan* (2014), series, as Creator - *Night School Teacher, SAKURA* (2014), series, as Ichiro Yamada（山田 一郎） - *Strategist KANBE* (2014), series, as Kuroemon Inoue - *ライクドロシー* (2013), series, Actor - *Woman* (2013), series, as Sawamura Yugo - *Hitori Shizuka* (2012), series, as 木崎信吾 - *Devoted Cookbook* (2012), Actor - *Delusional Investigation – A Stylish life of Associate Professor Koichi Kuwagata* (2012), series, Actor - *Kasha* (2011), as Koji Kurata - *ウルトラゾーン* (2011), series, as 宇佐美 信 - *Stranger in My Town* (2011), as Toshiyuki Okabayashi - *Desperate Motherhood* (2011), series, as Anno Hidetaka - *Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair* (2011), as Crazy 88 #4 - *Monster Magnitude: 9* (2010), series, as Ryo Haida - *Steel Frame* (2010), series, Actor - *74851* (2010), series, Actor - *Detroit Metal City* (2008), as Hideki Saji (singer of Tetrapod Melon Tea) - *Gonzo: The Legendary Detective* (2008), series, as Yuuji Hibino - *One-Pound Gospel* (2008), series, as Yusuke Ishizaka - *Marriage Ring* (2007), Actor - *Tanaka Express 3* (2007), series, as Ken Mishima - *Love My Life* (2006), as Takechan - *Meatball Machine* (2006), as Yôji - *I am a Housewife* (2006), series, as Asano - *Returning the Favor* (2006), as Masaichi Kitahara - *クライマーズ・ハイ* (2005), series, as 安西燐太郎 - *The Great Horror Family* (2004), series, as Kiyoshi Imawano - *Swing Girls* (2004), as School Brass Band Leader - *The Taste of Tea* (2004), as Chairman of Go Club - *Crying Out Love in the Center of the World* (2004), as Young Ryunosuke - *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* (2004), as Crazy 88 — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-2.md) - *Half a Confession* (2004), Actor - *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003), as Crazy 88 #4 — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-1.md) - *Collage of Our Lives* (2003), as Sekiguchi - *Ikebukuro West Gate Park SP* (2003), as Kazunori - *AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo* (2002), series, as Naotaro Anzai - *Handoku!!!* (2001), series, Actor - *All About Lily Chou-Chou* (2001), as Ikeda-senpai - *Suki* (2000), Actor - *Ikebukuro West Gate Park* (2000), series, as Kazunori Morinaga - *Scary Fairy Tales: Thumb Princess* (1999), as Yuichi Kimizima - *In Tomoko's Case* (1996), as Tokio Okada - *Whisper of the Heart* (1995), as Seiji Amasawa (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart.md) - *Yoi Ko to Asobou* (1994), as Namio - *Super Sentai Zyuranger* (1992), series, as Kai - *Special Rescue Exceedraft* (1992), series, as Taro Osaki - *Only Yesterday* (1991), as Classmate (voice) - *Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen* (1990), series, Actor - *Hoshi wo tsugu mono* (1990), as Shohei Endo - *Out of the Cradle*, series, as 演员 - *NODA・MAP「兎、波を走る」*, Actor - *保護司・夏目清一　父親殺し*, series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-23b15eceba84.jpg) Issey Takahashi — マイナビニュース【エンタメ・ホビー】, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Issey_Takahashi_20190723.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![映画『引越し大名!』の試写会 From left to right: 高畑充希、星野源、高橋一生、及川光博 (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-3fbb8061188b.png) 映画『引越し大名!』の試写会 From left to right: 高畑充希、星野源、高橋一生、及川光博 (2019) — Mynavi News, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Hikkoshi_Daimyou_Cast_1.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![高橋一生/大井競馬場 (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-d4b2ca6dae7d.jpg) 高橋一生/大井競馬場 (2024) — nakashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Issei_Takahashi_2024.jpg/1280px-Issei_Takahashi_2024.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![神宮通り（2024年12月3日12時50分） This photo was taken with iPhone 12 Pro](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-808baefee1a5.jpg) 神宮通り（2024年12月3日12時50分） This photo was taken with iPhone 12 Pro — ウィ貴公子, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%E9%80%9A%E3%82%8A_2024%E5%B9%B412%E6%9C%883%E6%97%A5%E3%81%AE%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7_202412031250_IMG_2530.jpg/1280px-%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%E9%80%9A%E3%82%8A_2024%E5%B9%B412%E6%9C%883%E6%97%A5%E3%81%AE%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7_202412031250_IMG_2530.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-d8e652c33351.jpg) Issey Takahashi — Image via TMDB - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-bb829d75d0c8.jpg) Issey Takahashi — Image via TMDB - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-09aebc883874.jpg) Issey Takahashi — Image via TMDB - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-4fa32d9677b0.jpg) Issey Takahashi — Image via TMDB - ![Issey Takahashi](https://film.one/media/person/93029/gallery-a81583b03317.jpg) Issey Takahashi — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year 2018: Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/issey-takahashi