---
name: "Koji Yakusho"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/koji-yakusho"
fi1m_id: "koji-yakusho"
imdb_id: "nm0945131"
tmdb_id: 18056
wikidata_id: "Q975146"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 January 1956"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-22T02:36:45.387662+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."
---

# Koji Yakusho

## Identity

Koji Yakusho

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/koji-yakusho
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** koji-yakusho
- **IMDb ID:** nm0945131
- **TMDB ID:** 18056
- **Wikidata ID:** Q975146
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Yakusho, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q975146, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0945131/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18056

Actor. Born 1 January 1956 in Isahaya, Japan.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 January 1956, Isahaya, Japan
- **Active:** 1985–present
- **Also known as:** 橋本広司, Koji Hashimoto, Kôji Yakusho, Kouji Yakusho, Кодзі Якусьо, קוז'י יאקושו, کوجی یاکوشو
- **Cannes Film Festival:** 1 Cannes prize (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 85 (1), 2000s 64 (1), 2020s 83 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Horror 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $160m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Yakusho, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q975146, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0945131/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18056

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Tampopo*](https://film.one/film/tampopo.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Kōji Yakusho is a Japanese actor. Born Kōji Hashimoto on 1 January 1956 in Isahaya, he worked at a Tokyo municipal office before taking his professional name from the Japanese word for government office. He trained at an acting studio in the late 1970s and began with stage roles before moving into television.

He gained early film recognition for his role in *Tampopo* (1985). Yakusho has appeared in numerous Japanese and international productions, including *Shall We Dance?* (1996), *Cure* (1997), *Babel* (2006), *13 Assassins* (2010) and *Perfect Days* (2023), in which he played Hirayama. For the latter he received the Best Actor award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Perfect Days* (2023), Fi1m 83, as Hirayama — [page](https://film.one/film/perfect-days.md)
- *Babel* (2006), Fi1m 64, as Yasujiro Wataya — [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Cure* (1997), Fi1m 85, as Kenichi Takabe — [page](https://film.one/film/cure.md)
- *Tampopo* (1985), Fi1m 84, as White Suit Man — [page](https://film.one/film/tampopo.md)

## Complete filmography (132)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?* (2026), series, as Gen Takasegawa — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/tv/did-someone-happen-to-mention-me.md)
- *Children Untold* (2026), as Jinbe Yamai / Jinbei
- *The Brightest Sun* (2026), Actor
- *Scarlet* (2025), as Claudius (voice)
- *Tales of the Bizarre: 35th Anniversary Special – Autumn Special* (2025), Actor
- *Snowflowers: Seeds of Hope* (2025), Actor
- *Hakkenden* (2024), as Bakin Takizawa
- *Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window* (2023), as Sōsaku Kobayashi (voice)
- *Perfect Days* (2023), as Hirayama · Executive Producer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/perfect-days.md)
- *Vivant* (2023), series, as Nogōn Beki
- *THE DAYS* (2023), series, as Masao Yoshida
- *Father of the Milky Way Railroad* (2023), as Miyazawa Masajiro
- *Família* (2023), as Seiji Kamiya
- *The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai* (2022), as Kawai Tsugunosuke
- *Gratitude* (2022), Actor
- *Matrilineal Family* (2021), series, as Kazo Yajima
- *Belle* (2021), as Suzu's Father (voice)
- *The Supporting Actors in Byplaywood* (2021), Actor
- *Under the Open Sky* (2021), as Mikami Masao
- *Pension Metsä* (2021), series, as Tsuneki
- *Wings Over Everest* (2019), as Jiang Yuesheng
- *Whistleblower* (2019), Actor
- *Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story* (2019), series, as 嘉納治五郎
- *Mirai* (2018), as Grandfather (voice)
- *The Blood of Wolves* (2018), as Shogo Ogami
- *Oh Lucy!* (2018), as Takeshi Komori / Tom
- *Rikuoh* (2017), series, as Koichi Miyazawa
- *The Third Murder* (2017), as Takashi Misumi
- *Sekigahara* (2017), as Tokugawa Ieyasu
- *Ties: A Miraculous Colt* (2017), series, as Masayuki Matsushita
- *The Emperor in August* (2015), as General Korechika Anami
- *The Boy and the Beast* (2015), as Kumatetsu (voice)
- *A Samurai Chronicle* (2014), as Toda
- *Back of Father* (2014), series, as Aoki Sosuke
- *The World of Kanako* (2014), as Akikazu Fujishima
- *I Am Searching For Myself* (2014), Actor
- *The Kiyosu Conference* (2013), as Katsuie Shibata
- *The Terminal Trust* (2012), as Shinzo Egi
- *Chronicle of My Mother* (2012), as Kosaku
- *The Woodsman and the Rain* (2012), as Katsuhiko
- *Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet* (2011), as Isoroku Yamamoto
- *Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai* (2011), as Kageyu
- *Early Autumn* (2011), Actor
- *The Last Ronin* (2010), as Magozaemon Senoo
- *13 Assassins* (2010), as Shinzaemon Shimada
- *The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity* (2009), as Morisaku Furuta
- *Toad's Oil* (2009), as Takuro Yazawa · Director
- *Ekiro* (2009), as Det. Yobuno
- *Gelatin Silver, Love* (2009), as Client
- *Tokyo Sonata* (2008), as Robber
- *Paco and the Magical Book* (2008), as Onuki
- *Walking My Life* (2007), as Yukihiro Fujiyama
- *The Sin* (2007), Actor
- *Silk* (2007), as Hara Jubei
- *Argentine Hag* (2007), as Satoru Wakui
- *Retribution* (2007), as Noboru Yoshioka
- *I Just Didn't Do It* (2007), as Masayoshi Arakawa
- *Babel* (2006), as Yasujiro Wataya — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md)
- *Suite Dreams* (2006), as Heikichi Shindo
- *Memoirs of a Geisha* (2005), as Nobu
- *Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean* (2005), as Masami Shin'ichi
- *The Lakeside Murder Case* (2005), as Shunsuke Namiki
- *University of Laughs* (2004), as Mutsuo Sakisaka
- *People Without a Fort* (2004), as Nagasaka Fumio
- *Fireflies: River of Light* (2004), as Mr. Takiguchi
- *Séance* (2004), as Sato
- *Tokyo: Level One* (2004), as Governor of Tokyo
- *The Hunter and the Hunted* (2004), as Detective Jin
- *Doppelgänger* (2003), as Michio Hayasaki
- *The Choice of Hercules* (2002), as Atsuyuki Sassa
- *The Life of Bangaku* (2002), series, as Ajigawa Bantake
- *Warm Water Under a Red Bridge* (2001), as Yosuke Sasano
- *Pulse* (2001), as Ship Captain
- *Eureka* (2001), as Makoto Sawai
- *The Password is Courage* (2000), series, Actor
- *Dora-heita* (2000), as Koheita Mochizuki
- *Charisma* (1999), as Goro Yabuike
- *Jubaku: Spellbound* (1999), as Hiroshi Kitano
- *Keijitachi no Natsu* (1999), Actor
- *License to Live* (1999), as Fujimori
- *Tadon and Chikuwa* (1998), Actor
- *Bonds* (1998), as Takaaki Ise / Tetsuro Haga
- *Yukon* (1998), as Takayuki Iwabuchi
- *Cure* (1997), as Kenichi Takabe — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/cure.md)
- *Bounce Ko Gals* (1997), as Oshima
- *Middle-aged Bachelors* (1997), series, Actor
- *The Eel* (1997), as Takuro Yamashita
- *Lost Paradise* (1997), as Shoichiro Kuki
- *Shabu* (1996), Actor
- *Sleeping Man* (1996), as Kamimura
- *Shall We Dance?* (1996), as Shohei Sugiyama
- *Kamikaze Taxi* (1995), as Kazumasa Kantake
- *History of Jirocho Shimizu* (1995), Actor
- *Osaka Gokudo Senso: Shinoidare* (1994), Actor
- *39th Edogawa Rampo Prize "Kao ni Furikakaru Ame"* (1994), Actor
- *Hana no Ran* (1994), series, Actor
- *Hacchōbori Torimono Banashi* (1993), series, Actor
- *Dark Society in the East* (1993), as Ryosuke Kano
- *Crimson Lotus* (1993), Actor
- *Suzume Iro Doki* (1992), Actor
- *サハリンの薔薇* (1991), series, Actor
- *Takeda Shingen* (1991), series, as Takeda Shingen
- *Takeda Shingen* (1991), as Takeda Shingen
- *Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen* (1990), series, Actor
- *Aurora Borealis* (1990), as Genzo
- *Megumi no Sekai* (1990), Actor
- *Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho* (1988), as Naoto Sekiya
- *「愛に燃える戦国の女」−豊臣家の人々より−* (1988), series, Actor
- *The Great Department Store Robbery* (1987), Actor
- *Lethal Three* (1987), series, Actor
- *New Yotsuya Kaidan* (1987), series, Actor
- *Chotchan* (1987), series, as 神谷容
- *Inochi* (1986), series, as Naohiko Hamamura
- *Tampopo* (1985), as White Suit Man — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/tampopo.md)
- *宮本武蔵* (1984), series, as Miyamoto Musashi
- *水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵* (1984), series, as 宮本武蔵
- *The Fox Dancing in the Dusk* (1984), Actor
- *Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin* (1983), series, Actor
- *The Fir Trees Remain* (1983), Actor
- *Tokugawa Ieyasu* (1983), series, as Oda Nobunaga
- *The Legend of Sayo* (1982), as Hatsutaro (Sayo's brother)
- *The Law of Hell* (1982), as Genzô
- *Eternal Monument* (1982), as Ootaka
- *Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather* (1982), as Kondo
- *Willful Murder* (1981), as Journalist
- *Magistrate of the Floating World* (1981), Actor
- *Kinagashi Bugyō* (1981), series, Actor
- *空よ海よ息子たちよ* (1981), Actor
- *The Battle of Port Arthur: Will Love Die?* (1981), series, Actor
- *Twelve Months* (1980), as Young soldier (voice)
- *Hunter in the Dark* (1979), as Kuwano
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto - Ars longa, vita brevis*, as Narrator

## Gallery

- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-80e6bf90d7e1.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Yakusho_Koji_from_%22Perfect_Days%22_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2023_%2853348111441%29.jpg/1280px-Yakusho_Koji_from_%22Perfect_Days%22_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2023_%2853348111441%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-333c6ba11bf8.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-cbe09fa8bc0f.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Paul_Greengrass_%26_Tom_Hanks_from_Captain_Phillips%2C_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference%2C_Prime_Minister_Abe_Shinzo_%2814950282314%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-8a2c6bcc351e.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Paul_Greengrass_%26_Tom_Hanks_from_Captain_Phillips%2C_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference%2C_Prime_Minister_Abe_Shinzo_%2815404142178%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-d1c96bdb9717.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-e304e817171d.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-5a3c15553b75.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-f3d177b39ff4.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Paul_Greengrass_%26_Tom_Hanks_from_Captain_Phillips%2C_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference%2C_Prime_Minister_Abe_Shinzo_%2815571869972%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-05bb1e31b061.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 ポール・グリーングラス トム・ハンクス (キャプテン・フィリップス) 三谷幸喜 役所広司 (清須会議) 安倍晋三 (内閣総理大臣) (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival-_Paul_Greengrass_%26_Tom_Hanks_from_Captain_Phillips%2C_Mitani_Koki_%26_Yakusho_Koji_from_The_Kiyosu_Conference%2C_Prime_Minister_Abe_Shinzo_%2815587589941%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-542aba4a2afe.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-ca1c21a5db2f.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB
- ![Koji Yakusho](https://film.one/media/person/11979/gallery-3ebcf470e869.jpg) Koji Yakusho — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 2023: Best Actor (won)

### Other awards — 5 won

- Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award 2014: Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award (won), for *The World of Kanako*
- Medal with Purple Ribbon 2012: Medal with Purple Ribbon (won)
- Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor 1998: Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor (won)
- Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor 1997: Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor (won)
- Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year 1984: 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/koji-yakusho