Exceptional Rising Actors
An active list of rising Japanese actors on my radar.
There's also a list of my recommended dramas and movies from each actor that showcases their acting skills and range.
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Takahashi Fumiya
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Muchuu-sa, Kimi ni (Captivated, by you) - my personal favorite!
Fermat no Ryori (Fermat's Cuisine)
Sensei wo Kesu Houteishiki (How to Eliminate My Teacher) - the drama that shows his range and his capability to nail troubled, psychopathic roles
Bokura ga Koroshita, Saiai no Kimi (The Beloved You We Killed)
Saiai (Dearest) - the drama that initially got Fumiya on everyone's radar
Themis no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho (Goddess' Classrom)
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Kiyohara Kaya
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Poison Daughter, Holy Mother - my personal favorite!
Okaeri Mone
Hotarugusa
Reibai Tantei Jozuka Hisui
Movies
The Brightest Roof in the Universe
You're Not Normal, Either! - she's such an indie darling!
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Itagaki Rihito
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Shijukara - my personal favorite!
Miki Kurinikku de Kanpai o - he's on a league of his own
Colorful Love: Genderless Danshi ni Aisareteimasu (Colorful Love: I am Loved by a Genderless Boy)
Movies
And Yet, You Are So Sweet - his acting saved the movie
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Kawai Yuumi
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kazoku Dakara Aishitan Janakute, Aishita no ga Kazoku Datta - my personal favorite!
RoOT
Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru! (Extremely Inappropriate!) - the drama that got her on everyone's radar
Movies
To Be Killed by a High School Girl
It's a Summer Film
Love Nonetheless
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Michieda Shunsuke
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kieta Hatsukoi (My Love Mix-up!)
Zettai Reido Season 3 - showed his range as a child actor
Haha ni Naru (My Son)
Movies
18×2 Beyond Youthful Days - my personal favorite! Micchi was definitely a scene stealer
461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son - he really shines in indie, non-mainstream works
Even if This Love Disappears From the World Tonight - the movie that got him on everyone's radar
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Tomita Miu
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Daga, Jyonetsu wa Aru! - the drama that got her on everyone's radar
Switched
Nanba MG5
Tabisuru Sandwich
Movies
Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion - my personal favorite!
Sunny: Our Hearts Beat Together
Boys! Please Kiss Him, Instead of Me - she does slapstick so well!
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Kamio Fuju
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Love and Fortune - my personal favorite!
Kaidanshita no Gogh - another favorite
Hidarikiki no Eren (Eren the Southpaw) - yet another favorite!
Ichiban Sukina Hana
17-sai no Teikoku (Teen Regime)
3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu (Hiiragi's Homeroom)
Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai
Nanba MG5 - the bromance was too strong, I loved it so much
Movies
Intimate Strangers
20-Year-Old Soul
Love Is Light
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Fujino Ryoko
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Fujoshi, Ukkari Gei ni Kokuru
More Than Words
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei
Movies
Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion - my personal favorite!
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Mizukami Koshi
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
MIU 404 - the drama that got him on everyone's radar
Chugakusei Nikki (Meet Me After School) - his debut work, and a strong one at that
Boogie Woogie
Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai!! (Date My Daughter!) - he was super adorable in this one!
Movies
Lesson in Murder - my personal favorite! he went head-to-head with Abe Sadao
Till We Meet Again on the Lily Hill
Out - the slapstick is insane, and I bet he had fun in this!
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Kayashima Mizuki
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kyouso no Musume (Guru's Daughter) - my personal favorite!
Saiko no Kyoshi: Ichinengo, Watashi wa Seito ni Sareta
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei
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Maeda Gordon
American
Must-watch:
Dramas
Elpis: Kibou, Aruiwa Wazawai - my personal favorite!
Kyojo 2 - another favorite!
Ato 3-kai, Kimi ni aeru - yet another favorite! bawled my eyes out watching this
No Side Game
Promise Cinderella
Kanakana
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Shiraishi Sei
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Shimobee - my personal favorite!
Girl Gun Lady
Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita
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Maeda Oshiro
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Neko
Bokutachi no Konai Hoso - my personal favorite!
Themis no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho (Goddess' Classroom)
One Night Morning
Kanakana
Movies
I Wish
Our Little Sister
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Okudaira Daiken
Japanese
Must-watch
Dramas
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei
Saiko no Kyoshi: Ichinengo, Watashi wa Seito ni Sareta
Koisuru Hahatachi
Sotsugyoshiki ni, Kamiya Utako ga Inai
Movies
Mother - my personal favorite!
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Shida Sara
Japanese
Must-watch
Dramas
His - Koisuru Tsumori Nante Nakatta
Ooku Season 2
Kimi no Hana ni Naru (I Will Be Your Bloom)
Movies
Skeleton Flowers - my personal favorite!
Dream of Illumination
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Hosoda Kanata
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Moshimo, Ikemen Dake no Koukou ga Attara
Dragon Zakura Season 2
Drop
Fermat no Ryori (Fermat's Cuisine)
Movies
Machida-kun no Sekai - my personal favorite!
People Who Talk to Plushies Are Kind
One Summer Story
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Ito Marika
Japanese
Must-watch
Dramas
Percent
Omimi ni Aimashitara
Tabisuru Sandwich
Movies
It's a Summer Film - my personal favorite!
Solitude Ability
To the Supreme!
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Hyuga Wataru
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mite mo (If It's With You) - my personal favorite!
JK to Roppozensho
Mars: Zero no Kakumei (Mars: Zero's Revolution)
Get Ready!
Pending Train
Kamen Rider Revice
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Takahashi Hikaru
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Halation Love
Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai
Sagi no Ko (Phone Fraud Children)
Parallel School Days
Murai no Koi (Murai in Love) - my personal favorite!
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Ito Asahi
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Gekokujo Kyuji
Murai no Koi (Murai in Love)
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei - my personal favorite!
Movies
Boys! Please Kiss Him, Instead of Me
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Kubota Sayu
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Sensei wo Kesu Houteishiki (How to Eliminate My Teacher)
Short Program
Oh! My Tsundere! Koi wa Bessatsu de - my personal favorite!
Yukionna to Kani wo Kuu
Tomodachi Game R4
Movies
Between Us
Sono Shukan, Boku wa Nakitaku Natta -Cinema Fighters Project-
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Hagiwara Riku
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man)
Meguru Mirai (TimeTraveler's Disease)
Tsukuyomi-kun no Kindan Oyashoku (Mr. Tsukuyomi's Forbidden Midnight Snack)
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei
3 Nen A Gumi: Ima kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu (Hiiragi's Homeroom)
Movies
12 Suicidal Teens - my personal favorite!
Bittersand
Takasaki Graffiti
Sayounara Konbanwa (A Girl in My Room)
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Hirate Yurina
Japanese
Must-watch
Drama
Kaze no Mukou he Kakenukero
Movies
Hibiki - my personal favorite!
The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill
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Mochizuki Ayumu
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Socho Shihatsu no Sappukei
Unnatural
One Night Morning
Ita buru Koi no, Yona Mono
17-sai no Teikoku (Teen Regime)
Manatsu no Shonen: 19452020
Movies
Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion, Solomon's Perjury 2: Judgment - my personal favorites!
5 Million Dollar Life
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Sekimizu Nagisa
Japanese
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Nishigaki Sho
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Minato Shouji Coin Laundry - my personal favorite!
Dragon Zakura Season 2
Kieta Hatsukoi (My Love Mix-Up!)
Haru ni Nattara (When Spring Comes)
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Maeda Kentaro
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kimi ni wa Todokanai (I Cannot Reach You)
Themis no Kyoshitsu: Legal Seishun Hakusho (Goddess' Classroom) - my personal favorite!
Watashi no Oyome-kun (Mr. Bride)
Kao
Tokumei! Keishicho Tokubetsu Kaikeigakari
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Sakuma Ryuto
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou -my personal favorite!
Kotatsu ga Nai Ie
Movies
Unlock Your Heart
The Village
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Mikami Ai
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kirei no Kuni - my personal favorite!
Ojogiwa no Imi wo Shire! (Documentary of My Ex-Girlfriend Complex)
Girl Gun Lady
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Inoue Sora
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Eternal Yesterday
Gachi Koi Nenchakujuu - my personal favorite!
Goukon ni Ittara Onna ga Inakatta Hanashi (How I Attended an All-Guy's Mixer) - another favorite!
Movies
The Lines that Define Me
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Kanon
Japanese
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Mokudai Kazuto
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Kamen Rider Geats - my personal favorite!
Saiko no Seito: Yomei Ichinen no Last Dance
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Oku Tomoya
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Jukkakukan no Satsujin (The Decagon House Murders) - my personal favorite!
Minato Shouji Coin Laundry
Kimi to Yukite Saku: Shinsengumi Seishunroku (With You I Bloom)
Kamen Rider Revice
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Hyodo Katsumi
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Tonari no Nurse Aide - my personal favorite!
Gekokujo Kyuji
Drop
Movies
Moja
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Komiya Rio
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Eternal Yesterday - my personal favorite!
Takara-kun to Amagi-kun
Cinderella Complex
Haru wa Mijikashi Koiseyo Danshi
Akai Ringo
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Okuno So
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Koi ni Mudaguchi
Tokyo Seimenjo (Tokyo Noodle Factory) - my personal favorite!
Kamen Rider Zi-O
Oi Handsome!
Gekokujo Kyuji
Movies
G-Men
Boys! Please Kiss Him, Instead of Me
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Yamashita Coki
Japanese
Must-watch:
Dramas
Saiko no Seito: Yomei Ichinen no Last Dance - my personal favorite!
Gachi Koi Nenchakujuu
Kimi no Hana ni Naru (I Will Be Your Bloom)
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Toyoda Yudai
Japanese
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Kido Taisei
Japanese
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Aoki Yuzu
Japanese
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Kubozuka Airu
Japanese
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Fujiwara Taiyu
Japanese
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Hiiragi Hinata
Japanese
