Trained in legendary Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai’s Mumeijuku theater workshop, Toru Masuoka made his debut in the 1980 stage production Soleness. He is known as a dexterous, veteran actor of Japanese theater, film and television. After starring in Ogata
An award-winning actress of Japanese film and TV, Hiromi Nagasaku’s recent films include Funuke Show Some Love, You Losers! (six Best Supporting Actress Awards including the Japan Film Critics’ Award, Blue Ribbon Award, and the Yokohama Film Festival Award ), Sukida (Best Supporting Actress, Takasaki Film Festival) and the 2007 box-office hit Hito no sekkusu o warauna (Don’t Laugh at My Romance). Known for her strong personal appeal and naturalistic performances, Nagasaku has also acted in plays such as Futatabi No Koi and in the television dramas Shuumatsu Kon, Koumyouga tsuji and Four lies.
Masahiko Tsugawa is a six time winner of the Japanese Academy of Motion Pictures’ award for Best Actor in Puraido - Unmei no toki and Bokuto Kidan, and for Best Supporting Actor in Juzo Itami’s Marusa no Onna (A Taxing Woman), Yogisha, Wakarenu riyu and Hitohira no yuki, as well as winner of Best Supporting Actor Blue Ribbon Awards, Hochi Film Awards, and Kinema Junpo Awards, and winner of Best Actor for Mainichi Film Cours. In 1956, Tsugawa made his debut in the Kō Nakahira’s film Crazed Fruit. Having had aspirations to become a journalist before making his film debut as an actor, Tsugawa now writes a popular blog addressing social and political issues. He is also a film director under the pseudonym Masahiko Makino. Recent performances include such films as Take the A train someday, Death Note, Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea and Rakugo Musume.
Three-time winner of the Japanese Academy of Motion Pictures’ award for Best Actress in The Gate of Youth, Fall Guy, and The Sting of Death, Keiko Matsuzaka first gained recognition in the late’70s as an actress and singer. She has worked with renowned directors such as Kenji Fukasaku and Shohei Imamura. Matsuzaka recently won critical acclaim for her role in the TV period drama Atsuhime, and in 2009 received Purple Ribbon Medal from the Japanese government for lifetime achievement.
Akira Emoto is a two-time winner of the Japanese Academy of Motion Pictures’ award for Best Actor for his performances in Dr. Akagi and Three for the Road, as well as a winner of Best Supporting Role of Mainichi Film Cours for Hana, Zatoichi, and Dopperugenga (Doppelganger), and the Yokohama Film Festival's award for Best Supporting Actor for Yudantaiteki, Kuwagata wataruteki and Niwztori wa Hadashida.
Ai Maeda first came to public attention when appearing on TV commercials for McDonalds. She then attracted further popularity on Japanese TV shows such as Tensai-Telebi-Kun and Appare-Sanma Daisensei, before gaining recognition as an actress in the films Battle Royal and Death Note.
Born in Northern India, Edith Hanson came to Japan in 1960 and worked as an actress and TV personality. From 1986 to 1999, she was the director of Amnesty International Japan and has been the Director of Efa Japan (Empowerment for All) since October 2004. She currently resides in Wakayama, Japan.
A rising star in Japanese film and TV, Tasuku Emoto made his film debut in 2002 with A Boy’s Summer in 1945 (Utsukushi natsu kirishima). Recent films include Boy meets Pusan, Chameleon, Flying Rabbits, and Child by Children.
