Masato Hagiwara

Masato Hagiwara is a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and professional mahjong player whose career spans more than three decades, marked by a remarkable range of performances in film, television and theatre. Born on August 21, 1971, in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, he overcame a turbulent childhood marked by his parents' divorce, the early death of his father, and upbringing by his paternal grandparents before moving to Tokyo as a teenager. After a brief, one‑week stint at Tokyo Metropolitan Toyama High School, Hagiwara spent time in the United States where the vibrant movie‑going culture of New York sparked his ambition to act professionally. Upon returning to Japan, while assisting at his mother's Shinjuku bar, he was noticed by casting staff for the popular TV drama Abunai Deka, leading to his debut in 1987 as a young luggage thief in episode 32. A breakthrough came with his portrayal of Naojirō Matsuoka in the 1990 drama High School Rakugaki 2, cementing his status as a rising star and opening doors to numerous supporting and leading roles. In 1991 he co‑founded the theatre troupe “Early Timelies,” which produced six shows over seven years, demonstrating his commitment to stagecraft alongside his screen work. Despite a 1993 legal controversy that temporarily hampered his public appearances, the accusations were dismissed and Hagiwara’s career rebounded with acclaimed performances such as the chilling hitman in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure and a nuanced role in Hou Hsiao‑hsien’s Café Lumière. He also showcased his musical talents, playing saxophone and singing in Junji Sakamoto’s Out of This World and lending his voice to the anime Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor in 2007. In 2018 Hagiwara expanded his repertoire by becoming a licensed Riichi Mahjong professional, joining Team RAIDEN for the M‑League tournament, thereby adding a competitive gaming dimension to his multifaceted public persona. His personal life includes a marriage to actress Emi Wakui in 1995, the birth of a son in 1999, and a divorce in 2003, after which he has continued to act, voice characters, and compete in professional mahjong, illustrating a resilient and diversified career that remains influential in Japanese entertainment.