Studied acting in Tokyo after high school

Joined the training studio ENGEKI-SYUDAN EN

His first appearance on the stage was the main role of "Shitaya mannencho monogatari"

Made television debut in "Michinaru Hanran"

Starred in his first samurai TV drama series, "Mibu no koiuta"

Made his film debut in "Setouchi shonen yakyudan (MacArther's Children)"

Appeared in the comedy feature, "Tampopo"; billed as the first Japanese noodle western, which offers a satirical view of the relationship between food and sex

Crossed over into stardom after playing the main charactor of "Dokuganryu Masamune ( One eyed dragon, Masamune )," a one year-long TV samurai drama series

Starred in the film, "Karate Warrior"

While acting in Haruki Kadokawa's "Heaven and Earth," in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, it was discovered that he had leukemia

Recovered from illness and was able to appear on the film, " Bakumatsu junjouden"

Suffered a relapse and returned to the hospital; overcame the illness and began appearing on TV dramas a year later

Returned to features in "Kizuna," co-starring Kouji Yakusho

Returned to the stage after 13 years

Played two Heian-period noblemen, Michinaga Fujiwara and the husband of Lady Murasaki in "Sennen no koi -hikaru genji monogatari (Genji, a thousand-year love )"

Co-starred with Tom Cruise and Hiroyuki Sanada in "The Last Samurai"; earned a Golden Globe, SAG and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor

Cast as Ra's al-Ghul's decoy in "Batman Begins," opposite Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Cast as the Chairman, a high-powered executive, in the film version of Arthur Golden's best selling novel "Memoirs of a Geisha"; directed by Rob Marshall and based on the book by Arthur Golden

Starred in the Clint Eastwood WWII drama, "Letters from Iwo Jima," told from the Japanese viewpoint

Starred in the Japanese drama, "Ashita no Kioku (Memories of Tomorrow)"

Published his autobiography, Dare? - Who Am I?

Played Hibernius Tall in the feature adaptation of "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant"