Hayato Ichihara: Japanese Actor Profile and Filmography

Hayato Ichihara (市原隼人) is a prominent Japanese actor known for his extensive work in film and television. Born on February 6, 1987, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, he stands 171 cm tall and has blood type A. Throughout his career, Ichihara has established a versatile acting portfolio spanning major feature films, television dramas, and special television productions.

Hayato Ichihara portrait — Hayato Ichihara

Early Career and Breakthrough

Ichihara entered the Japanese entertainment industry at a young age. Early in his film career, he appeared in horror and drama projects, including The Grudge 2 (2000). He gained significant critical attention for his leading role as Yuichi Hasumi in Shunji Iwai's acclaimed drama film All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001). His performance established him as a talented young actor in Japanese cinema.

In 2004, Ichihara received the "Rookie of the Year" award at the 27th Japan Academy Prize for his performance in the film Worst by Chance (2003).

Major Film Appearances

Over the decades, Ichihara has starred in a wide range of film genres, moving between action, drama, and historical features. Some of his notable film credits include:

Ju-on 2 (2000) as Naoki
All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) as Yuichi Hasumi
Worst by Chance (2003) as Hidenori Kaneshiro
Check It Out, Yo! (2006) as Toru Isaka
Rookies (2009)
DOG x POLICE: The K-9 Force (2011) as Yusaku Hayakawa
Yakuza Apocalypse (2015) as Akira Kageyama
Blade of the Immortal (2017) as Shira
Yakuza and The Family (2021) as Ryuta Hosono
The Honest Realtor (2026) as Takahisa Kiriyama

Television Career

In addition to his film work, Ichihara has maintained a consistent presence in Japanese television dramas (dorama) and network specials. His television career features prominent roles across major broadcasting networks such as NHK, TBS, Fuji TV, and WOWOW.

Key television drama credits include:

The Way I Live (2003)
Water Boys 2 (2004)
Rookies (2008) as Keiichi Aniya
Runaways: For Your Love (2011) as Ataru Katsuragi
Naotora: The Lady Warlord (2017) as Ketsuzan
The Honest Realtor (2022, 2024) as Takahisa Kiriyama
Double Cheat Itsuwari no Keikan Season 2 (2024) as Yuto Tago
Pray Speak What Has Happened (2025) as Toni Ando

Awards and Recognition

Ichihara's talent has been recognized by prominent Japanese film institutions. Most notably, he won the Rookie of the Year category at the 27th Japan Academy Prize ceremony held on February 20, 2004, for his role in Worst by Chance.