Hiroaki Murakami

Hiroaki Murakami (born December 22, 1956) is a Japanese actor from Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Throughout his career, he has appeared in numerous film and television productions, gaining recognition for his work in both contemporary dramas and historical series.

Career

Murakami's acting career spans several decades, beginning in the late 1970s. He is well-known for his contributions to the Hissatsu series, a long-running Japanese jidaigeki (period drama) franchise, where he portrayed the character Masa in multiple installments, including Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder! (1985) and Sure-Fire Death 4: We Will Avenge You (1987).

In the tokusatsu genre, he is recognized for his role as Sky Rider in the 1980 film 8 Kamen Riders vs. Galaxy King. His filmography also includes roles in P.P. Rider (1983), The Yakuza Wives 2 (1987), and more recent appearances such as Usogui (2022).

On television, Murakami has maintained a consistent presence in Japanese dramas. His credits include roles in NHK Taiga dramas such as Genroku Ryoran (1999) and Yae no Sakura (2013). He also appeared in the 2012 TBS series Ataru and its subsequent film adaptations, playing the character Larry Inoue. In 2024, he appeared in the second season of the Apple TV+ series Pachinko.