Ken Watanabe is a well-known Japanese actor who is known for portraying tragic heroes. Ken is well-known in Hollywood for his acting abilities, in addition to his success in the Japanese film industry. His Hollywood picture ‘The Last Samurai’ was even nominated for an Academy Award nomination. In the majority of his films, Ken has played a warrior. Later in his career, he broke the mold by playing a general, an Alzheimer’s patient, a gangster, and other parts. Ken is a true warrior in every meaning of the term. He has battled and beaten cancer twice, and he has returned to work following his treatments. The actor has won numerous honors and has been nominated for numerous prominent awards, including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Grammy Awards. Ken Watanabe Biography: Facts, Childhood, Family Life, and Accomplishments of a Japanese Actor
Childhood and Adolescence
Ken was born in Koide, Niigata, Japan, on October 21, 1959. His parents were both educators. His mother was a teacher at a local school, and his father was a calligraphy specialist who taught the same. His family moved around a lot when he was a kid because of his parents’ employment. He attended Niigata Prefectural Koide High School and graduated with honors.
Ken developed an interest in music during his scholastic years. He studied trumpet and went on to form a school music band with his classmates. He intended to attend a conservatory after graduation, but owing to financial constraints, he had to abandon his plans. He finally enrolled in an acting school in Tokyo after a lot of difficulty.
During Ken’s training, he received a lot of praise. His acting abilities were so good that he was cast in the lead role in his second stage production, ‘Shitaya mannencho monogatari.’ This occurred before he completed his acting training. In 1982, he made his television debut as the lead in the series ‘Michinaru Hanran.’
Career of Ken Watanabe
Ken’s first television series, ‘Michinaru Hanran,’ was critically appreciated. Ken was inundated with TV series offers when his portrayal of a samurai grabbed the attention of other filmmakers. Ken featured in the film ‘MacArthur’s Children,’ which was nominated for the 57th Academy Awards in 1984. In films and television shows such as ‘DokuganryuMasamune,’ ‘Jidaigeki Gokenin Zankuro,’ ‘Oda Nobunaga,’ ‘Chushingura,’ and ‘Bakumatsu Junjo Den,’ he continued to play a samurai. Ken became a household name in Japan when all of these films became blockbusters.
In 1989, while filming ‘Heaven and Earth,’ Ken was diagnosed with leukemia. While enduring chemotherapy, he continued to perform, but he couldn’t handle the stress of his tight filming schedules. As a result, his health began to deteriorate, and he was brought to the hospital for the second time in 1991. Ken had a remarkable comeback in 1998 with the film “Kizuna,” for which he was nominated for a Japanese Academy Award. In 2003, Ken co-starred in ‘The Last Samurai’ with Tom Cruise, catapulting him to the forefront of Hollywood.
Ken published his autobiography ‘Dare? – Who Am I?’ in 2006, in which he discussed his Hepatitis C treatments.
Ken has voiced characters in a number of animated films and computer games, including ‘Batman Begins,’ ‘Transformers,’ and ‘Samurai Shodown 64.’ In addition, he has provided his voice to the upcoming picture ‘The Lion King.’ Ken was diagnosed with cancer for the second time on February 9, 2016, while working on the Broadway revival of ‘The King and I.’
Ken played Tetsuo in MacArthur’s Children, a Japanese film released on June 23, 1984, in which he played the lead role. The film was nominated for an Academy Award, but it did not make the final list of nominees. Masamune Dokuganryu – This was a television series that aired in 1987. He portrayed Date Masamune, a warrior who aspired to be Japan’s ruler.
Ken made his Hollywood debut in The Last Samurai, a period battle picture. Along with Tom Cruise, he was cast in the film. Moritsugu Katsumoto, the commander of a samurai rebel organization, was played by Ken. On November 20, 2003, the film premiered in Tokyo, and on December 5, 2003, it was distributed in the United States. Batman Begins — Based on the comic character Batman, this film was released on June 5, 2005. Ken played Ra’s al Ghul, a character in the film. This film was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Cinematography.
Ken played Masayuki Saeki, an Alzheimer’s patient, in the film Memories of Tomorrow, which was based on a Japanese novel of the same name. This was a very different part than the ones he had previously played. Masayuki Saeki is a successful businessman who eventually forgets things, which has a negative influence on both his career and personal lives. The film was a huge success, winning eight top awards in several categories.
On July 8, 2010, the Academy Award-winning film Inception was released. Mr. Saito, played by Ken, recruits Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, to carry out his team’s task. Godzilla – Ken played Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, a scientist who is in charge of the ‘Project Monarch’ operation. The film was released on May 8, 2014, and it was a box office success.
Achievements & Awards
Ken got his first prize for his work in the Japanese film ‘Umi to Dokuyaku’ at the Elan d’or Awards in 1987. Ken got the Blue Ribbon Special Award for Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performance in the film “The Last Samurai” in 2004. Ken was awarded the 30th Japan Academy Prize in the category of Best Actor for the film “Memories of Tomorrow” in 2007. Ken got the Best Actor award for the film ‘Shizumanu Taiyo’ at the 33rd Japan Academy Prize (2010).
Personal Experiences of Ken Watanabe
Ken and Yumiko Watanabe married in 1983 and have a son named Dai Watanabe. In March 2005, the couple divorced.Ken then began dating Kaho Minami, one of his co-stars. On December 3, 2005, he married Kaho. Ken legally adopted Kaho’s previous marriage’s son. In May 2016, he became a grandfather when his first wife’s daughter Anne gave birth to twins.
Estimated Net worth
Ken Watanabe is a $40 million Japanese actor who has appeared in films, television shows, and on stage. Ken Watanabe was born on October 21, 1959, in Koide, Niigata, Japan, to a teacher mother and a calligraphy instructor father. His family moved around a lot as a kid because of his parents’ work.
Trivia
Ken had once considered pursuing a career in journalism.
He enjoys golf, basketball, and baseball as a sport to play and watch.