What's After the Movie
Takashi Sasano
Takashi Sasano (笹野 高史) was born on June 22, 1948 in Ichinomiya, a town in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and has become one of the most recognizable character actors in contemporary Japanese cinema. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has demonstrated an extraordinary range, moving fluidly between period dramas, modern family stories, and avant‑garde thrillers, which has earned him a reputation for both reliability and daring artistic choices. Sasano debuted in the early 1970s, but it was his steady work throughout the 1980s and 1990s—appearing in classics such as Tora‑san's Island Encounter (1985) and A Class to Remember (1993)—that cemented his status as a versatile supporting actor in the Japanese film industry. In the 2000s, his performances gained international attention, most notably as the kind‑hearted uncle in Departures (2008), the Academy‑Award‑nominated film that introduced global audiences to Japan’s unique funeral customs.
Beyond Departures, Sasano has collaborated with visionary directors like Kiyoshi Kurosawa in Bright Future (2003) and Before We Vanish (2017), showcasing his ability to convey subtle psychological tension. His work with Iranian director Amir Naderi on Cut (2011) and his memorable turn as a samurai in Hara‑Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011) illustrate his willingness to cross cultural and genre boundaries. Awards have followed his dedication: he received the Best Supporting Actor honor at the 30th Japan Academy Prize for his role in Love and Honor, and the 28th Yokohama Film Festival recognized him for multiple performances in the same year. With a filmography that encompasses over a hundred titles—including recent projects like The Silent Service (2023) and upcoming releases slated for 2025—Sasano continues to enrich Japanese storytelling, inspiring both peers and audiences with his enduring talent and professionalism.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Takashi Sasano, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Takashi Sasano rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Takashi
Born: Ichinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Citizenship: Japanese
Birthday: June 22, 1948
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1972-present
Children: 4
External Links and Streaming Options
Explore more about on trusted external platforms like Metacritic, TMDb, Wikipedia or IMDb. Find additional details, reviews, and related content to deepen your understanding.
Movies Featuring Takashi Sasano
Tatara Samurai
Before We Vanish
Hitsudan Hostess
About Her Brother
Accidental Kidnapper
At River’s Edge
Train Brain Express
Thermae Romae
Casting Blossoms to the Sky
Tug of War!
Miracle Apples
Greatful Dead
Surely Someday
Shinzanmono
Elevator to the Gallows
Cut
Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer
A Tale of Samurai Cooking
Cape Nostalgia
Wasao
Princess Toyotomi
Thermae Romae II
The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom
A Bolt from the Blue
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. Kamen Rider Drive: Spring Break Combined Special
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger The Movie: The Dinosaur Lord’s Splendid Ninja Scroll!
125 Years Memory
Cutie Honey: Tears
HiGH&LOW The Movie 2: End of Sky
Life in Overtime
Something Like, Something Like It
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger the Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland
Chinyuki
Golden Orchestra
Super Hero Wars GP: Kamen Rider #3
Shinjuku Swan II
A Tender Place
Recall
They Say Nothing Stays the Same
Haruka’s Pottery
No One’s Ark
Fireflies: River of Light
Masquerade Hotel
The 47 Rōnin in Debt
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
A Hardest Night!!
Damejin
Love and Honor
Walking My Life
Adrift in Tokyo
Half a Confession
Last Scene
Riding the Metro
The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia
Ryuji
Tora-san’s Island Encounter
Tora-san Goes North
The Discarnates
Kaisha monogatari: Memories of You
Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Wife of a Spy
Tora-san’s Salad-Day Memorial
Free and Easy
Beijing Watermelon
Tora-san, My Uncle
Tora-san’s Bluebird Fantasy
The Heartbreak Yakuza
Tora-san Plays Daddy
Seven Days War
Sure Death 4
The Devil Wears Ju-Ni Hitoe Kimono
Riverside Mukolitta
We Make Antiques! Osaka Dreams
Yudo: The Way of the Bath
Nemesis the Movie: Mystery of Golden Spiral
Immersion
Jigen Daisuke
What to Do With the Dead Kaiju?
MARKS
Juukou B-Fighter: The Movie
A Class to Remember
Kabei: Our Mother
Dear Doctor
Round About Midnight
Instant Swamp
God’s Puzzle
10 Promises to My Dog
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
One Million Yen Girl
The Geisha House
The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity
Happy Flight
The Rainbow Seeker
Keiho
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Takashi Sasano, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2023
We Make Antiques! Osaka Dreams
Morio Koide
Yudo: The Way of the Bath
Yutaka Horii
Nemesis the Movie: Mystery of Golden Spiral
Enokido Rikimaru
Immersion
Jigen Daisuke
Yamaki
2019
They Say Nothing Stays the Same
Ushi's customer
Haruka’s Pottery
Tojin Sakaki
Masquerade Hotel
Koichi Ono
The 47 Rōnin in Debt
Yozaemon Ochiai
2016
Cutie Honey: Tears
Something Like, Something Like It
barbershop owner
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger the Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland
Yoshitaka Igasaki
Chinyuki
Babaa
Golden Orchestra
Hidetaro Nonomura
2015
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. Kamen Rider Drive: Spring Break Combined Special
Yoshitaka Igasaki
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger The Movie: The Dinosaur Lord’s Splendid Ninja Scroll!
Yoshitaka Igasaki
125 Years Memory
Mayor Sato
Super Hero Wars GP: Kamen Rider #3
Yoshitaka Igasaki
2014
Cape Nostalgia
Tokusaburo Ryuzaki
Thermae Romae II
Shuzo Yamakoshi
The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom
Genjiro
A Bolt from the Blue
2012
Train Brain Express
Tetsuo Kodama
Thermae Romae
Shuzo Yamakoshi
Casting Blossoms to the Sky
Akiyoshi Muraoka
Tug of War!
Naomasa Fujishiro
Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer
Dennai Tatsube
2010
Hitsudan Hostess
Kyojo Segawa
About Her Brother
Maruyama
Accidental Kidnapper
Surely Someday
Elevator to the Gallows
2009
Dear Doctor
Tokio Sone
Instant Swamp
Nishiohtachime
The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity
Noriaki Okubo
2008
Kabei: Our Mother
Detective Kosuge
God’s Puzzle
Hashizume
10 Promises to My Dog
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
Chief Ishii
One Million Yen Girl
Siraishi
Happy Flight
Ground Manager
2007
Walking My Life
Haruo Takagi
Adrift in Tokyo
Middle-aged Matmaker
The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia
What's After the Movie?
Not sure whether to stay after the credits? Find out!
Explore Our Movie Platform
New Movie Releases (2026)
Famous Movie Actors
Top Film Production Studios
Movie Plot Summaries & Endings
Major Movie Awards & Winners
Best Concert Films & Music Documentaries
Movie Collections and Curated Lists
© 2026 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.