Hideaki Itō

---

title: "Hideaki Itō" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1975-births", "living-people", "people-from-gifu", "japanese-male-film-actors", "japanese-male-television-actors", "japanese-racehorse-owners-and-breeders", "20th-century-japanese-male-actors", "21st-century-japanese-male-actors"] description: "Japanese actor (born 1975)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideaki_Itō" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Japanese actor (born 1975) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Hideaki Ito
native_name	伊藤 英明
native_name_lang	ja
birth_date
birth_place	Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
occupation	Actor
years_active	1997–present
agent	ID4 Management (2024–present)
website	Official profile
::

| name = Hideaki Ito | image = | caption = | native_name = 伊藤 英明 | native_name_lang = ja | birth_date = | birth_place = Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1997–present | agent = ID4 Management (2024–present) | website = Official profile Hideaki Ito (伊藤 英明, born August 3, 1975) is a Japanese actor known for his leading roles in both television dramas and films. He gained widespread recognition through the Umizaru film series which became a major commercial success. Following this, he expanded his range with more diverse roles, including performances in Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django and Lesson of the Evil.

Early and Personal Life

Ito was born in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, and raised in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture. He grew up in a family of four, with a father who was a former member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and later worked in logistics, and a mother who previously worked as a bus tour guide. He has one younger sister.

As a child, Ito was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis and spent a significant part of his early years in and out of hospitals. During his hospitalization, he witnessed the death of a friend in the shared ward, an experience that left a lasting impression on him. Due to chronic illness, he was only able to attend about three years of elementary school in total and struggled to integrate into his classes. His lunch was prepared with reduced salt and diluted with hot water due to dietary restrictions.

Ito underwent a tonsillectomy in sixth grade, which marked a turning point in his health. His condition improved, and he eventually returned his physical disability certificate. These early experiences with illness and mortality shaped his outlook on life, instilling a sense of urgency to live fully, take on challenges, and avoid regrets. He has stated that he believes "life is not about success or failure until it's over," and that he prefers to regret trying rather than not trying at all.

In October 2014, Ito married a woman eight years his junior who was previously a company employee. In public statements, he described her as someone he deeply respected and admired for her kindness and thoughtfulness. Their wedding ceremonies were held both in Gifu Prefecture, his hometown, and on the island of Mallorca, Spain. Initially planning only a traditional Shinto ceremony with close family, they later decided to hold a second ceremony abroad in response to his wife's wish to wear a Western-style wedding dress.

The couple has two children: a son born in 2015 and a daughter born in 2019. In interviews, Ito has shared that becoming a father has brought about a significant shift in his lifestyle and values, helping him reconnect with a more grounded version of himself. He also cited his desire to spend more time with his children as a major reason for considering overseas relocation.

Ito is known for his deep connection to his hometown and often returns to Gifu for local events and charity work. He has acquired licenses as both a certified pyrotechnician (fireworks technician) and a horse owner in Japanese racing. In 2024, he was appointed the face of a regional promotional campaign for Gifu.

Career

Ito began his entertainment career in 1993 when he was awarded runner-up in the 6th annual Junon Superboy Contest, a talent competition hosted by a popular Japanese magazine. In 1994, he moved from Gifu to Tokyo and made his commercial debut opposite Yuko Tanaka in a high-profile TV ad for Suntory Old whisky. However, his initial experience in the industry was marked by discomfort. His agency at the time strictly managed his appearance and dialect, creating a manufactured persona that clashed with his desire to remain authentic. Feeling constrained, he left the agency in 1995 and temporarily withdrew from the entertainment industry.

For the next two years, Ito worked in various labor-intensive jobs, including construction and demolition. He deliberately avoided nightlife jobs despite their higher pay, stating he didn't want to "become someone else’s version of himself." In 1997, he was scouted by staff from A-Team, leading to his return to acting with the television drama Dessan on Nippon TV.

Although his appearance was brief, Ito gained public attention for his role in the 1999 film Himitsu, starring Ryoko Hirosue. His striking presence in the film marked the beginning of his recognition as a serious actor.

In 2000, Ito landed his first lead role in a television series, playing dual characters in the sci-fi drama Yasha. That same year, he starred in the film Blister!, which earned him the Best New Actor Award at the Takasaki Film Festival. His reputation continued to rise with his performance as Maeda Toshinaga in the 2002 NHK historical drama Toshiie to matsu.

His breakthrough came in 2004 when he starred in the action film Umizaru, playing a Japan Coast Guard diver. The film’s success led to a series of sequels, including Limit of Love: Umizaru (2006), The Last Message: Umizaru (2010), and Brave Hearts: Umizaru (2012), which all topped the domestic box office in their respective release years. The popularity of the series established Ito as a mainstream action star. His performance in the 2006 drama Bengoshi no Kuzu earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 49th Television Drama Academy Awards.

In 2007, he starred in Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django, which was entered into competition at the 64th Venice International Film Festival. Ito continued to take on diverse roles in the 2010s. In 2012, he played a psychopathic schoolteacher in Lesson of the Evil, marking his first major antagonist role and expanding his acting range. In 2014, he starred in Wood Job! as a forestry worker. His performance earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award at both the 38th Japan Academy Film Prize and the 69th Mainichi Film Awards.

In the 2020s, Ito returned to television in a lead role in the TBS drama Byoshitsu de Nembutsu o Tonaenaide Kudasai (2020), after a 12-year absence from Friday-night dramas. The same year, he joined the Kamen Rider franchise, portraying Kamen Rider Eden in the film Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time. In 2022, after 25 years with A-Team, he moved to Granpapa Production, a company formerly associated with actor Masahiko Tsugawa. In July 2024, he established his own agency, ID4 Management., and began managing his career independently.

During the production of Tokyo Vice, Ito developed a close friendship with American actor Ansel Elgort. He invited Elgort to experience a traditional Japanese sauna and also welcomed him to his family home in Gifu. Ito has frequently spoken of his admiration for filmmaker Michael Mann, and expressed interest in working on an international project under Mann’s direction.

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
1996	Kiss Me			url= https://www.hideakiito.com/en/works_en.html#film
1997	Deborah, the Rival
1999	Himitsu	Haruki Soma
2000	Pyrokinesis	Kazuki Tada
Blister!	Yuji	Lead role
2001	Love Song	Matsuoka
The Princess Blade	Takashi
Onmyoji	Minamoto no Hiromasa
2003	Onmyoji 2	Minamoto no Hiromasa
When the Last Sword Is Drawn	Tokugawa Yoshinobu
2004	Umizaru	Daisuke Senzaki	Lead role
2005	A Heart Full of Love	Hiroshi Suzutani	Lead role
2006	Limit of Love: Umizaru	Daisuke Senzaki	Lead role
2007	Sukiyaki Western Django	Gunslinger	Lead role
2008	252: Signal of Life	Yuji Shinohara	Lead role
2009	Kamui Gaiden	Fudo
2010	The Last Message: Umizaru	Daisuke Senzaki	Lead role
2011	Andalusia: Revenge of the Goddess	Makoto Kotari
2012	Brave Hearts: Umizaru	Daisuke Senzaki	Lead role
Lesson of the Evil	Seiji Hasumi	Lead role
2014	Wood Job!	Yoki Iida
Over Your Dead Body	Jun Suzuki
God Tongue: Kiss Patience Championship	Dr. Ito	Cameo
2016	Terra Formars	Koichi Komachi	Lead role
2017	March Comes in Like a Lion	Masamune Gotō
March Goes Out Like a Lamb	Masamune Gotō
Memoirs of a Murderer	Takashi Makimura	Lead role
2020	Kamen Rider Zero-One the Movie: Real×Time	Es / Kamen Rider Eden
The Doorman	Leo	American film
2021	Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai	Serizawa Kamo
2022	Kappei	Kappei	Lead role
2023	The Legend & Butterfly	Sadachika Fukutomi
Knuckle Girl	Haruki Nikaido
2024	Previously Saved Version	Naoki
2025	#I Will Tell the Truth	Hair salon owner
::

Television

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
1998	Ai, Tokidoki Uso	Chisato Nakajima
1998	Boy Hunt	Unknown
1999	Over Time	Yūki Kobayashi
1999	Chiisana Chiisana Anata wo Unde	Unknown
1999	OUT – Tsuma-tachi no Hanzai	Kazuo Miyamori
1999	Yamada Ikka no Shinbō	Wataru Watanabe
2000	Big Daisakusen	Unknown	TV movie
2001	Joshi Ana	Kōji Hotta
2002	Kyūmei Byōtō 24-ji New Year Special	Junpei Yabe	TV movie
2005	Kyūmei Byōtō 24-ji Special	Junpei Yabe	TV movie
2001	Shitto no Kaori	Naoki Tanizaki
2001	Koi wo Nannen Yasundemasu ka	Hiroshi Sawamura
2002	Koi wo Nannen Yasundemasu ka Special	Hiroshi Sawamura	TV movie
2001	Baka 3 Kyōdai	Mitsuru Yasuda	Special
2002	Akahige	Noboru Yasumoto
2003	My Magical Witch	Michio Machida / Mittan	Lead role
2003	Live Broadcast Won’t Stop!	Kogoro Saruwatari
2003	Love and Capitalism	Ryō	Lead role
2004	A Hot Dream Day ~ The Truth Behind Japan-Korea World Cup	Kazuhiko Takase	Lead role
2005	Kawai Tsuginosuke: The Blue Dragon That Ran	Hayato Inaba	TV movie
2007	The Lonely Gamble	Teijiro Chigusa	Lead role
2007	First Kiss	Kazuki Kanō
2007	Wachigaiya Itosato	Toshizo Hijikata	2-part drama
2008	Yo nimo Kimyō na Monogatari – "A Better Person"	Takashi Hagiwara	Lead role
2008	252: Seizonsha Ari episode.ZERO	–	Cameo appearance
2009	Keikan no Chi	Kazuya Anjō	2-part drama
2009	Buzzer Beat	Tomoya Kawasaki
2011	Last Money: Ai no Nedan	Sakuataro Mukōjima	Lead role
2013	Byakkotai: Yaburezarumono-tachi	Katamori Matsudaira	TV movie
2013	Most Distant Galaxy	Haruyuki Kiryū	2-part drama
2013	Dokushin Kizoku	Susumu Hoshino
2014	Hirugao	Online dating man	Episode 1; Cameo
2014	Sinning Lies	Takuya Kasahara	Lead role
2015	Liquid	Shūichi Sagara	Lead role
2015	Mutsu: Eyes That See	Yōji Shirakami
2020	Kamen Rider Zero-One (Ep. Finale)	“Es”	Special appearance
2021	Tokkai: Furyo Saiken Tokubetsu Kaishūbu	Akira Shibasaki	Lead role
2021	24hr TV Drama Special: The School Where Students Can Restart Life	Kenya Harada
2021	Josei Keizoku	Yoshizaburō Uemura
2022	First Love’s Demon	Naruhito Yukimatsu
2023	Grace no Rireki	Toshihiko Fujiki
2025	Hananoren	Kichizaburō Kawashima
1997	Dessin	Unknown		url= https://www.hideakiito.com/en/works_en.html#tv
Bayside Shakedown: Year-End Special Alert	Seiji Aihara	Television film
2000	Please Give Me Love	Chūya Tsukimitsu
Yasha	Arisue Sei / Amamiya Rin	Lead role
2001	Emergency Room 24 Hours	Junpei Yabe	Season 2
2002	Toshiie and Matsu	Maeda Toshinaga	Taiga drama
Searching for My Polestar	Kyōichi Sayama	Lead role
2003	The Great White Tower	Hiroshi Yanagihara
2005	Kunitori Monogatari	Oda Nobunaga	Television film
Umizaru Evolution	Daisuke Senzaki	Lead role
2006	Scum of Lawyers	Masami Takeda
2007	Akechi Mitsuhide: The Man Not Loved by God	Hori Hidemasa	Television film
2011	High School Restaurant	Hiroshi Kishino
2013	It Takes Two	Shunsuke Yamashita	Lead role
Kindaichi Kōsuke vs Akechi Kogorō	Kogorō Akechi	Lead role; television film
2014	Kindaichi Kōsuke vs Akechi Kogorō Futatabi	Kogorō Akechi	Lead role; television film
2015	The Emperor's Cook	Yukichi Tanabe
2016	My Dangerous Wife	Kōhei Mochizuki	Lead role
2020	Awaiting Kirin	Saitō Yoshitatsu	Taiga drama
Prayers in the Emergency Room	Teruyuki Matsumoto	Lead role
2021	Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan	Date Masamune	Documentary
2022	Umeko: The Face of Female Education	Sen Tsuda	Television film
Tokyo Vice	Jin Miyamoto	American television series
2023	Galápagos	Masaru Torii
2024	Blue Moment	Motoki Niijima	Episode 8
2025	Last Samurai Standing	Bukotsu Kanjiya
2026	Reboot	Masachika Makita		url= https://mantan-web.jp/article/20251201dog00m200071000c.html
::

Stage

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2004	Midsummer Carol: Gama-ōji vs. Zarigani Majin	Muromachi		url= https://www.hideakiito.com/en/works_en.html#stage
2010	Jeanne d'Arc	Charles VII
2023	A View from the Bridge	Eddie	Lead role
2024	A Streetcar Named Desire	Stanley Kowalski
::

Other media appearances

Dubbing

• Suits Season 3, Episode 11 (2014) – as Michael Phelps (Japanese dub)

Documentaries

• Earth Great Journey Special: Hideaki Ito Walks the Inca Trail (2006, CBC)
• Canon Special: Planet Blue (2006, TBS)
• The Power of Travel: Searching for the Wind of Freedom on the Great Plains – Argentina (2013, NHK BS Premium)
• Grace of Japan: 100 Views of Shrines (2013–2015, BS Japan) – Narrator
• Hideaki Ito Dives into the Sea of Miracles! (2013, NHK BS Premium)
• The 6,400km Great Amazon Journey (2014, BS-TBS) – Two-part series
• Hideaki Ito Gets Close to the Humpback Whales: Parent and Child on the Miracle Sea (2015, CBC/TBS)
• The Great Siberia: SIBERIA (2015, BS-TBS) – Two-part series
• Miracle Earth Journey: Hidden Hawaii (BS Asahi) – Narrator
  • Part 1: Around Maui Island – Encountering Humpback Whales (2015)
  • Part 2: Crossing Oahu Island – To the Most Beautiful Hidden Beach in America

Music videos

• AKB48 – Namida Surprise! (2009)

Variety shows

• Nep League (Fuji TV)
• Umizaru Cast’s Hilarious Journey in Gifu (2010, Tokai TV / BS Fuji)
• Sekaiō! – World Champion Birth Project (2013, NHK) – Host
• Udo-chan no Tabi-shite Gomen (2024, Nagoya TV)
• Gifu Hideaki (2023, Gifu Broadcasting)

Commercials (CMs)

• Marui – "Visarno"
• Shogakukan – Umizaru (2004)
• Warner Entertainment Japan (2008)
• Coca-Cola Japan
  • "Marocha" (2002)
  • "Sokenbicha" (2003)
  • "Coca-Cola ZERO" (2012)
• NTT DoCoMo Kansai – "FOMA"
• Kao – "Success" (2004–2011)
• House Foods – "Tomato Hayashi Rice Sauce" (2004)
• Asahi Beer – "Dry Cooler" (2004)
• Geneon Entertainment (2006)
• Goodwill (2006–2007)
• Curtis (2006)
• Able (2005–2007)
• Nissin Foods – "Vegetable Harusame Soup" (2007)
• Daihatsu – Tanto Custom (2007–2008)
• Kirin Beer
  • "Strong Seven" (2008–2009)
  • "Tanrei Gokujo Nama"
• DyDo – "Blend Coffee: 35×35" campaign (2010–2011)
• Reebok Japan – "ZIGTECH" (2012)
• GREE (2013)
• Rohto Pharmaceutical – "Deo" (2013–2018) – portrayed Kenshiro in later ads
• Maken Densetsu (2020, 4399) – In-game character and campaign model
• Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank (2024)
• Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World – Vegito and Gogeta campaigns (2025)

Games

• Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing (2021, Arcade) – as Kamen Rider Eden
• Kamen Rider Battle: Ganba Legends (2023, Arcade) – as Kamen Rider Eden

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table]

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2001	25th Elan d'or Awards	Newcomer of the Year	Himself
2015	69th Mainichi Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Wood Job!
38th Japan Academy Film Prize	Best Supporting Actor
::

Bibliography

Essays

• ID4. Koshinsha, July 2001.
• HIDEAKIZM. Gakken, September 2001.

Photobooks

• MOROCCO. Photographed by Ken Hanzawa. Kodansha, August 1, 2002.
• MOROCCO (Deluxe Edition). Photographed by Ken Hanzawa. Kodansha, August 15, 2002.

References

References

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42. "22年目の告白 私が殺人犯です".
43. "劇場版 仮面ライダーゼロワン REAL×TIME".
44. "燃えよ剣".
45. "KAPPEI カッペイ".
46. "レジェンド＆バタフライ".
47. "ナックルガール".
48. "不都合な記憶".
49. "#真相をお話しします".
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52. "YASHA－夜叉－".
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54. "利家とまつ 加賀百万石物語".
55. "天体観測の出演者・キャスト一覧".
56. "白い巨塔(唐沢寿明主演)の出演者・キャスト一覧".
57. "国盗り物語".
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