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Masaya Katô

Masaya Katô

Actor · Born April 27, 1963 (63) · Nara, Nara, Japan

Masaya Katō (born April 27, 1963) is a Japanese actor and seiyū from Nara in the Kansai region.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 27, 1963 (63)
From
Nara, Nara, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on Motif · 157 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 15% in 30 days

What are Masaya Katô's films like?

Across their 19 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
30%
Bonds
19%
Self
15%
Survival
13%
Power
12%
Ideas
8%
Society
4%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 8

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 4

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 13

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 5
Trickster
1 of 5
Shapeshifter
1 of 5
Mentor
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Thrilling
7
Melancholic
5
Hopeful
4
Absurd
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Masaya Katô's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 34 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Masaya Katô's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

157 credits, 34 with a Motif page.

  • The Invisibles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Kingdom 5: The Clash of Souls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    as Shi Shi (Si Shi)

  • The Living Dragon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Euthanasia Special Zone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Madame de Sade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    as モントルイユ夫人

  • Haguregumo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mito Komon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Kaede (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • One Last Throw (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    as Kanemoto Tomoaki

  • Bomb(2025)

    as Yugo Hasebe

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • By 6am (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    as Makoto Akiyama

  • My Fireworks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • TSUGUNAI (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • REQUIEM (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Inheritance Detective(2025)

    Show 10 episodes · as Kengo Jidori

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Beside the Hearth at Alice-san's House (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 10 episodes · as Harunobu Moriyama

  • Like a Dragon: Yakuza(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sohei Dojima

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • 乱歩の幻影 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General(2024)

    as Shi Shi (Si Shi)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Ghosts Dream Selfish Dreams (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Smiling Matryoshka (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 11 episodes · as Yoshitaka Wadajima

  • Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown(2024)

    as Retsu Haruno (flashback)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Let's Go Karaoke!(2023)

    as Akira Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Lightning Over the Beyond (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Hikari (part 3)

  • Songs of Kamui (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Kingdom 3: The Flame of Destiny(2023)

    as Shi Shi (Si Shi)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Ultraman Blazar (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 25 episodes · as Retsu Haruno

  • One Second Ahead, One Second Behind (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Heibē Sumeragi

  • See Hear Love(2023)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Fixer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 5 episodes · as Takumi Ujihara

  • The Grandfather’s Clock (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • ナニワ金融道 3発目～大蛇市マネーウォーズ～ (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • ナニワ金融道 2発目〜銭と泪と権利と女〜 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Naniwa Kinyudo - Haibara knocks on the door of Imperial Finance! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Fool's Blues (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    as Daikon

  • The Rise and Fall of Park Avenue and the 10 Rooms (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Borderless Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Hotel: Next Door (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Shu Haoren

  • Kingdom 2: Far and Away(2022)

    as Si Shi

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Bad City(2022)

    as Kenji Hirayama

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Wall of the Eye (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 5 episodes · as Riichi Tamaru

  • Pandora's Fruit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Yasuo Sakakibara

  • The Honest Realtor(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Masaya Tsukishita

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • DCU (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Ichiro Kimi

  • Warship Boy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    as Genkai Sakamoto

  • Nishinari Goro's 400 Million Yen: Deadly Battle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    as Golgotha

  • High-Speed Parahero Gand-D (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Mysterious Man

  • Kareinaru ichizoku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Ichinose

  • Sakura (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Masao Mizoguchi

  • Dancing in her Dreams (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Kinoshita

  • Hope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Teranuma Toshitsugu

  • The Gun 2020 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Tomita

  • We Make Antiques! Kyoto Rendezvous (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Naoya Arashiyama

  • Sleep in the Shadows (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Kingdom(2019)

    as Shi Shi (Si Shi)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Okinawan Blue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • The Nikaidos' Fall (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Tatsuya Nikaido

  • Mampuku(2018)

    Show 151 episodes · as Kawakami Akira

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Overlord: Blood Genealogy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · as Yuki Kanamaru

  • Uta Monogatari: Cinema Fighters Project(2018)

    as Hanada (segment "Genkou no Hate")

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Angels in White (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kotaro Bansho

  • The Final Parting (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Yuji Uemura

  • High & Low: The Movie 2 - End of Sky(2017)

    as Ryuichiro Katsunari

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Yumeji: A Spurt of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as Hikino's Father

  • The Blue Hearts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as (segment “Be Kind To Others”)

  • Koto Nakazawa: The Beautiful Swordswoman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as Ryoma Sakamoto

  • Overlord: Bloodline of Misfortune II (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Yuki Kanamaru

  • Overlord: Bloodline of Misfortune (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Yuki Kanamaru

  • Re:Born(2016)

    as Defence Force Commander

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Sanada 10 Braves(2016)

    as Yukimura Sanada

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Karate Kill(2016)

    as Delivery Company Boss

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2016: Reflections (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Unrequited Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Zebra (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Shimauma

  • Terra Formars(2016)

    as Keisuke Dojima

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • テラフォーマーズ／新たなる希望 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Kaze no Tayori (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Osoi Shiawase (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as 重吉

  • Crime's Blank (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Manager · as Mitsuru Takayama

  • The Edge of Sin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Double Meaning: Chain Reaction (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • UNFAIR: the end (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kaoru Mikami

  • Women Does Not Allow That (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · as Yuji Katsuragi

  • FLARE (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Ensai Ymazaki

  • Jikan no Shûzoku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Shuichi Mineoka

  • Monster (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Double Meaning: Yes or No? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    as Kaoru Mikami

  • Double Meaning (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Kaoru Mikami

  • Unfair: The Answer(2011)

    as Kaoru Mikami

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Umizaru 3: The Last Message(2010)

    as Hiroshiichirou Sakuragi

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Shinjuku Incident(2009)

    as Toshinari Eguchi

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Je t'aime: I Am a Beast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Around 40 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 11 episodes · as Kazuya Kanasugi

  • Je t'aime: I Am a Beast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · as Koichiro Shindo

  • Vanishing Glow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Tajima

  • The Signs of Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Yoshiro Nakajima

  • UNFAIR: the movie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kaoru Mikami

  • Unfair: Code Breaking (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Primadam (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Kioshi Yamamoto

  • Unfair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Kaoru Mikami

  • The Files of Young Kindaichi: The Legendary Vampire Murders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Isamu Kenmochi

  • Older Sister (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 10 episodes · as Soichi Sawaki

  • The Last Supper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Doctor Yuji Kotorida

  • Yoshitsune (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 49 episodes · as Minamoto no Yoshitomo (Yoshitsune and Yoritomo's father)

  • Fighter in the Wind(2004)

    as Kato

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 39 episodes · as Raymond West (voice)

  • Prayer Beads (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Gozu(2003)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Samurai Resurrection(2003)

    as Araki Mataemon

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Man in White Part 2: Requiem for the Lion (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Moribe Azusa

  • The Man in White (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Azusa Moribe

  • Aragami (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Aragami

  • Okite (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Muscle Heat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Rai Kenjin

  • Stairway to Heaven (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Good Advice(2001)

    as Japanese Trader

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Prince Shotoku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Hatsusebe no miko

  • Prince Shōtoku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Emperor Sushun

  • Agitator (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Kunihiko

  • Women of the Night(2001)

    as Sato

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Brother(2000)

    as Shirase

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • School Day of the Dead (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Isamu Kurabayashi

  • Okinawa Rendez-vous (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Ken Sato

  • Drive: The Force Behind The Storm (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Interviewee

  • Mouichido Kisu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Naomi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Zankyo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Abunai Deka Forever The Movie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Date

  • Godzilla(1998)

    as Japanese Tanker Crew Member

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Drive(1997)

    as Advanced Model

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Vicious Circles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Morri

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Hachigatsu no Love Song (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • The Young Blood Typhoon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Crying Freeman(1995)

    as Ryuji Hanada

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Broken Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • The Seventh Floor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mitsuru

  • The Mystery of Rampo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Waiter at Hotel

  • Nobody (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Taki

  • Singapore Sling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • CrimeBroker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Jin Okazaki

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lu Chee

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Talking Head (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Yamashita

  • The Setting Sun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Kaya Tatsuma

  • Gekashitsu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Takamine

  • Check (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Ryuzo Kayama

  • Savage City: Angel Whisper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Like Madonna (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • 1750 Days of Turbulence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Balloon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • You'll Fall For Me (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Kyousuke Dazai

  • Tokyo: The Last War (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Yuko Nakamura

  • Four Days of Snow and Blood(1989)

    as Tadashi Sakai

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Seishun kazoku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 156 episodes · Actor

  • Crazy Boys (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Shiro and Marilyn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Daisuke Nakazato

  • Mysterious Pond (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 156 titles, 155 of them dated from 1988 to 2026; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

Umizaru 3: The Last Message (2010)

$99M worldwide

Highest rated

Let's Go Karaoke! (2023)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Brother (2000)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19882026

Peak 2002 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1995Screen debut· Crying Freeman
  • 2001First top-billed film· Agitator
  • 2001Breakout· Agitator

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting156 of 156: 156 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1980s6 · acting1990s25 · acting2000s35 · acting2010s36 · acting2020s53 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 6% of 17 roles
9505

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Masaya Katô's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 28; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Ultraman Blazar the Movie: Tokyo Kaiju Showdown (2024)

78th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Kingdom 4: Return of the Great General (2024)

Midcredits 90th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Masaya Katô's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 79 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Masaya Katô work with?

People who share at least 2 of Masaya Katô's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Katsumi Yanagijima shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers