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Ken'ichi Yajima

Ken'ichi Yajima

Actor · Born March 1, 1956 (70) · Gifu, Japan

Ken'ichi Yajima was born on 1 March 1956 in Gifu, Japan. He is an actor, known for Sonatine (1993), Fireworks (1997) and Shin Godzilla (2016).

Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 1, 1956 (70)
From
Gifu, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
22 on MovieCove · 148 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 5% in 30 days

What are Ken'ichi Yajima's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove 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
37%
Self
22%
Survival
19%
Ideas
7%
Society
7%
Bonds
3%
Power
3%
Justice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
4
Tense
4
Contemplative
3
Warm
3
Dread
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Bittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Ken'ichi Yajima's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 22 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken'ichi Yajima's titles on MovieCove; 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

148 credits, 22 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Specials(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Samurai Fury(2025)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

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

    Show 11 episodes · as Ikuo Morohashi

  • Sun Expo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Director Kirishima

  • Kubi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Todakatsu Honda

  • When a Couple Breaks Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Galapagos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Lines That Define Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Museum director

  • Prism (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Morishita Sakuji

  • Wagemon: Nagasaki Tsuyaku Ibun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Shiroi Dakuryu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • The Blood of Wolves II(2021)

    as Keiji Tomotake

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Tokkai: Furyousaiken Tokubetsu Kaishubu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Iwanaga Hisashi

  • 必殺仕事人2020 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Fukushima 50(2020)

    as Director of Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Mampuku(2018)

    Show 151 episodes · as Yano Ryoji

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Killing for the Prosecution(2018)

    as Susumu Takashima

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • dele (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Recall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Toshiaki Manabe

  • My Friend "A" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Director Murakami

  • The Blood of Wolves(2018)

    as Keiji Tomotake

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Manhunt(2017)

    as Yasutake Doto

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Detective Hedgehog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Katagiri

  • Reminiscence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Hokuto: Some Murderer's Conversion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • A Family Goes Job Hunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 9 episodes · as Toru Haraguchi

  • Kenji no Honkai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Shin Godzilla(2016)

    as Yanagihara : Minister of land, infrastructure and transportation

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • A Duel Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kurokawa

  • The Land of Rain Trees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kenjiro Hitomi

  • しんがり〜山一證券 最後の聖戦〜 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mikio Nakanishi

  • Keisei Saimin no Otoko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Satoshi Hiraga

  • The Emperor in August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Naidaijin Kōichi Kido

  • Seven Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Masayoshi Okada

  • Detective versus Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 11 episodes · as Sasaki Katsunori

  • Flying Colors(2015)

    as High School Principal

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen(2015)

    as Hojo

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Stock Price Crash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as Yuuichi Kawashima

  • A Samurai Chronicle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • A Sinner's Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as Nobuhiro Tajima

  • Tsuyoki ari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Tokusou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as Fujio Yamashita

  • Team - Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Special Crime Investigation Headquarter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • LINK (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Kagi no nai Yume wo Miru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • 七つの会議 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · as 河上省造

  • Kaibutsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Detective in the Bar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Baseball man

  • Nanase, Telepathy Girl's Ballad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Madame Butterfly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Goda Hanbee

  • DOCTORS: The Ultimate Surgeon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Tadayuki Kitajima

  • Shikei Kijun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Goro Takaishi

  • Jiu: Special Investigation Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 9 episodes · as Nishiwaki

  • Shin Jidan Koshonin Ura File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Kunihiko Iwaki

  • Sword of Desperation(2010)

    as Magochiyo Yabe

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • 300 Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Steel Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Kokô no mesu(2010)

    as Saburo Murakami

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Absolute Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Yasuyuki Koga

  • Kobe Shinbun no Nanokakan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Norimoto Nagatomi

  • The Laughing Policeman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Tadao Asano

  • Inpei Shirei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Takashi Shiina

  • 再生の町 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as 미츠노 카즈시

  • Kidnapping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Kanikôsen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • The Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Rescue: Pride of Orange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 9 episodes · as Honma Masahiko

  • Reset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

  • The Clone Returns Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Sasagawa

  • One Million Yen Girl(2008)

    as Suzuko & Takuya's Father

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Climber's High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Masashi Moriya

  • Gonzo: The Legendary Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Uzue

  • Atsuhime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 50 episodes · Actor

  • That Idiot Swan: A Romance on a 30,000-Yen Allowance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 10 episodes · as Masanori Takamiya

  • Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 11 episodes · as Masashi Iwaki

  • Our Textbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 12 episodes · as Judge

  • Hagetaka: Road to Rebirth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • I Just Didn't Do It(2006)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Akechi Mitsuhide: The Man God Hated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kazumasu Takigawa

  • Chosyu Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Strawberry Shortcakes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Osaki

  • Sinking of Japan(2006)

    as Minister for Foreign Affairs

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Top Caster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Takao Kakutaka

  • 女王の教室スペシャル エピソード2 ~悪魔降臨~ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as 宮内 雅臣

  • Star Reformer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Yasuo Kitamura

  • Moyuru Toki: The Excellent Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Hyōheki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Teruhiko Matsumoto

  • The Ice Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • 夜王 〜YAOH〜 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Atsushi Sasaki

  • Furuhata Ninzaburo The Resurrection Of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Detective Office 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Haru and Natsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ooda

  • Detective Office 5: Another Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Locksmith

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

    as Kaoru Yasuike

  • The Suspect: Muroi Shinji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as 菅野部長

  • Aegis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Kôshônin: Mashita Masayoshi(2005)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Black Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • RUNAWAY (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • To the One I Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 11 episodes · as Yukihiko Ogasawara

  • Paato-taimu tantei 2(2004)

    as Keiichi Toritani

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Okashina Keiji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Kao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 11 episodes · as Ken Kameda（亀田 賢）

  • Sky High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cross of Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mr. Konishi

  • AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Music of Remembrance -Gb- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Orihara

  • The Choice of Hercules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Handoku!!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Onmyoji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Fujiwara no Morosuke

  • Neverland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • I Wanna Fall in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Inugami(2001)

    as Michio Bonomiya

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • As Tears Go By (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 11 episodes · as Takahashi

  • Trick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Senrigan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Keizoku: Unsolved Mysteries - Beautiful Dreamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • One Step on a Mine, It's All Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Matsuyama

  • Cash Hunt: The Last Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Jubaku: Spellbound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Takuya Ishii

  • Gemini(1999)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Keizoku: Unsolved Cases (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 11 episodes · as Seiichi Hayashida

  • Emergency Room 24 Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Shomuni (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as [Lawyer]

  • Tokugawa Yoshinobu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 49 episodes · Actor

  • Fireworks(1997)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Wild Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • XX: Graceful Beautiful Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Shin Mokuyou no Kaidan: Cyborg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Lend Me Your Wings! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • The 15 Year Old Bride to Be (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Two-Headed Devil - Who is the True Culprit? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Kamikaze Taxi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Ishida

  • Level (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Furuhata Ninzaburo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Ichiro Suzuki's Manager

  • Warrior's Justice 2: Full Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Sonatine(1993)

    as Takahashi

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Mahjong Madness : 10 Years Early! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Tuff Part V - Killing Anthology (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Tuff Part IV - Harvest of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Tuff Part III - Business Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Tuff Part II - Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Tuff Part I - Origin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The Ginger Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Nobushige Ozaki

  • Sapporo Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Tanaka

  • Afternoon of the Evil Spirits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Precious Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 14 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Flying Colors (2015)

$29M worldwide

Highest rated

Fireworks (1997)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

19812026

Peak 2016 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1993Screen debut· Sonatine

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting148 of 148: 148 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1980s4 · acting1990s27 · acting2000s57 · acting2010s45 · acting2020s15 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
930313

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 MovieCove, 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 Ken'ichi Yajima's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 22 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th7

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 22 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Paato-taimu tantei 2 (2004)

97th percentile spread · 55% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Fireworks (1997)

Midcredits 96th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 MovieCove 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.

Who does Ken'ichi Yajima work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken'ichi Yajima's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ren Ōsugi shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles