Japanese Literary Awards

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Masachika Ichimura

いちむら まさちか

Ichimura Masachika

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1949-01-28 （Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
actor, voice actor
Active Years
1973-
Affiliations
Horipro, Shiki Theatre Company (former)
Influenced By
Osamu Takizawa, Akira Nishimura, Yukio Ninagawa
Influenced
Yuta Ichimura (son)

Education

Kawagoe Municipal Kawagoe High School
Country: Japan
Butai Geijutsu Gakuin (Stage Arts Academy)
Country: Japan

Awards

Golden Arrow Award — Theatre Prize
1980
Work: The Seagull / The Elephant Man
Organization: Golden Arrow Committee
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize by the Minister of Education (Newcomer)
1983
Work: Yuridis / Equus
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Result: 受賞
Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award — Grand Prize
1992
Work: Miss Saigon
Organization: Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award Committee
Result: 大賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2007
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
2019
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Yomiuri Theatre Awards (Outstanding Actor / Best Actor etc.)
2002
Work: The Legend of 1900 / Mozart!
Organization: Yomiuri Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Art Award
2024
Work: Sweeney Todd / Mozart!
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Matsuo Performing Arts Award — Grand Prize
2023
Organization: Matsuo Arts Award Committee
Result: 大賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Phantom of the Opera (stage)

1988 musical

One of the representative musicals performed since his Shiki Theatre Company days. Ichimura became widely known for playing the Phantom.

lovelonelinesstheatrical performance

Miss Saigon (stage)

1992 musical

A major commercial musical in which he played a principal role in the Japanese production, enhancing his reputation in theatre.

war and lovesacrifice

Thermae Romae (film)

2012 film (comedy)

A film in which he played Emperor Hadrian, demonstrating his presence in screen works as well.

period elementscultural clash
Adaptations
  • [film] Thermae Romae (2012)

Mewtwo (animation / voice role)

1998 theatrical animation / voice acting

Representative voice roles in theatrical animation and TV, including Mewtwo in Pokémon films.

sci-fiidentity

Ikiru (stage)

2018 theatre

A stage production based on Akira Kurosawa's film; one of his major recent theatre roles.

life and deathhuman dignity

Bibliography

  • My Body Thinks
  • Watercress Beside the Steak
  • There's No Finer Trade Than Being an Actor

Adaptations

  • Thermae Romae (film adaptation)
  • 13 Assassins (film appearance)
  • The Floating Castle (film appearance)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
powerful delivery and weighty expressionstrong singing ability in musicals
Recurring Motifs
portrayals of historical figureschallenge of musical worksdepictions of fatherhood and loneliness

Health

  • stomach cancer (early stage)
    2014
    Temporarily withdrew from performances in 2014 for treatment, returned later that year.
  • right knee meniscus injury
    2015
    Underwent surgery after performances and continued activities.

Legacy

One of Japan's representative musical and stage actors. Widely respected for long-term achievements across theatre, film and voice acting, and for numerous awards and honors.

Academic Societies

  • Iwatani Tokiko Music & Culture Promotion Foundation — Councilor

In Popular Culture

  • Kohaku Uta Gassen appearance (1989)
  • Voice of Mewtwo in Pokémon

Trivia

  • His full-nude performance in Equus drew public attention.
  • A former Shiki Theatre Company member who became one of its leading actors in the 1980s.
  • His eldest son, Yuta Ichimura, is also an actor and has co-starred with him on stage.