Ken Watanabe (1959) is an internationally acclaimed Japanese actor, renowned for his ability to portray characters of great dignity and intensity. He achieved global recognition with *The Last Samurai* (2003), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, portraying the charismatic samurai Katsumoto.

His international career includes significant roles in highly successful films, often as an authoritative figure or mentor. Among his most important works are *Memoirs of a Geisha* (2005), Clint Eastwood's *Letters from Iwo Jima* (2006), where he played General Kuribayashi, and Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller *Inception* (2010). He also played a central role in the *Godzilla* franchise (2014, 2019) as Dr. Ishirō Serizawa.

Watanabe is known for his imposing presence and gravitas, often portraying characters who are wise, principled, and possess strong leadership qualities, capable of expressing both strength and profound humanity.