**Kôji Yakusho (born 1956)** is an internationally acclaimed Japanese actor, known for his extraordinary versatility and profound intensity. His film career, which took off in the 1990s, has seen him star in a wide range of genres.

He gained global recognition with the dramedy **Shall We Dance?** (1996). Among his most iconic roles are his performance in the minimalist drama **Eureka** (2000), which was awarded at Cannes, and his role in the multi-award-winning **Babel** (2006). He has also garnered acclaim in action and historical films such as Takashi Miike's **13 Assassins** (2010) and Hirokazu Kore-eda's legal thriller **The Third Murder** (2017).

Yakusho is celebrated for his ability to embody complex characters, often ordinary men or enigmatic figures, with a naturalness and emotional subtlety that makes them exceptionally authentic. Recently, he received the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his poignant performance in Wim Wenders' film **Perfect Days** (2023).