Have you ever caught a glimpse of a photo of an actor or idol from the Showa era and felt your heart skip a beat? Precisely because we’re living in the Reiwa era, the unique allure and refined features of handsome men from the Showa period are back in the spotlight.
Their shadowy expressions captured on film and fashion that feels distinctly different from today combine to captivate hearts with their cool charm.
In this feature, we’ll dive deep into the appeal of those dashing Showa-era men.
You’re sure to find a new favorite, so please enjoy it to the very end!
- Actors of the Showa era who performed countless iconic scenes. Introducing the legendary masters of the craft.
- Showa beauties etched in memory. Stunningly beautiful actresses and singers from the Showa era who radiate an overwhelming presence.
- Who is your favorite idol? Popular idols from the Showa era.
- List of popular Showa-era actresses that bring back memories: introducing iconic stars who evoke nostalgia
- A hugely popular star who colored the Showa era, known by everyone.
- The nostalgic world of Showa-era films. Revisiting masterpieces that linger in the heart.
- Recommended love songs for people in their 80s: A collection of classic love songs that colored the Showa era
- List of Showa-era variety idols: idols who were active in singing and variety shows
- [Nostalgic Showa Fashion] The changing trends that feel both nostalgic and fresh
- Recommended love songs for people in their 90s: A collection of classic Shōwa-era romance songs
- [Timeless and Unfading] Ah, the Youthful Singers of the Showa Era
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for men in their 80s: Showa-era classics to perform at karaoke
- [Karaoke] Recommended Songs for Men in Their 80s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics You’ll Want to Belt Out
Introducing handsome Showa-era actors and singers: legendary stars still talked about today (1–10)
Kinya Kitaoji
Actor Kinya Kitaoji, whose father was Utaemon Ichikawa—known as a star of period dramas—is recognized for his roles in works such as “Sanya Seizaemon Zannichiroku,” the “Zenigata Heiji” series, and “Hanzawa Naoki.” He is also, in fact, the voice of the dog father in SoftBank’s “Shirato Family” commercials.
He received the Medal with Ribbon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2015 and the Shozo Makino Award in 2020.
He met his wife when he was 15 and married her 13 years later.
As this devoted story suggests, he is also known as a loving husband.
Tsuyoshi Kato
Go Kato, who appeared in numerous films, TV dramas, and stage productions, earned widespread popularity.
True to his image as a classic, handsome leading man with refined features, he was known for not smoking, not drinking, and having no ties to gambling.
He was also said to have a good marital relationship with his wife, actress Makiko Ito, and a harmonious family life.
His role as Tadasuke Ooka in his signature work Ooka Echizen was a perfect casting for his image.
Because he approached his roles with strict dedication and sincerity, he continues to be loved as an actor who moves the hearts of many.
Masakazu Tamura
Masakazu Tamura, the son of film actor Tsumasaburō Bandō, followed the same path into acting as his older brother Takahiro Tamura and his younger brother Ryō Tamura, making his film debut in 1961.
His signature role was the period drama character Nemuri Kyōshirō—a “role of a lifetime” that he continued to play from his twenties into his seventies.
The original author, Renzaburō Shibata, is said to have praised Tamura’s bewitching presence, declaring, “He is Kyōshirō himself.” He also played a detective in the drama Assistant Inspector Furuhata Ninzaburō, who corners criminals with a distinctive demeanor and deft rhetoric.
When you think of Tamura, you can’t help but picture Furuhata Ninzaburō.
Kunihiko Mitamura
He made his debut with “Almost Transparent Blue” and appeared in popular productions such as the Hissatsu series and Taiyō ni Hoero!.
In addition to contributing insert songs for Hissatsu Shigotonin, he has released numerous works as a singer.
Kunihiko Mitamura’s travel show Otona Tabi Aruki Tabi, in which he strolls through towns with a partner, celebrated its 800th broadcast in 2025.
He’s also known for his love of alcohol, which is one of the highlights of the show.
His delicious-looking way of drinking has become a hot topic, and it seems that even when he wants to cut back, it doesn’t quite go as planned!
Toshiro Mifune
Toshiro Mifune, a Shōwa-era superstar who represented postwar Japanese cinema and was internationally acclaimed as “Mifune of the World.” He made his film debut in 1947 as a member of Toho’s first class of New Faces.
He went on to star in 15 films in partnership with director Akira Kurosawa, including Drunken Angel, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Red Beard.
With his well-defined features, thick eyebrows, slightly drooping eyes, and, for a Japanese man of the time, tall stature, he truly exemplified the archetypal handsome man.
Tatsuya Nakadai
Tatsuya Nakadai is a “classically trained yet monstrous” master actor who supported the golden age of Showa-era cinema.
Beyond his handsome features, his piercing gaze—so intense it verged on madness in his early role in The Human Condition—and the charismatic cool of evil he exuded in Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and Sanjuro overwhelmed film fans of the time.
His depth in playing not only orthodox leading men but also nihilistic villains and the pathos-laden role in Kurosawa’s Kagemusha epitomizes the allure characteristic of Showa-era stars.
Yusaku Matsuda
Yusaku Matsuda, a legendary actor of the Showa era, continues to influence countless fans and actors with his towering height of over 180 cm, the “glittering radiance” in his piercing gaze, his overwhelming charisma, and his uncompromising approach to roles.
His appeal lies in a “coolness of pure presence” that goes beyond mere good looks.
In his iconic drama “Taiyo ni Hoero!” he delivered the famous line “What the hell is this?!” in his death scene, while in the drama “Detective Story” he rode a Vespa as the witty, lighthearted detective Shunsaku Kudo.
The way his hard-boiled toughness coexists with an endearingly goofy charm makes him the very definition of an ikemen—an irresistibly cool, handsome man.