Yuya Yagira (柳楽 優弥, Yagira Yūya, born March 26, 1990) is a Japanese actor. In 2004, he became the youngest winner of the Best Actor award[1] in the history of the Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of 12-year-old Akira in the highly acclaimed Nobody Knows.[2]

Yūya Yagira
柳楽 優弥
Yagira at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2022
Born (1990-03-26) March 26, 1990 (age 34)
OccupationActor
Years active2003–present
AgentStardust Promotion
SpouseEllie Toyota

Career

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Yagira was 12 years old and not a professional actor, when filming began for Nobody Knows in 2002.[3] He then immediately went on to television projects and other films. He co-starred with Eriko Sato in Akane Yamada's All to the Sea which was released in 2010[4] and co-starred with Kie Kitano in Taro Hyugaji's Under the Nagasaki Sky, released in 2013.[5]

In 2021, Yagira played young Takeshi Kitano in the biopic Asakusa Kid.

Personal life

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Yagira was hospitalized on August 29, 2008 for a drug overdose, with early reports calling it a suicide attempt.[6][7] Yagira later denied that he had been trying to kill himself, noting that he was the one who called an ambulance after he began feeling ill from taking the pills.  According to his blog:

"The incident followed an argument with my family. In a fit of anger I took a larger than usual dosage of my prescription tranquilizers.
As a result I felt ill and asked for an ambulance to be called."[6]

— Japan Zone 1 September 2008

On January 15, 2010, Yuya Yagira married TV personality Ellie Toyota at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine. They had registered their marriage on January 14.[8] They have a child together.[9]

Brand endorsements

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In 2018, Yagira became the brand ambassador for Japanese men's grooming brand GATSBY.[10] He starred in the TV Commercial "GATSBY Cop", together with popular Japanese actor Mackenyu Arata.

Filmography

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Television

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Film

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Japanese teenager wins best actor award at Cannes". The Japan Times. 24 May 2004.
  2. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (5 November 2004). "Nobody Knows - Reviews - guardian.co.uk". The Guardian.
  3. ^ King, Susan (9 February 2005). "Hidden neglect brought to light". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  4. ^ Schilling, Mark (22 January 2010). "Subete wa Umi ni Naru". The Japan Times.
  5. ^ Young, Deborah (23 June 2013). "Under the Nagasaki Sky (Nagasaki no sora): Shanghai Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ a b "Yagira Yuya Denies Suicide Attempt". Japan Zone - Entertainment. Japan Zone. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Yuuya Yagira Denies Alleged Suicide Attempt Reports". Anime News Network. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  8. ^ "Yagira Yuya, Ellie Toyota Wed". Japan Zone - Entertainment News. Japan Zone. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  9. ^ Di Placido, Dani. "Yuya Yagira Talks Gut-Churning Series 'Gannibal'". Forbes. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  10. ^ "GATSBY's Campaign Video & CM Wins Prizes in Three Categories at ADFEST 2019" (PDF). Mandom Corporation Japan. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  11. ^ ミッドナイト☆ドラマ「TOKYO23 ~サバイバルシティ」|WOWOWオンライン (in Japanese). WOWOW INC. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  12. ^ "Episode 5 on Official website" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  13. ^ "Galileo Official website" (in Japanese). Fuji Television Network, Inc. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  14. ^ "College Life Manga Aoi Honō Gets Live-Action Show". Anime News Network. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  15. ^ 「信長協奏曲」に藤木直人、濱田岳、夏帆、柳楽優弥ら 総勢11名の豪華キャスト発表! (in Japanese). IID Inc. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  16. ^ "Masshiro Official website" (in Japanese). Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  17. ^ "Mare Official website" (in Japanese). NHK. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  18. ^ a b "「ゆとりですがなにか」まさかの映画化! 岡田将生×松坂桃李×柳楽優弥、再結集". eiga.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "有村架純の妄想のオフを"のぞき見" 『撮休』ドラマ場面カット解禁". Crank-in!. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  20. ^ "Pay to Ace". Nippon TV. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  21. ^ "柳楽優弥と「岬の兄妹」の片山慎三がタッグ、「ガンニバル」ディズニープラスでドラマ化". Natalie. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  22. ^ "ライオンの隠れ家の出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  23. ^ "大泉洋&柳楽優弥が共演 劇団ひとり監督脚本のNetflix映画『浅草キッド』". Cinra.net. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "さかなのこ". eiga.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  25. ^ "夏目アラタの結婚". eiga.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  26. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Nobody Knows". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  27. ^ "山田裕貴・川口春奈・広瀬アリスらが新人賞「2022年 エランドール賞」発表<受賞一覧>". Model Press. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
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