Have you ever wondered if any Japanese actors or actresses have the same descent or heritage as you? Have you ever thought of how cool it would be if you shared the same heritage as your favorite actor or actress? I've had the same question.
Since I am of a Filipino descent, I've been a bit curious to know if there are Japanese actors or actresses with Filipino descent just like me. So here I am now, after a bit of research, presenting a list of five (5) Japanese actors and actresses with Filipino heritage or descent!
Mokomichi Hayami
Name: Mokomichi Hayami
Japanese: 速水もこみち (はや み もこみち)
Born: August 10, 1984
Birthplace: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Height: 186cm
Blood Type: B
Talent Agency: Ken-On
Heritage: Japanese father and Filipino mother
Some Dramas and/or Movies he's known for:
Zettai Kareshi - He plays "Night Tenjo", the perfect male humanoid programmed to be devoted and completely loyal to his lover.
Hammer Session - Here, he is a con artist who cheats money from criminals or terrorists named Otowa Yonko, who eventually becomes Hachisuka Goro (a teacher) accidentally.
From 5 to 9 - Here, he plays a supporting role, Kimura Arthur, a very cool character. He shows off his English speaking capabilities.
Gokusen 2 - He gave life to one of Yankumi's 3D students, Tsuchiya Hikaru. A tough guy on the outside but a softie on the inside.
Additional Info:
Moko is also a great chef and has published multiple high-selling cookbooks in Japan.
Elaiza Ikeda
Name: Elaiza Ikeda
Japanese: 池田エライザ
Born: April 16, 1996
Birthplace: Philippines
Hometown: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, Japan
Height: 169cm.
Blood Type: B
Twitter: elaiza_ikd
Instagram: elaiza_ikd
Heritage: Father is Japanese and her mother is a Filipina of Spanish descent.
Some Dramas and/or Movies she's known for:
She played a few supporting roles for the movies ReLife, Wolf Girl, and Black Prince.
- She also got a lead role in Bow and Kiss, a 2017 movie. She plays An Kishimoto, a student devoted to archery.
Additional Info:
She began modeling in 2009 after winning the "Grand Prize Nicola Model Audition 2009.
Maryjun Takahashi
Name: Maryjun Takahashi
Japanese: 高橋メアリージュン
Born: November 8, 1987
Birthplace: Shiga, Japan
Height: 169cm
Blood Type: A
Talent Agency: Asia Promotion
Family: Yu Takahashi (younger sister)
Twitter: @Mjtaka1108
Blog: Maryjun
Heritage: Japanese father and a Filipino mother
Some Dramas and/or Movies she's known for:
She played a role in Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno as Yumi Komagata, Shishio's lover. Her first lead role was in the drama Tokyo Alice where she played Sakuragawa Rio.
Additional Info:
She began modeling in August 2003 after winning the "Yokohama Shonan Audition 2003" beauty contest, and professionally in April 2004 when she signed a contract with CanCam.
Sayaka Akimoto
Name: Sayaka Akimoto
Japanese: 秋元才加 (あきもと さやか)
Born: July 26, 1988
Birthplace: Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Height: 166 cm.
Blood Type: B
Facebook: flave0726
Twitter: akimotooo726
Blog: akimotoo0726
Fan Club: Area S
Heritage: Japanese father and a Filipino mother
Some Dramas and/or Movies she's known for:
She played Sonoko in the drama Meitantei Conan in 2011.
She also played the main character, Bikuu, a Makai Priestess, in Bikuu.
Additional Info:
In 2012, she ran the Tokyo Marathon for the second year in a row and she donated the money she won to the Philippines.
She also has solo book of photographs titled Ari no Mama.
Alan Shirahama
Name: Alan Shirahama
Japanese: 白濱亜嵐
Born: August 4, 1993
Birthplace: Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Height: 173 cm.
Blood Type: A
Facebook: GENERATIONS.official, EXILE.jp
Instagram: alan_shirahama_official
Heritage: Japanese father and a Filipino mother
Some Dramas and/or Movies he's known for:
In Daytime Shooting Star, he played the role of Mamura Daiki, a student who competed with a Sensei for the love of Suzume.
Additional Info:
Shirahama was one of five people who passed the final audition to join Exile as performers, making him a current member of both Exile and Generations.
Bonus:
Megumi Nakajima
Full name: Megumi Nakajima
Japanese: 中島 愛
Birthplace: Ibaraki, Japan
Born: June 05, 1989
Heritage: Japanese father and a Filipino mother
She is a voice actress and singer affiliated with E-Stone Music. She has been a seiyu since 2008 and has worked on multiple projects including voicing anime, movies, and video games (roughly around 40 projects).
She also released three albums named "I love you", "Be with You", and "Thank You".
Bonus:
Emi Watanabe
Full name: Emi Kathleen Watanabe
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Born: August 27, 1959
Heritage: Japanese father and a Filipino mother
She is the 1979 World bronze medalist and an eight-time Japanese ice skating national champion. She was the first skater to win a medal for Japan in the ladies' singles at the World Championships. One of her performances can be seen in this YT video.