1996

<TV Series>  “Hideyoshi”  (Japan)
Broadcaster:  NHK  (Year-round historical drama series)
His role:  Mitsunari Ishida  (supporting role, Hideyoshi’s close staff , actual historical figure)

The life story of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a hero in 15^th century Japan.  Mitsunari Ishida is a young staff of Hideyoshi, and is an important role in the latter half of the story.

1995

<Movie>  Emergency Doctor  (Japan, “Kikyu Yobidashi - Emergency Call”)
Director:  Kazuki Omori
His role:  Hideyuki Harada  (main role, Japanese doctor in Philippines)

Everyone keeps asking Harada, "why do you work as a doctor in the Phillipines, not in Japan?," but he never answers to that question.  In fact, he keeps asking the same question to himself, while working at the emergency room in a state hospital near the largest slum in Asia.  It is not a simple "hero story of a hero doctor", but rather a story of the struggling young soul in front of the harsh realities.

The lines are 90% English.  You can clearly see that he can express the character's complex emotions so well even in English language!!  He also looks fabulous and smooth when practicing the doctor's work!!

1995

<Movie>  Sharaku  (Japan)
Director:  Masahiro Shinoda
His role:  Tonbo a/k/a Toshusai Sharaku (main role, legendary Ukiyoe artist, actual historical figure)

Sharaku’s works are arguably the best known world-wide among the Ukiyoe prints, but his real profile is still not known to this day.  This movie portrays one of the theories, that Sharaku used to be an actor himself, with colorful mid-Edo culture such as Kabuki theater, Yoshiwara geishas and other famous Ukiyoe artists as a background.  Hiro received several awards in Japan for this movie, and the movie made an entry at Cannes Film Festival.  Hiro shows off his acrobatic moves and Japanese dance background in this movie, and his signature eye performance is again the high point of this movie.

Interactive Review

1995

<Movie>  East Meets West (Japan)
Director:  Kihachi Okamoto
His role:  Kenkichi Kamijo  (main role)

Late Kihachi Okamoto loved Western cowboy movies, and this is his own version of "Samurai Western", with Sanada-san as a traditional samurai and Naoto Takenaka as an outdated ninja.  They chase the gang who stole money from the Japanese government mission, and try to help the revenge of a boy whose father was killed by the gang.  Off-the-wall story and many interesting elements, utilizing the similarities between Western and Samurai movies, are blended together with Okamoto-style humor and pathos.  Rarely-seen Sanada-san's cowboy style with samurai sword is REALLY cool

1995

<TV one-time>  “Abe Ichizoku”  (Japan) [Literal translation:  Abe Clan]
Director:  Kinji Fukasaku
His role:  Matashichiro Emoto (supporting role, neighbor samurai of Abe clan)

Based on the classic literature by Ogai Mori.  A tragic story of a samurai clan in the 17^th century.  “Movie grade” drama by Hiro’s frequent partners Director Fukasaku and Koichi Sato as the main role.  Hiro plays relatively small but important role, and you can see his samurai actions here.

1995

<Theater>  Hamlet  (Japan)
Director:  Yukio Ninagawa
His role:  Hamlet  (main role)

This Japanese language version of Hamlet is fueled by Ninagawa's creativity, and Hiro's Hamlet is so gorgeous, mad and sad. The production is considered simple and straight forward, with the surprising stage sets of two-storied dressing-rooms-turn-into-the-background and the big stairs. And of course, the sword action is in the final scene is uniquely Sanada-tic. It is re-run in 1998 and Hiro eventually made a way to RSC.

Broadcaster: Fuji TV

His role: Eiji (main role, bank robber on the run)

One of the omnibus stories on the Christmas Eve theme. Eiji and his lover rob a bank and hide in an abandoned bakery on Christmas Eve. Two orphans come to buy a Christmas cake that they believe will bring the miracle.   And like a miracle, those bank robbers try to make their dream come true.  Gloomy faced Sanada-san looks really cool and sexy, and at the end after they get arrested, he finally shows a relieved happy smile - he gets a miracle Christmas present.

1994

<Movie>  Hero Interview (Japan)
Director:  Michio Yoneno
His role:  Jinta Todoroki (main role, pro baseball player in a slump, divorced with a young daughter)

Love comedy between a struggling baseball player and an elite female reporter.  It is a typical case of “Beauty and the Beast” (in this case, the beast is even more beautiful, though), and you can predict the ending within 5 minutes from the beginning.  The scenario written by Shinji Nojima, the writer of the modern-day tragedy “Koko Kyoshi (High School Teacher)”, however, is not as sweet as you may think.  Two notables:  (1) When Jinta's daughter (cute Yumi Adachi) appears on the screen, she steals the whole show.  (2) Close-up slow motion of Jinta's naked upper body when he practices his swings and his usual EYE beams when he gets serious in the batter box are simply irresistible.

1994

<Movie>  Uneasy Encounters (Japan, “Kowagaru Hitobito”)
Director:  Makoto Wada
His role:  Man in a box (main role)

1993

<Movie>  “Nemuranai Machi - Shinjuku Zame”  (Japan)
[Literal translation:  Sleepless City - Shinjuku Shark]
Director:  Yojiro Takita
His role:  Detective Samejima (main role, lone-wolf detective in Shinjuku Police)

Detective action drama based on a popular hard-boiled novel by Arimasa Osawa.  Hiro was nominated in the Best Actor category in Japanese Academy Awards in 1994 for this movie and “We Are Not Alone”.  This movie is popular among Sanada fans, partly because of the generous amount of provocative scenes, and supporting actors’ great performance should also be noted.

Interactive Review

1993

<Movie>  We Are Not Alone  (Japan, a/k/a/ "Made in Japan", “Bokura wa Minna Ikite Iru”)
Director:  Yojiro Takita
His role:  Keiichi Takahashi (main role)

Part serious, part funny, part sarcastic story of a team of Japanese businessmen, who encounter a coup in a developing country.  The struggle reveals the real nature of each man, ugliness of Japanese businessmen in this boom era, and ultimately the pride that resides deep inside of them.

Interactive Review

1993

<TV Series>  High School Teacher (Japan, “Koko Kyoshi”)
Broadcaster:  TBS
His role:  Takao Hamura (main role, high school teacher)

Epoch-making TV drama, about pure love between a teacher and a student, surrounded by various social taboos.  The drama was highly controversial at the time on-air, and still is a heavy favorite among Sanada fans.

Interactive Review