Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1958-01-04
Yasuyuki Hirata
Yasuyuki Hirata (born January 4, 1958) is a veteran Japanese actor who has built a distinguished career spanning over five decades, primarily within the Chinese film and television industry. A native of Tokyo, Hirata is widely recognized as one of the most prolific Japanese "specialist actors" in China, often cast in high-stakes historical dramas. He made his significant Chinese debut in the landmark 2001 series The Way to the Republic (Zou Xiang Gong He), where he portrayed Ito Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan. Since then, he has appeared in numerous blockbuster productions, including the Keanu Reeves-directed martial arts film Man of Tai Chi (2013). In the 2025 historical epic 731 (also titled Evil Unbound), Hirata delivers what critics have called a "chilling and career-defining" performance as Shiro Ishii, the infamous commander of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Unit 731. Unlike previous portrayals that leaned into caricature, Hirata’s version of Ishii is noted for its "disturbing duality"—portraying the scientist as an outwardly refined and calm intellectual whose absolute lack of empathy allows for horrific atrocities. Hirata has used the film's press tour as a platform for reconciliation, publicly stating that Japan should offer a formal, Germany-style apology for its wartime crimes to help both nations move toward a more stable future.
Person History
731 (2025)
2025