is a Japanese actor. Internationally, he is best known for his leading roles as Shuya Nanahara in the Battle Royale films, Light Yagami in the Death Note films, Kaiji Itō in the Kaiji films, and Rikuhiko Yuki in Hideo Nakata's The Incite Mill. In 2014, he portrayed the villain Shishio Makoto in the live action Rurouni Kenshin films.
Early life Born in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Fujiwara has had an interest in acting from a young age. In 2013, he married his long-term girlfriend. In the summer of 2016, they became parents. The name and gender of their child is unknown.
Career
He is famous for acting the part of Shuya Nanahara in Kinji Fukasaku's controversial 2000 film Battle Royale. He continues the character as a leader of the "Wild Seven" in the sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem.
He stars as Light Yagami, the leading role in Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name, films based on the manga of the same name. He also has a cameo appearance in L: Change the World, an L spin-off movie for the Death Note series. Fujiwara stated during filming that it was difficult to portray a character with such restrained emotions. During the filming of Death Note: The Last Name, Tatsuya became close friends with Kenichi Matsuyama, who plays L. Matsuyama mentioned that Tatsuya had done a good job.
In theatrical works, he is known for collaborating with Yukio Ninagawa, one of the most influential directors in Japan. He started his career in theatre, before his screen debut, with the title role of Shintoku-maru, the boy who has an obsessive relationship with his step mother. He has also acted in Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. Fujiwara played one of the lead roles in Hideo Nakata's psychological thriller film The Incite Mill. Fujiwara has also done voice dubbing for IRIS along with Meisa Kuroki, Yuu Shirota and his Death Note co-star Hikari Mitsushima when Fujiwara plays Kim Hyun-jun played by Lee Byung-hun
He portrayed the role of Shishio Makoto in the sequels of Rurouni Kenshin in 2014. From January to February 2015, he will appear in Hamlet directed by Yukio Ninagawa at Sai-no-Kuni Saitama Arts Theater in Saitama and at Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka for the first time in 12 years. After that, he is scheduled to play the role in Taiwan in March and at Barbican Theatre in May 2015.藤原竜也、12年ぶり主役で挑む「ハムレット」 英国でも公演 「のるかそるか大勝負」Barbican - Ninagawa Company : Hamlet
Hidayah Idris wrote in 2016 in the Singapore edition of the magazine Cleo that Fujiwara is "probably one of the most recognisable Japanese stars" in Singapore.
He appeared on the talk show Tetsuko's Room (TBS/TV Asahi) on 11 April 2025, where he discussed aspects of his life including his childhood dream of being a professional soccer player and his wife's role in the household.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2000Kamen Gakuen Akira DojimaLead roleBattle RoyaleShuya NanaharaLead role2002SabuEijiLead role2003Battle Royale II: Requiem Shuya Nanahara2004Moonlight JellyfishSeiji TerasawaLead role2006Death NoteLight YagamiLead roleDeath Note 2: The Last NameLight YagamiLead role2008L: Change the World Light YagamiCameoChameleonGorō NodaLead roleSnakes and EarringsCameo2009ZenHojo TokiyoriBatonCipherVoice roleKaijiKaiji ItōLead roleParadeNaoki IharaLead role2010The Incite MillLead roleYou Dance With The Summer Shiro TakakiArriettySpillerVoice role2011Kaiji 2Kaiji ItōLead role2012Okaeri HayabusaKento OhashiLead roleI'm Flash!Lead role2013Wara no TateKunihide Kiyomaru2014In His Chart 2Dr. Tatsuya ShindoSanbun no IchiShuLead roleMonsterzLead roleRurouni Kenshin: Kyoto InfernoShishio MakotoRurouni Kenshin: The Legend EndsShishio Makoto2015ST 'Scientific Task Force' Aka to Shiro no Sosa File - The Movie Lead rolePokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of AgesBarzaVoice role2016ErasedSatoru Fujinuma Lead roleDeath Note: Light Up the New WorldLight Yagami2017Memoirs of a MurdererSonezakiLead role2018Million Dollar ManThe Miracle of Crybaby Shottan2019DinerLead roleNo Longer HumanAngo SakaguchiLupin III: The FirstGerardVoice role2020Kaiji: Final GameKaiji ItōLead role2021The Sun Stands StillKazuhiko TakanoLead roleEvery Trick in the BookShin'ichi TsudaLead role2022Noise Keita IzumiLead role2024Hey Handsome!!HaraSaint Young Men: The Movie Fallen angel Lucifer2027AARO: All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office – The MovieMiyabi OkitamaLead roleAARO: All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office – The Movie 2Miyabi OkitamaLead roleKaiji 4Kaiji ItoLead role
Television Year Title Role Notes 1997That's the Answer1998Cyber Bishōjo TelomereFeeling Relief Is Easy Frozen SummerChange! 1999LxIxVxEKiss of Heaven 2000The Things You Taught Me2001Saintly Springtime of LifeIkutsumono Umi o Koeru TeHeaven's Coins 3Lead role2002I Cannot Say I Love You Night of Being Concerned2003Ai Gorin2004Shinsengumi!Okita SōjiTaiga dramaYatsuhakamuraTelevision film2005Red DoubtSunLight2006Furuhata NinzaburoSengoku Jieitai: Sekigahara no Tatakai2008Tokyo Daikushu 2010Ojiichan wa 25-saiLead roleWagaya no Rekishi Osamu TezukaMiniseries2011Piece VoteYu Wakitan2013ST 'Scientific Task Force' Keishichou Kagaku TokusouhanLead role2014ST 'Scientific Task Force' Aka to Shiro no Sosa FileLead roleSherlock Holmes Windibank and Hosmar AngelVoice role2016Lost IDShinichi TodoLead roleMoribito: Guardian of the Spirit The Emperor2017ReverseKazuhisa FukaseLead role2020The Sun Stands Still: The EclipseKazuhiko TakanoLead role2021Nakamura Nakazo: Shusse no KizahashiMiniseries2024 AARO: All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Miyabi Okitama Lead role
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2009Yakuza 3Rikiya Shimabukuro2016Yakuza 6: The Song of Life Yuta Usami
Dubbing Year Title Role Notes 1999Stuart LittleStuart Little2001The Emperor's New GrooveEmperor Kuzco2002Stuart Little 2Stuart Little2009IrisKim Hyun-jun2016Independence Day: ResurgenceJake Morrison
References
External links
Tatsuya Fujiwara on NHK Archives Fansite "Rising Dragon Tatsuya Fujiwara"