Yôsuke Kubozuka Biography: Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Brothers, Movies & TV Shows
Yôsuke Kubozuka is a Japanese actor, musician, model, director, and writer who became one of Japan’s most distinctive young stars in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He gained major recognition for GTO and Ikebukuro West Gate Park before earning widespread critical acclaim for Go.
He later expanded his career internationally, including a major role in Martin Scorsese’s Silence.
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| Name: | Yôsuke Kubozuka |
| Born: | May 7, 1979 (age 47 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Ethnicity: | Japanese |
| Height: | 177 cm (5 ft 9¾ in) |
| Religion: | Buddhism |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Kubozuka |
| Siblings: | Shunsuke Kubozuka, RUEED |
| Spouse: | Yuka Sugawara (PINKY) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Airu Kubozuka and one daughter |
| Occupation: | Actor, Musician, Model, Director, Writer |
| Net Worth: | $8 million |
Early life and education
Yôsuke Kubozuka was born on May 7, 1979, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan. He grew up in an academically accomplished family and has spoken warmly about his parents, describing them as supportive of his ambitions rather than forcing him toward a conventional academic path.
He has two younger brothers, actor Shunsuke Kubozuka and reggae musician RUEED.
Kubozuka became interested in entertainment during his teenage years and began working as a model for magazines and television commercials around the age of 15.
He attended Kanagawa Prefectural Yokosuka High School, although he did not complete the full course. He later attempted to enter Aoyama Gakuin University but was unsuccessful, after which he focused increasingly on entertainment.
Career
Yôsuke Kubozuka began his acting career in 1995, appearing in the Japanese television series The Kindaichi Case Files. He subsequently appeared in Wakaba no Koro and other youth-oriented dramas before receiving a major opportunity in Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) in 1998, where he played student Yoshito Kikuchi.
His profile grew substantially in 2000 after he portrayed Takashi, the charismatic leader of the G-Boys, in Ikebukuro West Gate Park. The series became a major television success and established Kubozuka as one of the most exciting young actors of his generation.
He followed it by starring in Strawberry on the Shortcake and the television drama Long Love Letter.
His greatest early cinematic breakthrough came in 2001 when he played Sugihara in Go, a film adapted from Kazuki Kaneshiro’s award-winning novel.
His performance received major critical recognition, earning him Best Actor at the Japan Academy Film Prize as well as several other major Japanese film awards. His performance made him the youngest winner of the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor at the time.
Kubozuka subsequently appeared in films such as Laundry, Ping Pong, Madness in Bloom, Samurai Resurrection, Under the Same Moon, For Those We Love, Ichi, Maboroshi no Yamataikoku, Himizu and Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.
His performances often combined an unconventional screen presence and intense emotional style.
He also developed a second career in music. Performing under the name 卍LINE (Manji Line), he became active as a reggae musician and DJ, releasing music and performing independently.
His creative work later expanded into directing music videos, photography, writing and other forms of visual expression.
In 2016, Kubozuka made an important international breakthrough when Martin Scorsese cast him as Kichijiro in Silence. The historical drama, starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson, introduced Kubozuka to a much broader international audience.
He continued balancing Japanese cinema and international productions. His later screen credits include Giri/Haji, First Love, Sin Clock, Knuckle Girl, Tokyo Vice, GTO Revival and Frontline.
In Tokyo Vice Season 2, he played Naoki Hayama, further strengthening his international television profile.
By 2025 and 2026, Kubozuka remained active in film and creative projects. His recent screen work includes Frontline and Transcending Dimensions, while he has also continued his music and visual-art activities.
His career now spans acting, reggae music, directing, photography, fashion and other creative pursuits.
Awards and nominations
- 26th Hochi Film Awards — Best Actor for Go — Winner
- 25th Japan Academy Film Prize — Best Actor for Go — Winner
- 25th Japan Academy Film Prize — Newcomer of the Year for Go — Winner
- 23rd Yokohama Film Festival — Best Actor for Go and Oboreru Sakana — Winner
- Mainichi Film Concours — Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award — Winner
- Nikkan Sports Film Awards — Ishihara Yujiro Newcomer Award — Winner
- Television Drama Academy Awards — Best Supporting Actor for Ikebukuro West Gate Park — Winner
- Television Drama Academy Awards — Best Supporting Actor for Strawberry on the Shortcake — Winner
Personal life
Yôsuke Kubozuka is 47 years old. He is married to Yuka Sugawara, popularly known as PINKY, a former dancer and entrepreneur. The couple married in December 2015 after Kubozuka’s first marriage ended in divorce in 2012.
Kubozuka has two children. His eldest child, Airu Kubozuka, was born during his first marriage and later entered the entertainment industry as an actor. Kubozuka and PINKY welcomed a daughter in June 2017.
Outside acting, Kubozuka is passionate about reggae music, photography, visual art, fashion and other creative pursuits. He performs as Manji Line and has also worked as a music-video director and camera operator. His height is 177 cm (5 ft 9¾ in).
Net worth
Yôsuke Kubozuka has a net worth of approximately $8 million. His wealth has been accumulated from a career spanning acting, international films, television productions, music, modeling, directing, writing and commercial work.
His award-winning Japanese film career, Hollywood appearance in Silence, international television roles and long-running music activities have all contributed to his financial success.
Social media
- Instagram: @yosuke_kubozuka
- X: @AMATORECORDZ
Filmography
- The Kindaichi Case Files — 1995
- Midori — 1996
- Wakaba no Koro — 1996
- GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka — 1998
- Takkyû Onsen — 1998
- Lipstick — 1999
- Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko — 1999
- Ikebukuro West Gate Park — 2000
- Tomie: Replay — 2000
- Oboreru Sakana — 2000
- Strawberry on the Shortcake — 2001
- Go — 2001
- Laundry — 2002
- Ping Pong — 2002
- Long Love Letter — 2002
- Doing Time — 2002
- Madness in Bloom — 2002
- Samurai Resurrection — 2003
- Under the Same Moon — 2005
- Tobi ga Kururi to — 2005
- Amour-Legende — 2006
- For Those We Love — 2007
- Ichi — 2008
- Maboroshi no Yamataikoku — 2008
- Pandora’s Box — 2009
- Tokyo Jima — 2010
- Yukizuri no Machi — 2010
- Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo — 2011
- Himizu — 2011
- The Teachings of Kaiju — 2015
- Silence — 2016
- Alley Cat — 2017
- Giri/Haji — 2019
- The First Supper — 2019
- Mio’s Cookbook — 2020
- The Day of Destruction — 2020
- First Love — 2021
- Sin Clock — 2023
- Sweet My Home — 2023
- Knuckle Girl — 2023
- Tokyo Vice — 2024
- GTO Revival — 2024
- Frontline — 2025
- Transcending Dimensions — 2025
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