Masaru Matsuda

Actor
Born: January 18, 1963 | From: Tokyo, Japan

Masaru Matsuda is a Japanese actor and founder of the theater unit Bannya. He made his debut in 1989 when he was selected from over 14,000 candidates to play the leading role in Spring Comes the Devil, directed by Akira Kobayashi.

A highly skilled martial artist, Matsuda holds a professional boxing license and is proficient in Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, Combat Sambo, wrestling, stage combat, and holds a second-degree black belt in Karate. His exceptional physical ability—often earning him the nickname “The Japanese Schwarzenegger”—is powerfully showcased in his dynamic action performances.

In addition to his extensive work in film, television dramas, and stage productions, Matsuda has been particularly recognized for his performances in original video productions. He received the Best Actor Award at the Japan DV Cinema Awards for two consecutive years (2004 and 2005).

In 2010, Matsuda co-founded the theater unit Bannya with fellow actor Keisaku Kimura. Together, they continue to perform across Japan, delivering powerful and original stage productions with a strong focus on physical expression and human drama.