Jun Kunimura facts for kids

Jun Kunimura is a famous Japanese actor. He was born Yoshihiro Yonemura on November 15, 1955. He has acted in many movies and TV shows. His work includes films from Japan, the United States, and Hong Kong. He is known for his strong performances.

Quick facts for kids Jun Kunimura 國村隼
Jun Kunimura in 2019
Born	Yoshihiro Yonemura (1955-11-15) 15 November 1955 (age 69) Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1976–present
Japanese name
Kanji	國村 隼
Hiragana	くにむら じゅん
Katakana	クニムラ ジュン
Transcriptions Romanization Kunimura Jun
Japanese name
Kanji	米村 喜洋
Hiragana	よねむら よしひろ
Katakana	ヨネムラ ヨシヒロ
Transcriptions Romanization Yonemura Yoshihiro

Early Life and Education

Jun Kunimura was born Yoshihiro Yonemura. This was in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. His family moved to Amagasaki soon after. Then, when he was two, they moved to Osaka.

He studied acting at a special theater program. This program was run by the Osaka Broadcasting Corporation. He has said that actor Yūsaku Matsuda was a big influence on him.

Acting Career

Jun Kunimura started his acting journey in 1973. He had a small part in the film Tidal Wave. He then appeared in TV dramas like Ayu no Uta. His first main role was in Gaki Teikoku.

International Roles

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he acted in many Hong Kong films. He had a memorable role in John Woo's Hard Boiled. He played a gunman in a tea house scene.

His first American film was Black Rain in 1989. This movie was directed by Ridley Scott. It was filmed in Osaka, which is Jun Kunimura's hometown. His acting mentor, Yūsaku Matsuda, also starred in this film.

Kunimura is well-known for working with Western directors. These include Ridley Scott, Quentin Tarantino, and Roland Emmerich. He has also worked with famous Japanese directors. Some of these are Takashi Miike and Hideaki Anno.

Notable Achievements

In 2016, he starred in the South Korean horror film The Wailing. This role brought him a lot of praise. He won two awards for it. He received Best Supporting Actor and the Popular Star Award. These were at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards. He was the first non-Korean and Japanese actor to be nominated for this award.

Awards and Nominations

Jun Kunimura has won several awards for his acting. Here are some of his notable awards and nominations: