Basically... just post who your three favourite Japanese actors and actresses are (not necessarily ranked, of course) alongside whatever role you think he or she peformed best, and maybe elaborate on your reasoning if you want to. Simple, no?
It'd be really, really stupid of me if I didn't go first; so here goes!
Toshiro Mifune - Redbeard/Akahige ~ it's a classic... sure, the plot wasn't anything new, and sure I could predict almost everything... but the movie was amazingly well done and an utterly fantastic experience to watch. Kurosawa was a great director, and Mifune was a great actor... in every instance where the two came together on a project the finished result was near-perfect.
Yaka Akiko - My Little Chef ~ I first saw Akiko in Last Christmas, and although I liked the series I wasn't too terribly impressed with any of the acting... then I saw My Little Chef... and loved every minute of it when she was on screen. She has a very... commanding presence that really makes MLC so fun to watch. Every time her eyes light up (a trick, admittedly) I can't help but sit up in my seat a little straighter.
Abe Hiroshi - Trick ~ He's easily the most talented modern-actor I've seen... from Trick to Kekkon Dekinai Otoko to My Little Chef, he's able to play a variety of different roles with great ability. I especially like his performance in Trick where his comedic timing and ability is unrivaled.
I also rather like Usui Ken, Nakama Yukie and Uedo Aya, though not quite so much as the above three.
