Ryuhei Matsuda was born on May 9, 1983, in Tokyo, to Miyuki Matsuda and the late Yûsaku Matsuda, a renowned actor who tragically passed away from bladder cancer at the age of 40 when Ryuhei was just six years old. Despite this devastating loss, Ryuhei and his mother persevered, and he didn't initially harbor any strong aspirations to follow in his father's footsteps as an actor.
However, nine years later, at the age of 15, Ryuhei's life took a dramatic turn when he was approached by the acclaimed director Nagisa Oshima with an offer to star in the controversial film Gohatto. Ryuhei accepted the challenge, preparing himself emotionally and physically by practicing ken do for two months straight. His film debut was a resounding success, earning him critical acclaim and numerous awards, and placing him on par with established actors such as Takeshi Kitano and Tadanobu Asano.
Ryuhei's subsequent decision to drop out of high school in order to focus on his burgeoning film career proved to be a wise one, as he went on to receive widespread recognition for his roles in films such as Blue Spring, 9 Souls, Cutie Honey, and Izo, among others. His ability to take on a wide range of roles, from the comedic and outrageous to the moving and controversial, has solidified his position as one of Japan's most talented and sought-after young actors.
Throughout his career, Ryuhei has had the opportunity to work with some of Japan's most renowned directors and actors, including Toshiaki Toyoda, Takashi Miike, and Takeshi Kitano. With his charisma, talent, and versatility, the sky's the limit for this young man, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for him.
