Ainosuke Kataoka

Ainosuke Kataoka, born March 4, 1972, in Sakai, Japan—yeah, that’s the guy who’s been popping up in your favorite Japanese dramas and action flicks for a while now. You might recognize his face from “Kamen Rider Gaim,” the 2013 hit where he brought his all to the role. Not just a one-hit wonder though, he came back swinging in “Kamen Rider Gaim Soccer Daikessen Ohgon no Kajitsu Sôdatsusen” in 2014. Honestly, if you’re even remotely into the Kamen Rider universe, his work is basically required viewing. But Kataoka isn’t just about masked heroes and special effects. Fast-forward to 2023, and he’s out here flexing his dramatic chops in “Baian the Assassin, M.D. Part 1,” a period piece where he trades in superheroes for scalpel skills and some gritty, old-school samurai vibes. The man’s range is wild—he can jump from action-packed, over-the-top heroics to cool, calculated historical drama without missing a beat. Off-screen, Kataoka’s life is just as interesting. He tied the knot with Norika Fujiwara on March 30, 2016. Fujiwara, in case you missed the memo, is a big name herself—model, actress, you name it. Together, they pretty much make up a power couple in the Japanese entertainment world. So yeah, Kataoka isn’t just an actor you forget after one movie; he’s built a career that’s all over the map, and honestly, it’s kind of impressive.