Someone who enjoys becoming a character, someone who has strong thoughts and opinions of their own, and someone who has the physical strength to withstand the rigors of filming, as well as the perseverance and mental strength required.

An actor's job is to portray characters on television, stage, film, etc. and to move the audience. Acting is an individual task for each actor, but a production is completed through collaboration with many co-stars and staff. The joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from being part of a great production team is also one of the best parts of being an actor.

An entertainment production company is a company that handles all aspects of entertainer management, including discovering and training new talent, marketing to the media, negotiating performance fees, and coordinating and managing schedules. Almost all entertainers belong to some kind of entertainment production company, and actors are no exception. Many theater companies also play a similar role to entertainment production companies. To join, you must audition or take an exam, but there are also production companies and theater companies that offer training courses for actors and talents, so joining one of those is one option.

Acting schools at theater companies and talent agencies also play a role in unearthing and nurturing future talent. While the acting training is strict, if talent is recognized, the path to becoming an actor is open. For example, at a theater company's training school, students often progress from trainee to associate member to full member. On the other hand, there are also vocational schools, which teach acting from the basics, making it easy for complete novices to enter, but the downside is that they do not directly lead to a debut. Students can also study at universities with theater or arts departments. In either case, after graduation, they will audition for talent agencies or theater companies. Occasionally, auditions for leading roles will be held for television programs or movies, and if you pass, the door will open up.

Television and film are important venues for actors, but the number of productions for both is declining in Japan. Meanwhile, a new form of entertainment, internet distribution, has emerged, and the number of productions there is increasing. Furthermore, an increasing number of Japanese actors are expanding overseas, to Hollywood and Asian film and television. If actors don't limit themselves to the domestic confines of television and film, their potential will expand globally. Of course, language skills, including English, are essential.

The difference between heaven and hell is the difference between zero and tens of millions of yen a year. Many actors who continue to perform their favorite plays in small theater companies make a living by working part-time. There are few actors who consistently earn a stable income, and the reality is that their income is unstable. Many also secure income through side jobs.

There are no set working hours, so days off are irregular. The more popular an actor becomes, the busier they become, to the point where they can't get enough sleep. Aspiring actors have more holidays than work.

Theater stages, TV stations, film studios, production companies, filming locations, etc.

This chart shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as an actor!