
Biography
Old good "Emo-chan" of modern Japanese cinema. Emo's father was a close friend of legendary episode player Taji Tonoyama in elementary school days. His mother's grandfather ran a shamisen store in Ginza, Tokyo. Both parents like movies and theaters. After graduating from Machinery Department of Tokyo Industrial High School, Emoto got a job at a trading company. However, he became an actor and became a student of the acting classes of the theater company "Marui", which is headed by Nobuo Kaneko, and met Yusaku Matsuda who was in the same class. In 1999, he won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Dr. Akagi. He also won the award for best supporting actor at the 7th Hochi Film Award for Dotonbori River and Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san.
Awards & recognition
- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette · 2019
- Medal with Purple Ribbon · 2011
- Blue Ribbon Awards — Best Supporting Actor · 1983
Filmography41 titles

Love That Makes You Cry

Lost Man Found

Samurai Fury

Shinjuku Yasen Byoin

Rental Family

Iwane: Sword of Serenity

Shoplifters

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

Ties of Shooting Stars

Shall We Dance?

Maborosi

AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

All Around Us

Shin Godzilla

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi

Egoist

John Rabe

Sailor Suit and Machine Gun

Lu Over the Wall

A Life: A Love

Unforgiven

Doppelganger

Casting Blossoms to the Sky

Fancy Dance

They Say Nothing Stays the Same

Recall

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla

Sumo Do, Sumo Don't

Ichi

Hard Days

Journey to the Shore

September 11

The Great Yokai War

Zebraman

The Great Yokai War: Guardians

Ace Attorney

Umami

Samurai Resurrection

Rain Fall

Neko Ninja

Scandal Eve