Meet Hitoshi Masaki | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hitoshi Masaki and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hitoshi, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I was born and raised in Tokyo, and everything changed the day I watched Rocky and Rocky II back-to-back. I was in junior high school, and something about Rocky’s “never give up” spirit lit a fire in me. I joined a boxing gym the next day and trained for eight years, aiming for the 1988 Olympics. But when I didn’t qualify, I had to ask myself: Now what?

That’s when I realized—Rocky was a movie. His story inspired me not just because of the sport, but because of the power of storytelling. I decided I wanted to become an actor and inspire others the way that film inspired me.

I got accepted into Bungakuza, one of Japan’s top theater companies, and trained there for five years. But something still felt incomplete. I thought, If Rocky’s story is American, maybe my next chapter is in Hollywood. In 1993, I moved to Los Angeles to chase that dream.

The early years were tough—language barriers, constant rejection—but I kept pushing. I booked my first SAG (Screen Actors Guild) job with a corporate video, joined the union, and started getting small roles. But when my visa expired, I had to return to Japan. A close friend offered me an unexpected opportunity: help expand his headwear business in the U.S., and once it was stable, return to acting.

I took the chance, and in 2000, I was back in LA, this time as an entrepreneur. We built the business from scratch, eventually landing a major deal with Urban Outfitters. Acting had to go on pause, but the dream never left my heart. I always told myself, “I’m getting closer. One day, I’ll act again.”

Then the 2008 global financial crisis hit us hard. We held on until 2014, but finally had to shut the business down. Once again, I asked myself: What now?

By then, I had my U.S. green card. I didn’t have to leave. And while it wasn’t the return to acting I imagined, I knew: Now’s the time.

In 2015, I officially came back to acting. I was lucky to find an amazing agent early on, and I hit the ground running—auditions, acting classes, workshops, seminars. It wasn’t easy.

Rejection after rejection. But I loved the process.

I started booking short films, indie projects, and smaller TV roles. And then, in 2022, everything changed. I landed a guest-star role as General Tomono on FX’s Shōgun—now streaming on Hulu. I spent three weeks filming in Vancouver, and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Being on set with such a talented cast, playing a samurai general in such a powerful story… it felt like my Rocky moment.

Looking back, this journey has been filled with many challenging times, difficulties, and obstacles. But through it all, I kept hearing Rocky’s voice in my head. His unbreakable fighting spirit has always inspired me!

“Never Give up!!!” “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” I’m still fighting for my dream to come true!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I have been so inspired by watching movies and TV dramas, not only from movie Rocky but also from many others. So, I thought it’s my time to inspire other people through my work for movies or TV shows. When I decided to challenge to do so, I thought “Hmmm, I don’t know anything about making movies or TV shows such as producing, directing, writing, camera works or anything. So, I thought I should just use my body to play the roles. Yeah, let me be an actor!” Then, I chose to be an actor to be a part of film makings. I also remembered I really enjoyed acting when I was cast for leading role for elementary school play.

My goal is to be an actor who can give love, courage, hope and dreams to viewers through my art, acting and that will be able to enrich viewers heart and it will ripple through the communities, the nations and entire world. That would be so wonderful! Art of acting and playing can communicate with the world to make it better! I am so proud and excited of that I am doing it!

Be an actor is so much fun! It’s a rough road to be a working actor though. I’m not a full time working actor yet but was so fortunate to get a good agent through internet casting service site, Casting Networks. Finding good agent or manager is so important for the first step to be an actor. To get a good agent and also getting acting jobs we have to have good headshots, good acting reels, good resume, building credits, brush up our acting skills, making good networks and more. My agent said “Be an actor is like be an Olympian”. So, much things to do everyday, work for artistic side and also business side. What I can say is I am doing my best joyfully. Otherwise we get burned out. We have to find the ways to do all those things joyfully. Once we get auditions, we start to face not getting the roles, rejections. I don’t like to use the word “rejections” but it’s easy to explain it here. Anyway, we have to be able to handle it. We have to be able to keep our passion and motivation high and not to be discouraged. For that, I try to keep myself in good acting community, making good friends and meet or talk with them once in a while, not to make myself isolated. For me, practicing Nichiren Buddhism helps me a lot to maintain my emotional ups and down. Also, meet up with my friends and just hanging out, talk and have fun with them is very helpful for me to keeping my passion and motivation high, not to be stressed out.

I’ve learned along the way that the key is to be able to be the person who can “Believe one’s self”, will “Never Give Up” and be able to “Keeps going”.

If I can do it, you can do it too. Let’s do it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 31 years, and I still love this city! When my best friend visits, one of the first places I take them is Griffith Observatory. It’s breathtaking—especially at sunset. Watching the sun dip into the Pacific while the sky fades from orange to deep red is so soothing. And at night, the view of LA glowing beneath the stars is simply magical.

We’d also hit up the beaches—Venice, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach. Venice is wild and wonderful: street performers, skaters, artists, and free spirits all mixing together in their own creative universe. Manhattan and Hermosa have that laid-back SoCal surf vibe.

We’ll walk the beach path from one to the other, grab a bite or a beer, and soak up the sun—it’s fun and great exercise!

At night, I’d take them to The Dresden Room in Los Feliz. It’s a legendary Hollywood hangout, open since 1954. I love the live jazz and blues, and the crowd—a mix of hip young folks and classy regulars. It was featured in the 1996 film Swingers, and yes—Marty and Elayne still perform there on 2nd and 4th Fridays, just like in the movie. Watching them sing “Stayin’ Alive” live is such a treat. The Dresden is a true LA gem! They are so amazing! The Dresden is definitely a cool night spot to check out!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I’m deeply grateful to my parents, who passed away two years ago. Without their love and support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They never once said, “You can’t do that.” Whether I wanted to become a boxer or move to the U.S. to chase my dream, they stood by me every step of the way. My father worked tirelessly to create a stable foundation so I could study and grow. My mother lovingly prepared every meal, nurtured my health, and gave me the strength to pursue my goals. They gave me everything. Arigatou, Okaasan and Otousan— thank you, Mom and Dad.

I also owe so much to my spiritual practice. I follow Nichiren Buddhism with SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International USA), and honestly, I might have given up and gone back to Japan if I weren’t practicing. Nichiren Buddhism teaches that even in a harsh world, we can awaken to our Buddhahood and find true happiness right where we are—regardless of race, gender, or background. It’s about developing an unshakable spirit—never giving up, no matter the circumstances.

One quote that keeps me going comes from Nichiren Daishonin:

“Be diligent in developing your faith until the last moment of your life… If you travel for eleven days but stop with only one day remaining, how can you admire the moon over the capital?”

And from my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda:

“Buddhism concerns itself with winning… We must win. Moreover, Buddhism ensures that we can definitely do so.”

I also want to thank the many people who’ve helped me along the way:

To Mr. Masayoshi Kawakami and Mrs. Yuko Kawakami who brought me back to LA through their headwear business, and Mr. Minoru Sato in Japan, who supported me through every stage of that journey—thank you.

To my agent Jeff Wolfman at Fred R. Price Talent Agency, who continues to believe in me— thank you.

To my teachers Joseph Pearlman and Eugene Nomura (Pearlman Acting Academy), Penny Moore (The Actors Group/TAG Studio), —thank you for helping me grow as an artist. To my best friend Minoru Ishikawa and all my friends in Japan, in the US and around the world.

And to my brother Manabu Masaki and my sister Erika Nakazawa.

Without any one of them, I would not be here today to keep pursuing my dream. Thank you all so much!!!

Website: https://imdb.me/hitoshi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitoshi_masaki_win

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hitoshi.masaki.1