Masahiro Higashide is a prominent Japanese actor and former fashion model. He rose to fame with his breakthrough role in the 2012 film The Kirishima Thing, earning multiple newcomer awards, and has since built a respected career in film, television, and theater with versatile performances in dramas, action, and romance genres.
Despite personal challenges, including a high-profile scandal and career setbacks, he has continued working in projects and recently announced a new chapter in his personal life.
Early Life and Education
Masahiro Higashide was born on February 1, 1988, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He was raised by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Higashide, in a disciplined household where his father worked as a kendo instructor and a chef specializing in Japanese cuisine.
His ethnicity is Japanese. His religion is not publicly disclosed. He has one older brother.
From a young age, Higashide practiced kendo daily under his father’s guidance, which built his physical discipline and focus. He graduated from Saitama Prefectural Asaka High School.
After high school, he briefly pursued jewelry design at a vocational school but shifted focus to entertainment. His father passed away from liver cancer in 2011 when Higashide was 19, an event that deeply impacted him.
He began modeling at 16 after winning the Grand Prix in the 19th Men’s Non-No Exclusive Model Audition in 2004.
Career
Masahiro Higashide started as a model for Men’s Non-No magazine in 2004, appearing in fashion campaigns and editorials until around 2011.
He transitioned to acting with his debut in the 2012 film The Kirishima Thing, earning the Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award and Rookie of the Year at the 36th Japan Academy Prize in 2013.
He gained further recognition with roles in NHK dramas like Amachan (2013) and Gochisōsan (2013), where he met his first wife.
His film credits include Parasyte: Part 1 (2014), Asako I & II (2018), Over Drive (2018), and Death Note adaptations. He appeared in series such as Hanzawa Naoki (2013) and recent projects like Last Samurai Standing on Netflix (2025).
After a 2020 scandal led to lost endorsements and agency contract termination in 2022, he has focused on theater (e.g., Alice in the Light in 2024, upcoming The Marquise de Sade in 2026) and independent work, including YouTube announcements.
Personal Life
Masahiro Higashide, 38, has experienced significant personal changes. He married actress Anne Watanabe (daughter of Ken Watanabe) on January 1, 2015, after meeting on the set of Gochisōsan.
They had three children: twin daughters in May 2016 and a son in November 2017. The marriage ended in divorce finalized in August 2020 following a 2020 affair revelation with actress Erika Karata, which caused public backlash and career repercussions.
Standing at 189 cm, he maintains a fit physique from his kendo background and active lifestyle.
In August 2024, he announced his second marriage to former actress Karin Matsumoto (11 years his junior) via his YouTube channel, after learning of her pregnancy; their relationship began in mid-2024.
He prioritizes co-parenting his children and has kept much of his current family life private.
Net Worth
Masahiro Higashide’s estimated net worth ranges from $2 million to $6 million USD.
Earnings come from acting roles in films, television dramas, and theater productions, past modeling contracts, and endorsements (though many were lost post-2020). Recent income likely includes independent projects, voice work, and digital content creation.
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