From literature student to international award-winning actor
In short: Before capturing the attention of major film festivals in Venice and Berlin, Ayumu Nakajima was studying literature and practicing rakugo. His journey from a college model to a celebrated performer reveals a dedicated transition from the fashion runway to the global stage.
Born in Miyagi Prefecture and raised in Tokyo, Ayumu Nakramajima's path to acting was far from linear. While studying for a literature degree at Nihon University, he balanced his academic pursuits with a career in modeling under Gig Management. However, his true ambitions lay in performance, leading him to leave the modeling industry in January 2012 to focus on auditions and part-time work.
Nakajima's professional acting career began on stage in April 2013. He quickly moved into television, securing his first regular role as Ryūichi Miyamoto in the 2014 series Hanako and Anne. Critics identified his potential early on, leading to his Best New Actor win at the 7th Tama Film Awards.
Nakajima has recently moved from local fame to global recognition. His performance in the film Saturday Fiction, which competed at the 76th Venice International Film Festival in 2019, marked his entry into global cinema. This trend persisted through Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy; this movie secured a Silver Bear at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival and brought Nakajima the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 35th Takasaki Film Festival in 2022.
Beyond his individual accolades, Nakajima's lineage connects him to Japanese literary history, as his great-great-grandfather was the writer Kunikida Doppo. His diverse background—ranging from playing football in high school to participating in a rakugo study group—underpins a versatile career spanning stage, television, and international film.
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