Recently, I really like Masato Sakai's (堺雅人) work. Legal High (リーガルハイ) and Hanzawa Naoki (半沢直樹) are two of the best dramas in recent years. I love how he can naturally go from explosive to restrained. His acting isn't always realistic, but I don't mind at all since it's so entertaining to watch.

honestly I don't know many japanese actors but i was really impressed by everyone in JIN. there used to be a video on youtube where they intereviewd the cast. it was really interesting becuase uchino was dressed up like his character but he wasn't acting since he was being himself while he answered the questions. it was so different. it felt really odd watching "sakamoto ryouma" talk like normal people lol... that's how convincing his acting is.

You like him? I actually stopped trying to watch both of those because of him. Especially in Hanzawa Naoki because of his voice. He whispers while trying to also sound aggressive? Not sure how to explain it. Maybe it's also because I read the books and they made it assbackwards. Rather I should say I read the first series of books the drama is based on, but it takes into account the following one.

A lot of people might hate my picks but I like Oguri Shun as well as Aibu Saki. Aibu Saki is just cute as all fudge and her acting is decent but she often appears in a lot of melodramatic stuff like Miss Pilot. Oguri Shun looks like a gorilla but I like his acting and seems to choose solid roles.

@TheVinster
I just find his acting style so refreshing. He constantly defies Japanese acting stereotypes and stands out from those around him. Although, maybe I just like people who break useless conventions.

The pair of lead actors in the Sono Sion film, Himizu, were impressive as well (染谷 将太 & 二階堂ふみ). It's a heavy movie, though. Kind of similar in theme and tone to Requiem for a Dream, although the ending isn't as miserable.

I've seen the girl from Himizu in other stuff. She's good. I've always liked Asano Tadanobu. I'm not too good at remembering actors but somehow I think I can recognize Japanese actors in different movies more easily than not-mega-famous American actors.

edit: Left out the 'why'. Asano is just cool. Someone like Arata can sort of not act and his characters let things happen around his character, he responds to situations but doesn't really create them. I don't mind Arata but he's not my fave. Asano on the other hand, can sort of do both, he can play that role of letting others act around his character but it feels like at the same time he's feeding them his energy, he's playful and smart. My favorite of his is probable 'Picnic' directed by Shunji Iwai. I enjoy movies that establish an atmosphere, and he fits well into these, too, like in Koohii Jikou or even the scene in Taste of Tea when he runs into his old fling from high school.

+1 for asano, my favorite is yume no ginga.

that girl from himizu is obviously talented, but there's a lot of overacting going on in that film. i blame the director.

others:

rinko kikuchi in funky forest
- i know it's a small role, but it's one of the most memorable in the whole film. kikuchi is really a great comedy actor, too bad she's mostly stuck in serious roles

makiko esumi in maborosi
- i don't know esumi's other film roles, but her performance here is so natural and effortless

yoshio harada in zigeunerweisen
- i've seen him playing yakuza and rebels often and he's always good, but he was absolutely crazy in this suzuki's film

keiko sakurai in japanese summer: double suicide
- she is obviously not a professional actress and this was her only film role, but her presence is mesmerizing. also, very cool hairstyle for late 60's

toshiro mifune in high and low
- mifune is always great, but this is my personal favorite

ryo ikebe and mariko kaga in pale flower
- i'm a fan of film noir, and these two portrayed noir archetypes of a loner and femme fatale perfectly

rentaro mikuni in a fugitive from the past
- epic story of a man's journey from rags to riches, mikuni is here as good as toshiro mifune in his glory days

about new generation...i think sakura ando has mature skills that put her above all the rest contemporary japanese actors. she successfully avoids two of the most abused stereotypes among japanese performers - that of histerical overacting and autistic underacting.

Another +1 for Asano. I've only seen him in Ichi the Killer, but his acting is phenomenal.

Toshiro Mifune (Mifune -> Miballza was an inside joke).

Why? They are good, that's why.

A short list:

ACTRESSES
The three greatest:
Tanaka Kinuyo 田中 絹代 (1909.11.29-1977.3.21)
Hara Setsuko 原 節子 (1920.6.17-)
Takamine Hideko 高峰 秀子 (1924.3.27-2010.12.28)

I like them for one reason or other:
Asaoka Ruriko 浅丘 ルリ子 （あさおか ルリこ、1940年7月2日 - ）
Baishō Chieko 倍賞 千恵子 (1941.6.29-),(Sakura in Otoko wa turai yo), her sister, Mitsuko
Baishō Mitsuko 倍賞 美津子 (1946.11.22-)
Kaji Meiko 梶 芽衣子 (1947.3.24-), Sasori (Scorpion), a very good singer
Matsuzaka Keiko 松坂 慶子 (1952.7-)
Tanaka Rena 田中 麗奈 (1980.5.22-)
Ayase Haruka 綾瀬 はるか (1985.3.24-)
Ueto Aya 上戸 彩 (1985.9.14-), Azumi, Install


ACTORS
Mifune Toshirou 三船 敏郎 (1920.4.1-1997.12.24)
Mikuni Rentarō 三國 連太郎 (1923.1.20-)
Atsumi Kiyoshi 渥美 清 (1928.3.10-1996.8.4) (Tora-san 寅さん)
Wakayama Tomisaburō 若山 富三郎 (1929.9.1-1992.4.2) Lone Wolf and Cub, The Mute Samurai, Katsu Shintarou's older brother
Takakura Ken 高倉 健 (1931.2.16-)
Katsu Shintarou 勝 新太郎 (1931.11.29-1997.6.21) (Zatouichi 座頭市)
Nakadai Tatsuya 仲代 達矢 (1932.12.13-)
Sugawara Bunta 菅原 文太 (1933.8.18-)
Ogata Ken 緒形 拳 (1937.7.20-2008.10.5)
Fuji Tatsuya 藤 竜也 (1941.8.27-)
Kitano Takeshi 北野 武 (Biito Takeshi (ビート たけし) (1947.1.18-)
Yakusho Kouji 役所 広司 (1956.1.1-)
Asano Tadanobu 浅野 忠信 (1973.11.27-)