Plus Eight Inc. (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Keisuke Sasaki) conducted a survey on "Cool Actors of the Same Generation Chosen by Men in Their 40s."

The "40s" is a time when one's depth and maturity as a man should increase with experience... but sometimes, when you look in the mirror or at a candid photo, you're confronted with the reality of "Am I turning into an old man?" and feel a bit of panic.

On the other hand, there are celebrities of the same generation who become more attractive with age and exude an "overwhelmingly cool old man aura" even from the perspective of other men.

What exactly is the secret behind the "adult composure" and "charm" they possess?

This time, we will thoroughly analyze the true feelings of men in their 40s and the "conditions for being a truly cool adult" that their peers genuinely admire.

Who is the No. 1 actor in their 40s chosen by men in their 40s as the coolest?

When asked, "Who do you feel is the coolest among male actors in their 40s of the same generation?" the following results were obtained.

3rd Place: Junichi Okada (13.1%)

Ranking 3rd is Junichi Okada, who received 132 votes.

His refined features and overwhelming presence, cultivated through stoic training, leave a strong impression.

In recent years, he has established a unique position by showcasing authentic action and intense performances in dramas like the historical drama "Dousuru Ieyasu" and the Netflix series "Iksagami."

At the same time, his humorous appearances in McDonald's commercials have also become a topic of conversation.

With numerous film awards to his name, it's likely that men of the same generation are strongly drawn to his solid acting skills and charisma that grow more intense with age, as well as the contrast between his formidable on-screen persona and his approachable off-screen demeanor.

2nd Place: Shun Oguri (13.5%)

Ranking 2nd is Shun Oguri, who received 136 votes.

He has starred in numerous hit works for many years and continues to lead the pack as an undeniable national actor.

His powerful performance in the historical drama "The 13 Lords of the Shogun" is still fresh in memory, and in recent years, he has taken on new challenges beyond acting by becoming the president of his agency, exuding an overwhelming aura.

While retaining the stylish coolness he had from his youth, men of the same generation may be drawn to his "adult composure" that refines with experience, and his leadership skills demonstrated in real life.

1st Place: Ryohei Suzuki (16.7%)

Taking the proud 1st place is Ryohei Suzuki, who received 168 votes.

He is widely known for his dedication to role preparation, including drastically increasing or decreasing his weight by tens of kilograms to fit his characters. In recent years, he has continued to surprise the public with his overwhelming expressiveness, such as his incredible physique in the movie "City Hunter" and his unprecedented dual role, oscillating between good and evil, in the drama "Reboot."

In addition to his high acting skills, he has earned immense trust from men of the same generation for his intelligent and clean personality, and his demeanor that conveys a sense of warmth and understanding.

He seems to have captured the hearts of many as the ideal image of a "cool adult" that men in their 40s realistically aspire to, possessing both adult allure and approachability.

Deconstructing the Secret to Coolness! What Makes the Top 5 Actors So Appealing?

So, what specifically makes them so appealing?

Let's first look at the overall trends.

When asked, "What is the most appealing point about actors of the same generation?" the most common answer was "adult coolness and allure (25.4%)." This was followed by "unaffected natural demeanor and adult composure (13.4%)," and "impressive gaze and attractive eyes, such as well-groomed eyebrows (11.3%)," and "a toned physique that doesn't show their age (11.3%)."

With "adult coolness and allure" being the most selected option, it indicates that the maturity unique to the 40s is highly valued as an attractive quality.

Furthermore, not only internal factors like "adult composure" but also external factors that reflect daily care, such as "attractive eyes like gaze and eyebrows" and "a toned physique," ranked high.

In particular, "eyes and eyebrows," which significantly influence facial impression, are parts that convey cleanliness and confidence.

It may be that the accumulation of such daily grooming efforts creates a difference between them and their peers.

While it's understood that the atmosphere that emanates from accumulated experience, combined with daily minor care and efforts to maintain physique, are the conditions for a "cool adult" admired by peers, are there differences in the reasons why each of the top 5 actors is considered "cool"?

Looking at the trends for the top 5 actors, the following results were obtained.

For each actor, "adult coolness and allure" was ranked first, indicating that the charm unique to the 40s is the common foundation.

On the other hand, for the 2nd place and below, while Ryohei Suzuki and Dean Fujioka garnered support for "impressive gaze and attractive eyes, such as well-groomed eyebrows," Shun Oguri and Junichi Okada received high evaluations for "a toned physique that doesn't show their age."

Furthermore, for Hiroshi Tamaki, "unaffected natural demeanor and adult composure" ranked second.

It appears that the combination of "adult coolness and allure" as a base, with individual characteristics like eye impression, daily physique management, and adult composure, creates a "cool adult" that even men of the same generation admire.

Are You Approaching Your Ideal Actor? The Reality of Men in Their 40s' "Self-Evaluation"

So, when compared to these admired ideals and their peers, how do people evaluate their current selves?

When asked about "current coolness," the following results were obtained.

"I think I'm quite cool (9.6%)"

"I think I'm somewhat cool (18.6%)"

"I think I'm about average for my age (37.2%)"

"I think I'm becoming a bit of an old man (17.9%)"

"I think I'm quite an old man (16.7%)"

The most frequent response was "I think I'm about average for my age," accounting for about 40%.

On the other hand, combining "I think I'm becoming a bit of an old man" and "I think I'm quite an old man" exceeded 30%, surpassing the responses of "I think I'm quite cool" and "I think I'm somewhat cool."

While many are maintaining an average level, the fact that the "becoming an old man" group exceeds the "feeling cool" group highlights the real concerns of men in their 40s.

To approach the ideal of a "cool adult," concrete "self-investment" such as grooming oneself and projecting adult composure, and maintaining one's physique, will be important.

[Summary] The Diversifying Ideal Image of "Cool" for Men in Their 40s, and the Confidence of Adulthood Born from Steady Self-Investment

This survey revealed the "cool" ideal image admired by men in their 40s and their realistic self-evaluations compared to their current situations.

Ryohei Suzuki was the most supported among male actors of the same generation, with Shun Oguri and Junichi Okada following closely.

The most frequently cited appealing point was "adult coolness and allure," with "unaffected natural demeanor and adult composure" as internal maturity factors, and "impressive gaze and attractive eyes, such as well-groomed eyebrows" and "a toned physique" as highly evaluated external factors.

Furthermore, among the top-ranked actors, Ryohei Suzuki and Dean Fujioka were supported for "impressive gaze and attractive eyes, such as well-groomed eyebrows," while Shun Oguri and Junichi Okada were highly rated for "a toned physique that doesn't show their age," indicating that the criteria for ideal coolness among men in their 40s are diverse, with individual strengths complementing the base of "adult coolness and allure."

On the other hand, while "about average for my age" was the most common self-evaluation compared to ideals and peers, the "feeling of becoming an old man" group exceeded the "feeling cool" group overall.

Although many are maintaining an average level, the reality of men in their 40s is that more people are experiencing anxiety and concerns about "aging" than those who feel they are cool.

To avoid being overwhelmed by the wave of aging and to cultivate the charm unique to their 40s, it is important to leverage "maturity" and "composure" appropriate for their age, rather than trying to appear younger.

To achieve this, self-investment such as daily physique management and meticulous attention to grooming, including eyebrows and skin, will be required.

So, in reality, how much effort do men in their 40s put into external care?

The next survey on "Men in Their 40s' Awareness of Self-Investment in Appearance" will clarify the actual state of care and awareness of self-investment.

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Survey Overview: "Survey on Cool Actors of the Same Generation Chosen by Men in Their 40s"

[Survey Period] May 28, 2026 (Thu) - May 29, 2026 (Fri)

[Survey Method] Internet survey conducted by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

[Number of Respondents] 1,006 people

[Survey Target] Monitors who responded that they are men in their 40s at the time of the survey.

[Survey Source] Plus Eight Inc. (https://www.plus8.bz/)

[Monitor Provider] SacriSAKURIsa

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey