Johnny Depp seems to be a role model for Japanese actors with leading man looks, but who almost never plays straight leading man roles. That is, roles in which they romance and win the leading lady — comic fight-and-make-up scenes optional. If Depp's career is any indication, this is a brilliant strategy, though female fans may beg to differ.

Tadanobu Asano, Jo Odagiri and now Kenichi Matsuyama are prominent examples of this phenomenon — all have been successful at parlaying offbeat roles into stardom.

Matsuyama got his big break as L, the sweets-addicted "genius detective" in the three hit "Death Note" films, including the spin-off "L — Change the World." He then essayed the doofus hero of the manga adaptation "Detroit Metal City," who longs to play treacly pop music, but ends up fronting a death-metal band.