Isao Hashizume is a Japanese actor whose career spans over six decades, beginning in 1961. Born on September 17, 1941, in Osaka, he trained as an actor at the Bungakuza drama school. While he is primarily known for his extensive work in live-action film and television, he has also performed voice roles in anime productions. One notable early voice role was Aslan in the 1969 animated feature film A Thousand and One Nights, directed by Eiichi Yamamoto and produced by Mushi Production. Decades later, he provided the voice of Prince Kuramochi in Isao Takahata's 2013 Studio Ghibli film The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.

Throughout his career, Hashizume has been a prolific presence on screen, appearing in numerous acclaimed films. He has frequently collaborated with prominent directors such as Yoji Yamada, starring in Yamada's Tokyo Family (2013) and the What a Wonderful Family! film series, and with Hirokazu Koreeda, with roles in I Wish (2011), After the Storm (2016), and The Third Murder (2017). His work has been recognized with multiple nominations from the Japan Academy Film Prize, including for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor. In 2021, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Japanese government for his contributions to the arts.