In 2004, he became the youngest winner of the Best Actor award[1] in the history of the Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of 12-year-old Akira in the highly acclaimed Nobody Knows.

[6][7] Yagira later denied that he had been trying to kill himself, noting that he was the one who called an ambulance after he began feeling ill from taking the pills.

"[6]In December 2, 2009, Yagira announced on his blog that he was engaged to television personality Ellie Toyota [ja].

[10] The two met when Toyota was a senior at Horikoshi High School, and Yagira, who was instantly smitten after meeting her, asked a classmate for her contact information, which is how the two began dating.

[14] He starred in the TV Commercial "GATSBY Cop", together with popular Japanese actor Mackenyu Arata.