Masaki Kaji

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Masaki Kaji (加治将樹)
Born January 29, 1988 (1988-01-29) (age 20)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupation Actor, Singer
Website
Kaji's Official Blog

Masaki Kaji (加治 将樹 Kaji Masaki?) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Takeshi Momoshiro in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the film adaptation. He is also part of a young men's stage acting troupe, D-Boys, which perform in various skit-like performances.

Contents

[edit] Career

He has appeared in a various number of TV shows, musicals and movies.

On January 1st, 2006, Kaji, with fellow D-Boys member Hiroki Suzuki, appeared on the 43rd broadcast of Secret New Years' Performance Tournament "Young Man Colosseum", where Kaji displayed his acrobatic abilities. As well, on November 1st, 2006, he made an appearance on a variety show called Kachinko (カチンコ!) broadcasting on TV Asahi. Then on January 1st, 2007, Kaji appeared again on the New Years day 44th annual broadcast of the Secret New Years' Performance Tournament's "Chinese Lion Dance" segment, with Hiroki Suzuki and fellow D-Boys members, Yuya Endo, Masato Wada and former D-Boys member, Yuuma Minakawa.

He appeared as a member of The Tigers, in the TV drama, The Hit Parade[1], starring fellow D-Boys members Masato Wada, Yuu Shirota, Hiroki Suzuki, Hirofumi Araki, Yuuya Endo and Seto Kouji. The show aired May 26th, 2006 on Fuji TV.

[edit] With the D-Boys

Cover of the Start! photobook
Cover of the Start! photobook

In October 2004, Kaji joined the Watanabe Entertainment group named the D-BOYS.

As a member of the D-Boys, Kaji also keeps a blog, which he updates occasionally.

Being a part of the D-Boys provided Kaji with a lot of opportunities. Among them was to perform with the group of boys and expand his experience as a performer. On August 6th, 2005, Kaji, along with Hiroki Suzuki, appeared on the radio program, Marvelous Radio Vibration that was hosted by fellow D-Boys members Shirota Yuu and Yanagi Kotaroh.

The D-Boys so far have released two Photobooks. The first photobook released on April 27, 2005, was self-titled D-Boys, while the second, released on March 15th, 2006, was called Start, both which contain many photos of Kaji.

The D-Boys have also starred in their own drama documentary variety series called, DD-Boys[2] in which Kaji's appeared in a few episodes as himself. The show was 24 episodes long and ran from April 10th to September 25th, 2006.

In June 2007, the D-Boys will also be starring in their very own musical together called, D-BOYS STAGE[3], which will run from June 3rd to June 10th at the Space Zero theater in Tokyo. Kaji will be appearing in the musical as a regular performer for the run of the musical.

[edit] As Takeshi Momoshiro in The Prince of Tennis Musicals

Kaji as Momo, in the Yamabuki Tenimyu
Kaji as Momo, in the Yamabuki Tenimyu

Kaji won the role of Takeshi Momoshiro, the friendly 2nd year regular of Seigaku Middle School's tennis club. And from 2005 to 2006, he became the second actor to play Momoshiro in the The Prince of Tennis Musicals. He made his first debut as Momoshiro on January 8th, 2005 in the Winter 2004-2005 Side Yamabuki performance in Osaka. That same year, his role as Momoshiro was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga. During his run in the musicals, he was able to work with fellow D-Boys members, Yuya Endo, Kotaroh Yanagi, Yuu Shirota, Hiroki Suzuki, Masato Wada, Hirofumi Araki, and former D-Boys member, Osamu Adachi.

He performed, as Momoshiro, in the following shows:

  • Tenimyu in Winter: Side Yamabuki - Featuring St Rudolph
  • Dream Live 2nd: Second Live concert
  • Imperial Match Hyotei
  • Hyoutei in Winter
  • Dream Live 3rd: Third Live concert

On March 29th, 2006, in the Dream Live 3rd Live concert, he, along with the majority of the Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles.

[edit] As Takeshi Momoshiro in The Prince of Tennis Live-Action Film

Kaji was able to carry on his role as Takeshi Momoshiro from the musicals to the live-adaptation film of the manga series, The Prince of Tennis. He, along with most of the principle cast members for the Seigaku Regulars, were able to reprise their roles in the movie. The only major casting change was the casting of Kanata Hongo as Ryoma Echizen, the main protagonist. The film marked Kaji's first major film debut.

The Prince of Tennis was released on May 13th, 2006 and opened on the tenth spot in the Japanese Box Office.

[edit] With ROM-4 in Seishun Energy: Check It Out Yo! in Tokyo

Kaji, with other ROM-4 members, on the cover of their Keep It Goin' On CD
Kaji, with other ROM-4 members, on the cover of their Keep It Goin' On CD

After his graduation from The Prince of Tennis Musicals, Kaji starred in the first series of the TV drama, Seishun Energy: Check It Out Yo! in Tokyo (青春★ENERGY ~ チェケラッチョ!! In Tokyo)[4], which premiered on Fuji TV April 12th, 2006 and broadcasted until June 15th, 2006. The series was a spinoff from the movie, Check It Out Yo!! (チェケラッチョ!!), was 10 episode long and featured Kaji as Shingo Amida, one of the four main characters. The show was about four 3rd year high school students with no direction in their lives, until they found rap, which then inspired them to take charge of their lives and their dreams. In the show, his character, along with his three costars' (Masataka Kubota, Ryo Kimura, and Gota Watabe) characters formed ROM-4. Later, Kaji and his costars (under ROM-4) recorded and released the CD single called "Keep It Goin' On", which was used as the show's ending theme.

[edit] As Toshiyuki Hoshino in Regatta

Then, Kaji appeared in the TV drama, Regatta[5], which premiered on TV Asahi, running from July 14th, 2006 to September 8th, 2006. The show revolved around a university rowing club, in which Kaji had the role of playing the freshman, Toshiyuki Hoshino, on the team.

[edit] As Onigiri in the Musical Air Gear

Nearly after a year away from musicals, Kaji starred as Onigiri, member of the Kogarasumaru Air Trecks team, in the first Air Gear musical called, Musical Air Gear (ミュージカル エア・ギア?)[6], which debuted on January 7th, 2007 and run til January 21st, 2007. Performances for the Air Gear musical were held in Tokyo at the Space Zero Theater from January 7th to January 14th, 2007 and in Osaka at the Theater BRAVA from January 19th to January 21st, 2007. The cast features Kaji's former Tenimyu co-actors, Kamakari Kenta and KENN, reprising their voice-over roles from the anime respectively as Ikki and Kazu, with RUN&GUN, Kenjiro Tsuda etc. as co-stars.

Due to the success and popularity of the musical's first run, the musical had a rerun in May 2007 titled, Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix (ミュージカル「エア・ギア」vs.バッカス Super Range Remix?) with Kaji reprising his role as Onigiri, which ran from May 3rd to May 8th, 2007 at the Nihon Seinenkan Dai Hall in Tokyo.

Thus, Kaji is attached, as Onigiri, in the following shows:

  • Musical Air Gear
  • Musical Air Gear vs. Bacchus Super Range Remix

[edit] In the Out of Order Live Entertainment Show

Following his performance in the Air Gear Musical, Kaji will appear on stage in the 2007 Out of Order Live Entertainment Show[7] with fellow D-Boys members, Yuya Endo and Kumai Kohei. Other cast members also include Jun Nagura, Ken Horiuchi, Chiaki Hara, Asami Abe, Rag Fair etc. Performances will run from March 21st, 2007 to March 26th, 2007 at the Aoyama Theater in Tokyo and will also run from March 31st, 2007 to April 1st, 2007 at the Karapa Hall in Osaka.

[edit] In Arakure KNIGHT

2007 will see Kaji appear in a string of films. The first will be Arakure KNIGHT (荒くれＫＮＩＧＨＴ, Arakure KNIGHT?)[8], the live-action movie adaptation of the 1982 to 1988 manga series, Aratanaru Shobaku by Satosi Yoshida. The film is scheduled for limited released, opening on April 28th, 2007 in Cinema GAGA.

Kaji will once again act alongside fellow D-Boys member, Yuu Shirota, as well as be reunited with former Tenimyu castmates, Kousuke Kujirai, Yoshikazu Kotani, and Musical Air Gear co-star, Kenta Kamakari.

Previously, in 1998, a live-action TV series had been made titled Shin Shonan Bakusozoku Arakure Knight (Bomber Bikers of Shonan).

[edit] In Waruboro

Next, Kaji will be appearing in the film, Waruboro (ワルボロ?)[9], which will star Kaji's costar from Yankee Boukou ni Kaeru and Regatta, Shouta Matsuda, as the main character; with Kaji's Seishun Energy: Check It Out Yo! in Tokyo costar, Ryo Kimura and fellow D-Boys member, Yuu Shirota as supporting characters. Due to the setting and time period of the movie, Kaji had to perm his hair for his character. The movie is an adaptation of Gettsu Itaya's semi-autobiographical novel, Waruboro and is set to be released in the summer of 2007 as principle filmography began on September 20th, 2006.

[edit] Personal life

Kaji keeps a blog on his D-Boys webpage, which he updates occasionally. In his blog entries he likes to call himself "Karaage" (literally meaning "fried thing"), which is a running joke between him and Hiroki Suzuki, due to Kaji's dislike for his tan. He is very close friends with fellow D-Boys members Masato Wada (who often regards Kaji as a best friend and younger brother), Hiroki Suzuki, Osamu Adachi and Hirofumi Araki.

On August 12th, 2006, he, along with Suzuki Hiroki, attended the second performance showing in Tokyo for the Musical Tennis no Oujisama Advancement Side Rokkaku feat. Hyotei Gakuen to support Kousuke Kujirai and Hiroki Aiba.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
2004 Mother & Lover (マザー&ラヴァー?) N/A TV drama
2005 Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru Tabidachi no Toki (ヤ ンキー母校に帰る スペシャル 不良少年の夢?) Student TV drama
2006 The Scenario Gateway to Success (きたな(い)ヒーロー?) N/A TV drama
2006 Seishun Energy: Check It Out Yo! in Tokyo Shingo Amida TV drama
2006 The Prince of Tennis Momoshiro Takeshi
2006 DD-BOYS as Himself Appears in Episodes 6, 14, 20-23
2006 The Hit Parade Member of The Tigers TV drama
2006 Regatta Toshiyuki Hoshino TV drama
2007 Arakure KNIGHT N/A post-production (film)
2007 Waruboro N/A post-production (film)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

Kaji has currently released a CD Single on June 21, 2006, called "Keep It Goin' ON" with fellow members, ROM-4. Besides Kaji, ROM-4 comprises Masataka Kubota, Ryo Kimura and Gouta Watabe, Kaji's coactors from the TV show called, Seishun Energy: Check It Out, Yo! in Tokyo.

Singles Stats

Single was released for the Seishun Energy TV show in Japan (JPN), only.

Year Cover Title Album Chart positions
JPN
2006 "Keep It Goin' On" (with ROM-4) Keep It Going ON
 174

Track Listings

Track Listings for the Keep It Goin' On CD Single:

  1. "Keep It Goin' On"
  2. "Keep It Goin' On (SUNSHINE REMIX)"
  3. "Keep It Goin' On ～Instrumental～"

[edit] Stage

  • March 21st to April 1st, 2007 in the Out of Order Live Entertainment Show

[edit] Musicals

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hit Parade Official Site [1]
  2. ^ DD-Boys Official Site [2]
  3. ^ D-BOYS STAGE Official Website [3]
  4. ^ Fuji TV's ROM-4 Webpage [4]
  5. ^ Regatta Official Website [5]
  6. ^ Air Gear Musical Official Site [6]
  7. ^ Out Of Order Official Site [7]
  8. ^ Arakure Knight Official Site [8]
  9. ^ The name is thought to be a pun on the name "Marlboro" [9].

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Preceded by
Moriyama Eiji		 Takeshi Momoshiro in the Prince of Tennis Musicals
2005-2006		 Succeeded by
Shinpei Takagi
Languages