Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

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Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
Born July 9, 1974 (1974-07-09) (age 33)
Origin Japanese flag Ehime, Japan
Genre(s) Japanese Pop
Occupation(s) Actor, Singer
Years active 1991-present
Label(s) Johnny & Associates
Website Johnnys net

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅剛 Kusanagi Tsuyoshi?, born July 9, 1974 in Seiyo, Ehime Prefecture, Japan) is an actor and a member of the popular Japanese idol group SMAP. He grew up in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan.

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[edit] Image

Kusanagi has a gentle personality and positive outlook. In addition, he is famous for being able to speak Korean. He is also known to enjoy participating in the many different culinary programs on Japanese TV.

[edit] Background

Kusanagi made several long visits to South Korea in 2003, auditioning and appearing on variety TV shows and commercials. He released a Korean language CD in Korea and Japan.

In 2004, he hosted his own variety show Chonan Gang (チョナン・カン) with Korean guests and themes. The show was named after himself, as Kusanagi uses Chonan Gang (초난강), the direct Korean translation of his name, as his stage name in South Korea. He has also hosted a program in which he talked with South Korean President Roh Mu-hyun in Korean, while the president was on an official visit to Japan in June 2003 (see: http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?sfrm=1&n=200306060135).

He had the lead role in the movie, Yomigaeri 黄泉がえり (January 18, 2003; a Japan public presentation.) Moreover, his Korean-language-Japanese-produced movie Hotel Venus ホテルビーナス (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004.

Although not one of the more popular members of SMAP at first, following his well-received performances in a variety of roles, and riding the hanryu wave in the wake of the success of Winter Sonata in Japan, Kusanagi has come to be one of the more popular members of SMAP. In 2003 he came in first place on the ranking list of millionaires in Johnny & Associates

Kusanagi loves jeans, and he was chosen as the "Best Jeanist" for five years until 2003, at which time he was inducted into the Best Jeanist Hall of Fame.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Dramas

  • Kekkon shiyouyo(結婚しようよ,1996)
  • Oishii kankei(おいしい関係,1996)
  • Ii hito.(いいひと。,1997)
  • Drama special Sasyou Taeko -Kikan no aisatsu-(ドラマスペシャル沙粧妙子－帰還の挨拶－,1997)
  • Narita rikon(成田離婚,1997)
  • Sensei shiranaino?(先生知らないの?,1998)
  • TEAM(TEAM,annual drama series between 1999-2003.)
  • Star no koi(スタアの恋,2001)
  • Boku no ikiru michi(僕の生きる道,2003)
  • Taikouki -Saru to yobareta otoko(太閤記～サルと呼ばれた男,2003)
  • Boku to kanojo to kanojo no ikiru michi(僕と彼女と彼女の生きる道,2004)
  • Sinsengumi!(新選組!,2004)
  • Tokugawa Tsunayoshi -Inu to yobareta otoko(徳川綱吉～イヌと呼ばれた男,2004)
  • Kaikyou wo wataru Violin(海峡を渡るバイオリン,2004)
  • Koi ni Ochitara - Boku no Seiko no Himitsu (2005)
  • Ai to Shi wo Mitsumete (2006)
  • Boku no aruku michi(僕の歩く道,2006)

[edit] Variety program

  • "SMAP×SMAP"
  • "Dotch Cooking Show" (どっちの料理ショー)
  • "New Dotch Cooking Show" (新どっちの料理ショー)
  • "「Pu」sma"
  • "Morita Kazuyoshi Hour Waratte iitomo!(Friday)"
  • "Waratte Iitomo! Special number"
  • "Chonan Gang(チョナン・カン)"

[edit] Movies

  • Messenger(メッセンジャー,1999)
  • Yomigaeri(黄泉がえり,2003)
  • Chanoaji(茶の味,2003)
  • Hotel Venus(ホテルビーナス,2004)
  • Sinking of Japan(2006)
  • Like a Virgin (Korean movie, small cameo role as a Japanese teacher, 2006)
  • Strings(ストリングス,as a voice actor, 2007)
  • Yamanoanata(山のあなた,2008)

[edit] Other

  • Chikyuu fushigi daisezen(地球ふしぎ大自然!,Earth wonderful Nature!)"(Narrator)
  • Convenience store"SHOP99"(CM)
  • Hime-chan no Ribbon(姫ちゃんのリボン,Animation,1992/93,Hasekura senior's CV, also as himself in episode 13)"
  • Kamata Koshinkyoku(stage play,蒲田行進曲,First premiere,From 20 to 28 on February,From 5 to 27 on March in 1999)

(Second performance,From 15 to 25 on January,From 28 to 30 on January,From 4 to 20 on February in 2000)

  • VOICE Reading/Tsubakihime(椿姫,First premiere,From 13 to 16 on February in 2002)

(Second performance,From 22 to 23 on June in 2002, June 30 in 2002)

  • Chichi Kaeru/Okujyo No Kyoujin(stage play,父帰る／屋上の狂人,From 1 to 30 on April in 2006)