Yoshikazu Kotani

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Yoshikazu Kotani (小谷嘉一)
Born March 25, 1982 (1982-03-25) (age 26)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupation Actor, Singer
Website
Kotani's Official Website

Yoshikazu Kotani (小谷 嘉一 Kotani Yoshikazu?) (March 25, 1982 - ) is a Japanese actor and singer from Tokyo. He is known most notably for his role as Takashi Kawamura in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and the film adaptation.

Contents

[edit] Profile

Name: Yoshikazu Kotani
Japanese Name: 小谷嘉一
Romanization: Kotani Yoshikazu
Nicknames: Konii
Date of Birth: March 25th, 1982
Birthplace: Tokyo
Blood Type: O
Height: 184 cm (6'0")
Three Size: 92-74-92 (36"-29"-36")
Hobbies: Baseball, driving, writing lyics and composition
Special Skills: Guitar

[edit] Career

Kotani has appeared in a various number of TV shows and movies. He has also appeared in commercials for Pocky (January 2005) and Asahi Beer (December 17th-25th, 2004). On October 18th and 19th, 2003, Kotani appeared in the 2-day staging of ANGEL29x99.

He's also played a transvestite named Cindy, in the movie, TKO Hip Hop[1].

[edit] As Takashi Kawamura in The Prince of Tennis Musicals

Kotani won the role of Takashi Kawamura, the soft-spoken, dual-personality 3rd year regular of Seigaku Middle School's tennis club. From 2005 to 2006, he became the fourth actor to play Kawamura in The Prince of Tennis musicals, Tenimyu, as a member of the second generation Seigaku cast. He made his first debut as Kawamura on January 8th, 2005 in the Side Yamabuki (In Winter 2004-2005) performance in Osaka. That same year, his role as Kawamura was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga.

On March 29th, 2006, in the Dream Live 3rd Live concert, Kotani, along with the majority of the Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles. Since his graduation, the role of Kawamura has been played by Kouji Watanabe and currently by Hiro Ogasawa.

[edit] As Takashi Kawamura in The Prince of Tennis live-action film

Kotani was able to carry on his role from the musicals to the live-adaptation film of the manga series of 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 Prince of Tennis was released on May 13th, 2006 and opened on the tenth spot in the Japanese Box Office.

[edit] In ZanSaber

Kotani will also be starring in the made-for DVD release tokusatsu series, ZanSaber[2], as a tokusatsu hero. The film will also star Kotani's past co-stars from the Tenimyu, Kawai Ryuunosuke and Washimi Ryou.

ZanSaber was released on November 18th, 2006.

[edit] In Boys Love

Kotani's next project was filming for the made-for DVD release movie, Boys Love[3], which also costarred his former Tenimyu costar, Saito Takumi. In the movie, Kotani plays Mamiya Taishin, a magazine editor that meets high-school model, Kisaragi Noeru (Saito Takumi), during a magazine interview.

Boys Love was released on November 24th, 2006.

In 2007, Kotani again took the lead in the theatrical edition of Boys Love, which shared only a title with the 2006 movie, and featured a new story and an otherwise new cast. Kotani this time was cast in the part of Aoi Kairu, a young teacher at an all-boys boarding school, who discovers that his new student, Amakami Sora (Kanno Atsumi) is the same boy with whom he recently had a sexual encounter. The movie also costarred a third former Tenimyu actor, Kawakubo Yuuki.

[edit] In Arakure KNIGHT

In 2007, Kotani will appear in the film, Arakure KNIGHT (荒くれＫＮＩＧＨＴ?)[4], the live-action movie adaptation of the 1982 to 1988 manga series, Aratanaru Shobaku by Satosi Yoshida. The film will be released in April 2007.

Kotani will once again act alongside former Tenimyu castmates, Yuu Shirota, Masaki Kaji, Kousuke Kujirai, and Kenta Kamakari.

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

[edit] Personal life

Kotani keeps a personal blog, which he updates occasionally. He likes to be called by his nickname, "Konii," and has stated before in a hm3 Men's Extra vol. 2 Cinepuri interview that Tom Hank's performance in the film Forrest Gump, inspired him to want to be an actor.

[edit] Selected filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
2001 As for Looking at Love Lastly Kunihiko TV drama
2001 Kamen Rider Agito Kouji Majima Tokusatsu
2004 Waltz of the Puppy Wada Takashi TV drama special
2004 Take Off! N/A TV drama
2004 Division 1 (After the Releasing Section) Mizutani TV drama
2004 Genseishin Justirisers Takeda Tokusatsu
2005 Mata no hi no chika (Another Day for Chika) or (Days of Chika) Kondo Yukitugu
2005 Ruri no Shima N/A
2005 Dangerous Related Sakura Yoshihiko TV drama special
2005 Justirisers Takeda TV drama special
2005 Anego N/A TV drama
2005 Kosume no Mahou 2 Kobayashi TV drama
2005 Gakkou no Kaidan N/A Net Drama
2005 TKO Hip Hop Cindy
2005 Chikan Otoko N/A
2006 The Prince of Tennis Takashi Kawamura
2006 Shinrei Shashin Kitan (心霊写真奇譚) Nishimura Hiroshi Appears in Hishatai no Nai Shashin, story #1
2006 ZanSaber N/A
2006 Boys Love Mamiya Taishin
2007 Arakure KNIGHT N/A post-production (film)
2007 Beauty Boys Celebrity Go Tv Drama
2007 Boys Love (theater edition) Aoi Kairu

[edit] Stage

[edit] Musicals

TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES

  • The Prince of Tennis Musical: Side Yamabuki feat. St. Rudolph - Takashi Kawamura (In Winter of 2004-2005)
  • The Prince of Tennis Musical: Dream Live 2nd - Takashi Kawamura (2005)
  • The Prince of Tennis Musical: The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen - Takashi Kawamura (2005)
  • The Prince of Tennis Musical: The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen in Winter - Takashi Kawamura (In Winter of 2005-2006)
  • The Prince of Tennis Musical: Dream Live 3rd - Takashi Kawamura (2006)

[edit] Plays

  • 2003 - 年秋公演「ANGEL29X99」にて客演ANGEL

[edit] Awards

1999 JUNON SUPER BOY Contest - 5th Place

[edit] References

  1. ^ TKO HIPHOP Official Website [1]
  2. ^ ZanSaber Official Website [2]
  3. ^ Boys Love Official Blog [3]
  4. ^ Arakure Knight Official Site [4]

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Languages