Takeshi Kaneshiro

Infobox actor
name = Takeshi Kaneshiro


caption =
birthname = 金城 武 Kaneshiro Takeshi
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|10|11
birthplace = Taipei, Taiwan
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
occupation = Actor
yearsactive =
spouse =
domesticpartner =
children =
parents =
website = http://www.fulong.jp/kaneshiro/takeshi.html

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Japanese and Chinese: _ja. 金城 武, romaji: "Kaneshiro Takeshi", Pinyin: "Jīnchéng Wǔ"), born October 11, 1973, is a famous Asian actor of mixed heritage - his father is Okinawan and his mother is Taiwanese.

Name

"Kaneshiro" is a common Okinawan family name [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=vaAKJQyzpLkC&pg=PR17&dq=Ryukyu+Japanese+name&lr=&sig=ckWwmJph3e2uIuIDhrURllPzn1Y Okinawa, the History of an Island People] , page xvii ; "the charater _ja. 城, very commonly found in surnames and place names *snip* Thus Kaneshiro can also be read Kinjo.", by George H. Kerr] . In Kanji, _ja. 金城 is "Kaneshiro" and _ja. 武 is "Takeshi" (given name), with Japanese readings. He appears as _ja. 金城 武 ("Kaneshiro Takeshi") on Japanese media. Although not strictly a Chinese surname, the characters of Takeshi's surname can be read in Chinese as _zh. 金城 (Jīnchéng). When credited in movies, Takeshi's name often appears as _ja. 金城 武 "Takeshi Kaneshiro" [ [http://www.fulong.jp/kaneshiro/takeshi.html Official site] _ja. 金城 武] , with a space separating the second and third character to indicate that the former is his surname and the latter is his given name (thus, neither _ja. 金城武 nor _ja. 金 城武 is credited). In this way, Takeshi's Japanese surname, 金城, is distinguished from the common Chinese surname, 金. In Chinese films, however, the distinction is not always made.

Biography

Takeshi is of both Japanese and Taiwanese ancestry. With a mother from Taiwan and a father from Okinawa, Kaneshiro was born and raised in Taipei, and is a Japanese citizen (nationality). [ [http://www.movieseer.com/ActorProfileBil.asp?aID=899&Channel=2 Takeshi Kaneshiro] movieseer.com]

He has two brothers (7 years older; 1 year older). In a recent interview in Hong Kong, 23 December 2007, Kaneshiro mentioned that he has one elder brother. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=aA-dc39qcaQ YouTube - 金城武專訪 - Part 8 of 8 ] ] After being bullied at a regular Taiwanese high school, the Gaoxong Preparatory School, over his mixed heritage, he enrolled at English-based Taipei American School, which enabled him to converse in English, making him effectively multi-lingual considering his fluency in Mandarin, Taiwanese (his first-spoken language), and Japanese. As a result of his varied background, Kaneshiro can speak with varying degrees of fluency in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese. It was while he was studying there that he began doing TV commercials, and he decided to quit school in order to pursue a singing and acting career.

Career

In 1992, Kaneshiro made his singing debut, entering the business with the nickname Aniki, meaning 'older brother' in Japanese. His debut album was "Heartbreaking Night" (1992). Contracted to EMI, he wrote many of his own Mandarin and Cantonese songs. The following year, his popularity propelled him into acting and he no longer produces any commercial music. He later stated that acting comes to him more naturally, while his singing capabilities are not up to scratch and best left to the "professionals," Fact|date=April 2008including his favorite singer Jacky Cheung.Fact|date=April 2008 Kaneshiro maintains that singing is only his hobby.Fact|date=April 2008

His first movie was "Executioners" (1993) and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Wong Kar-Wai film "Chungking Express" (1994) and a string of other Hong Kong movies. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the highly successful Japanese TV mini-series "God, Please Give Me More Time" (1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese movies such as "Returner" (2002). Kaneshiro's work, however, is more heavily concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He also became well known in the video game industry portraying the samurai warrior Samanosuke in the Capcom hit Onimusha. In a June 2007 article on the movie site Ain't It Cool News, it was revealed that Kaneshiro will be in the Onimusha movie, reprising his role as Samanosuke and for a 2011 release. [ [http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32861 ONIMUSHA fans prepare to be happy... - Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news ] ] [http://ps3.qj.net/Takeshi-Kaneshiro-as-Samanosuke-in-Onimusha-movie/pg/49/aid/94254] [http://xbox360.qj.net/Capcom-clarifies-on-SSF2-HD-Remix-beta-hints-at-Onimusha-and-Clock-Tower-films/pg/49/aid/121066]

Kaneshiro is often praised for having "chameleon-like" acting skills due to his ability to adapt to a wide variety of roles.Fact|date=April 2008 He became a superstar playing oddball and forlorn characters and has proven impossible to typecast. Director Peter Chan, of the Chinese musical Perhaps Love, which Kaneshiro starred in, has been quoted as saying "I am willing to exchange my 11 nominations for the nomination of Takeshi for Best Actor award. My greatest regret is Takeshi Kaneshiro wasn't nominated." Fact|date=April 2008Despite this, he continued to receive rave reviews for a spectacular performance of a vulnerable yet angry and ultimately maturing character.Fact|date=April 2008

Outside of the entertainment business, Kaneshiro has acted as a spokesperson and model for Emporio Armani Underwear (2008) as well as , Prada (1998), Lifecard credit card company, VAIO personal computer, Honda, Lipice lips moisturizer, SonyEricsson, Pocari Sweat soft drink, Morinaga chocolate, Volvic, GEOS (eikaiwa) (language school), Petronas oil company, Japan Asia Airways, Hyundai Motor Company, Toyota MarkX ZiO, Mitsubishi Galant, NTT docomo the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan, NTT Yellow Pages, Shiseido, Lycos, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Kadokawa Shoten a well-known Japanese publisher based in Tokyo, Rice Burger, Roasted barley tea, One2Free (HK), and Kiwi cold drink.

About his personal life Kaneshiro has been quoted as saying “If one day I get married and have kids, I will probably be one of those men who really care for the family. I will eat at home every day, and help with the chores and take care of the children.” [in TOUCH magazine (Hong Kong) Issue 46 Nov, 05]

Filmography

Movies

* "Onimusha" (2011) Samanosuke Akechi
* "" (2009)
* "The Battle of Red Cliff" (2008) as Zhuge Liang
* "Sweet Rain" (2008) as Chiba - The Death God
* "The Warlords" (2007) as Jiang Wuyang
* "Confession of Pain" (2006) as Bong
* "Perhaps Love" (2005) (Titled "Winter Song" for the Japanese release)
* "House of Flying Daggers" (2004) (Titled "Lovers" for the Japanese release)
* "" (2004) - (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
* "Turn Left, Turn Right" (2003)
* "Returner" (2002)
* "" (2001) (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
* "Love in year 2000(2000) (voice: Japanese version)
* "Lavender" (2000)
* "Space Travelers" (2000)
* "Tarzan" (1999) as Tarzan (Voice for Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese versions)
* "Tempting Heart" (1999)
* "Misty" (1998)
* "Sleepless Town" (1998)
* "Anna Magdalena" (1998)
* "Too Tired to Die" (1998)
* "" (1997)
* "The Odd One Dies" (1997)
* "Downtown Torpedoes" (1997)
* "Hero - The Legend" (1997)
* "Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words" (1996)
* "Lost and Found" (1996)
* "The Jail In Burning Island" (1996)
* "The Feeling of Love" (1996)
* "Trouble Maker" (1995)
* "School Days" (1995)
* "China Dragon" (1995)
* "Forever Friends" (1995)
* "Fallen Angels" (1995) - as He Zhiwu
* "Young Policemen in Love" (1995)
* "No Sir" (1994)
* "The Wrath of Silence" (1994)
* "Don't Give a Damn" (1994)
* "Mermaid Got Married" (1994)
* "Chungking Express" (1994) - as He Zhiwu, Cop 223
* "" (1993)

Drama

Japan

*"The Golden Bowl" (2002) (Japanese: ゴールデンボウル)
*"Love 2000" (2000) (Japanese: 二千年の恋)
*"God, Please Give Me More Time" (1998) (Japanese: 神様、もう少しだけ)
*"The Miracle on a Christmas Night" (1995) (Japanese: 聖夜の奇跡)

Hong Kong

*"Colour Of Armour" (1995)

Taiwan

*"Grass Scholar" (1992)

Discography

Albums

Movie Soundtracks

Videogames

* "Onimusha" (2001) (VG)
* "Onimusha 3" (2004) (VG)

Misc

* "Smap X Smap September" (2002) TV Episode
* "Smap X Smap October" (2002) TV Episode

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0437580|name=Takeshi Kaneshiro
* [http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/kaneshiro_takeshi.htm Takeshi Kaneshiro] at LoveHKFilm.com
* [http://www.simplytakeshikaneshiro.com Takeshi Kaneshiro] International forum
* [http://www.takeshikaneshiro.net Takeshi Kaneshiro] Takeshi Kaneshiro Fans Forum