Yoshikazu Kotani

Infobox Celebrity
name =Yoshikazu Kotani (小谷嘉一)
ja_name =小谷嘉一
ja_name_trans=Kotani Yoshikazu


caption = Kotani in "Boys Love".
birth_date =birth date and age|1982|3|25
birth_place =Tokyo, Japan
occupation =Actor, Singer
salary =
networth =
website = [http://www.arcs-box.com/kotani/ Kotani's Official Website]
footnotes = nihongo|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 live film adaptation.

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

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"TKO HIPHOP Official Website [http://www.tko-hiphop.jp/ ] ] .

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, in "The Prince of Tennis" musicals, Tenimyu. From 2005 to 2006, he became the fourth actor to play Kawamura as a member of the second generation Seigaku cast. He made his first debut as Kawamura on January 8th, 2005 in the "Side Yamabuki" 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.

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.

In "ZanSaber"

Kotani will also be starring in the made-for DVD release tokusatsu series, "ZanSaber"ZanSaber Official Website [http://west-power.co.jp/gaion/zan/whatsnew.html] ] , 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.

In "Boys Love"

Kotani's next project was filming for the made-for DVD release movie, "Boys Love""Boys Love" Official Blog [http://kotensinyaku.cocolog-nifty.com/boys_love/] ] , 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 again costarred other former Tenimyu actors, this time Kawakubo Yuuki and, in smaller roles, Baba Tooru and Kiriyama Renn.

In "Arakure KNIGHT"

In 2007, Kotani will appear in the film, "nihongo|Arakure KNIGHT|荒くれＫＮＩＧＨＴ|"Arakure Knight Official Site [http://www.arakure-knight.com/] ] , 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)".

Personal life

Kotani keeps a personal [http://www.arcs-box.com/kotani/second/diary.html 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.

elected filmography

tage

Musicals

TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Takashi Kawamura)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Side Yamabuki feat. St. Rudolph (In Winter of 2004-2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Dream Live 2nd (2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen (2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen in Winter (In Winter of 2005-2006)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Dream Live 3rd (2006)

Plays

*2003 - 年秋公演「ANGEL29X99」にて客演ANGEL

Awards

1999 JUNON SUPER BOY Contest - 5th Place

References

* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E8%B0%B7%E5%98%89%E4%B8%80 Wikipedia Japanese article on 小谷嘉一]

External links

* [http://ameblo.jp/yoshikazu-kotani Kotani's Official Blog]
* [http://www.arcs-box.com/kotani/ Kotani's Official Website]
*ann name|id=27563|name=Yoshikazu Kotani
*imdb name|id=2026341|name=Yoshikazu Kotani

ee also

* Tenimyu
* The Prince of Tennis Movie
* The Prince of Tennis
* Takashi Kawamura