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Kazuya Kamenashi
Kamenashi Kazuya from "Lumberjack the Monster" at Red Carpet of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2023 (53348319728).jpg
Kamenashi in 2023
Background information
Native name
亀梨 和也
Also known as Kame, Kame-chan, Kazu
Born (1986-02-23) February 23, 1986 (age 38)
Origin Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan
Genres J-pop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actor
  • TV and radio host
  • TV producer
  • magazine model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1998–present
Labels J Storm
Associated acts
  • KAT-TUN
  • Shūji to Akira
  • Kōichi Dōmoto
  • Kōji Tamaki
  • Kame to YamaP

Kazuya Kamenashi (亀梨 和也, Kamenashi Kazuya, born February 23, 1986) is a Japanese singer, actor, host, producer, magazine model and a member of KAT-TUN. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, he joined the Japanese talent agency, Johnny & Associates, at the age of 12.

He was drafted as a member and co-lead vocalist of the popular J-pop group KAT-TUN in 2001. He is also one half of the temporary group, Shūji to Akira, whose only single "Seishun Amigo" became the best-selling single of 2005 in Japan. Individually, he is a popular actor who has played the lead role in several television dramas.

Early life

Born in Edogawa, Tokyo on February 23, 1986, Kamenashi is the third child of his parents. He has two older brothers, Yūichirō and Kōji, and one younger brother, Yūya. He also has two sisters-in-law and a niece from his second brother's marriage and a nephew from his first brother's marriage. His given name comes from a character from the manga, Touch, written by a Japanese manga artist, Mitsuru Adachi. Coincidentally, bandmate Tatsuya Ueda was also named after the twin brother of Kamenashi's namesake.

An avid baseball fan and player like the character he was named after, Kamenashi once represented his country in the junior world league as shortstop though he had to give up the sport professionally due to lack of spare time after he was accepted into Johnny's Entertainment despite having the support of Johnny Kitagawa, the agency's president, to pursue both careers.

Acting career

In 2009, Kamenashi was cast in a live-action adaptation of a wine-themed manga, Kami no Shizuku, as the leading actor. Voters awarded him, his co-stars (Riisa Naka and Seiichi Tanabe) and the drama a near clean sweep of the winter edition of the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Awards in March 2009. He made a guest appearance as a doctor on the third episode of TBS drama series, Mr. Brain, opposite his talent agency senior Takuya Kimura. Kamenashi also made his film debut on July 11, 2009, reprising his role of Ryū Odagiri, now a trainee teacher in Gokusen The Movie. The movie earned half a billion yen in its opening weekend landing at the top spot of the box office and stayed in the top ten for six consecutive weeks. It later ranked at number 16 on Japan's 2009 yearly box office results raking in US$33,963,369 at the end of its run.

In 2010, he was cast in the leading role of Kyohei Takano for a live-action adaptation of popular manga, Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge, which aired on NTV. It was named Best Drama by voters of the 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Awards in March 2010 while Kamenashi and his co-star, Aya Omasa, were also awarded Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

In 2011, he took on a role as Bem from the adaptation of anime Yōkai Ningen Bem. He received Best Actor award from Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix and Television Drama Academy Awards that year. Following the success of the drama, Yōkai Ningen Bem was made into film in 2012. At the end of its run, the film had grossed US$12,628,578 gross.

In 2013, Kamenashi starred in the movie It's Me, It's Me. The movie premiered in 15th Udine Far East Film Festival Italy in April, and Kamenashi won the My Movie Audience Award.

In 2016, Kamenashi was cast in the drama, The Mysterious Thief Yamaneko, which was based on the novel "Kaito Tantei Yamaneko Series" by Manabu Kaminaga as Yamaneko.

In 2017, he appeared in the drama Boku unmei no hito desu alongside his former co-star from Nobuta wo produce, Tomohisa Yamashita. In March 2017 Kamenashi together with Tao Tsuchiya in Live Action Film popular Japanese shojo manga PとJK, Also in May 2017 he co-starring Lily Franky as supporting actor, in an independent film A Beautiful Star (美しい).

In 2018, he was back in filming drama series, taking the lead of Final Cut, (Fuji TV), He also appeared in TV Movie Tegami: Keigo Higashino (東野圭吾 手紙) Based on the popular novel Tegami by Keigo Higashino.

In 2019, He was cast alongside Fumi Nikaido as main in a re-make of a masterpiece Strawberry Night into Strawberry Night Saga (Fuji TV).

Other endeavors

Modeling and fashion

Kamenashi walked the runway in 2008 for Hermès' men's autumn/winter 2008 collection in Tokyo. In 2010, Kamenashi won the annual Best Jeanist award with more than 29,000 votes in the men's category, almost triple that of the second runner-up, Masaki Aiba. This is his fifth consecutive win and is thus promoted into the hall of fame, making him Eternal Best Jeanist and ineligible for future runs.

Baseball

Kamenashi threw the first pitch at the Pacific League opening ceremony for the 2009 baseball season at a match in Chiba City featuring the Chiba Lotte Marines against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on July 19, 2009.

Kamenashi participated in the Central League's Yomiuri Giants 23rd FanFiesta 2009 on November 23, 2009, and led his team to victory. He participated during the 1st inning as shortstop and for the 2nd and 3rd innings as pitcher. He belonged to the Black Rose Variety Team led by SMAP's Nakai Masahiro against the Giants Select Members Team.

In 2012, he was given the opportunity to do live coverage of Major League Baseball between Oakland Athletics and Yomiuri Giants. He also threw the ceremonial pitch against Jemile Weeks.

Kamenashi is a commentator and host on the sports shows Going! Sports&News and Dramatic Game.

Social networking

2023 started with a New Year's greeting from Kamenashi on his newly opened Instagram. In the post, a stuffed turtle, a classic image linked to him because of the kanji in his last name, invites fans to follow him. Kamenashi was the first in KAT-TUN to open SNS.

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and sales
Title Release date Peaks Sales
JPN
"Sayonara Arigato" November 6, 2013 1
  • JPN: 100,206
"Rain" May 15, 2019 1
  • JPN: 153,179
"Cross" August 18, 2023 1
  • JPN: 103,244

Solo songs

Year Title Details
2002 Hanasanaide Ai (離さないで愛) Featured in DVD Kyakusama wa Kamisama
2005 Natsu no Owari (夏の終わり) Performed during program Shounen Club
2005 Kizuna () Featured in single Seishūn Amigo
2006 00'00'16 Featured in DVD Real Face Concert
2006 Special Happiness Duet with KAT-TUN member, Junnosuke Taguchi. Featured in album Best of KAT-TUN
2007 Someday for Somebody Featured in album Cartoon KAT-TUN II You
2008 w/o notice?? Featured in single "Don't U Ever Stop"
2009 1582 Featured in album Break the Records: By You & for You
2010 Aishiteiru Kara (愛しているから) Featured in single Love Yourself (Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki)
2010 Into Mine Performed during stage show Dream Boys
2010 Plastic Tears Performed during program Shounen Club
2010 Sweet Featured in album No More Pain
2011 Lost My Way Performed during stage show Dream Boys
2012 Bad dream Performed during stage show Dream Boys
2012 Zutto (ずっと) Featured in album Chain
2014 Emerald Featured in album Come Here
2015 Arigatou (ありがとう) Duet with KAT-TUN member, Tatsuya Ueda. Featured in single KISS KISS KISS
2015 Hanasanaide Ai (離さないで愛) Featured in single Dead or Alive
2016 Vanilla Kiss Featured in “Bijoude” Jewelry commercial
2017 ~Follow Me~ Featured in single Senaka goshi no Chance
2018 Wonderful World Featured in single Ask Yourself
2018 One way love Featured in album CAST
2019 CAN'T CRY Featured in album IGNITE
2021 Pure Ice Featured in single Roar
2022 Yoru wa Suiterū (夜は空いてる) Featured in album Honey
2023 Mikansei na (未完成な) Featured in album Fantasia

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 Gokusen: The Movie Ryū Odagiri
2012 Yokai Ningen Bem: The Movie Bem Lead 
2013 It's Me, It's Me Hitoshi Nagano Lead
2014 The Vancouver Asahi Roy Naganishi
2015 Joker Game Jiro Katou Lead
2017 A Beautiful Star Kazuo Osugi
Policeman and Me Kōta Sagano Lead
2020 Stigmatized Properties Yamame Yamano Lead
2023 Lumberjack the Monster Akira Ninomiya Lead

TV dramas

Year Broadcast Title Role
1999 TBS 3 nen B gumi Kinpachi-sensei 5 Akihiko Fukagawa
2000 NTV Shijou Saiaku no Date Toru (Episode 16)
2001 TBS 3 nen B gumi Kinpachi-sensei 5 Special Akihiko Fukagawa
2005 NTV Gokusen 2 Ryū Odagiri
NTV Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo Hajime Kindaichi
NTV Nobuta wo Produce Shūji Kiritani
2006 Fuji TV Sapuri Yūya Ishida
NTV Yuuki Yūki Sanda
NTV Kuitan SP Hiroto Kanzaki (Cameo appearance)
NTV Tatta Hitotsu no Koi Hiroto Kanzaki
2007 TBS Tokkyu Tanaka San Go Toru Shibahara (Guest; Episode 9)
2008 NTV 1 Pound no Fukuin Kōsaku Hatanaka
2009 NTV Kami no Shizuku Shizuku Kanzaki
TBS Mr. Brain Dr. Masakazu Wakui (Guest; Episode 3)
2010 TBS Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge Kyohei Takano
2011 TBS 3 nen B gumi Kinpachi-sensei Final Akihiko Fukagawa (Guest)
NTV Yokai Ningen Bem Bem
2012 TBS Dragon Seinendan Nazo no Sōsai (Guest; Episode 9)
2013 NTV Tokyo Bandwagon~Shitamachi daikazoku Monogatari Ao Hotta
2015 TV Asahi Second Love Kei Taira
2016 NTV Kaitō Yamaneko Yamaneko
2017 NTV Bokū Unmei no Hito Desū Makoto Masaki
NTV Jidai wo Tsukutta Otoko Aku Yu Monogatari Yū Aku
2018 Fuji TV FINAL CUT Keisuke Nakamura / Keisuke Hayakawa
TV Tokyo Tegami: Keigo Higashino Naoki Takeshima
2019 Fuji TV Strawberry Night Saga Kazuo Kikuta
2021 NTV Red Eyes: Kanshi Sousahan Kyosuke Fushimi
NHK Seigi no Tenbin Kazuya Takano
2022 WOWOW Shoutai Keiichi Kaburagi
2023 NHK Seigi no Tenbin Season 2 Kazuya Takano
2024 Fuji TV Ōoku Tokugawa Ieharu
TV Asahi Destiny Masaki Nogi

TV programs

Year Program Role
Occasional event Zoomin!!!Saturday Producer
2010–present Going Sports & News Baseball reporter/MC
2008 - 2011 Radio: Ks by Ks Host
2011–present Radio: Hang Out Host
2010–present Dramatic Game Game commentator

Live performances

Stage shows

Year Title Role
2002 SHOCK Dancer
2004 DREAM BOY Supporting role/dancer
2004 SUMMARY of Johnnys World with NEWS Lead role
2005 Hey!Say! Dream boy! with Kanjani8 Lead role
2006 DREAM BOYS with Kanjani8 Lead role
2007 DREAM BOYS 2007 Lead role
2008 DREAM BOYS 2008 Lead role
2009 DREAM BOYS 2009 Lead role
2011 DREAM BOYS 2011 Lead role
2012 DREAM BOYS 2012 Lead role
2015 Aoi Shushi wa Taiyo no Naka ni Aru Lead role
2020 Maigo no Jikan -Kataru Shitsu- Lead role

Concerts

Year Title Role
2001 Kinki Kids First Concert Boku no Senaka ni wa Hane ga Aru Backup dancer
2001 Sugao 3 Backup dancer
2003–present Johnnys Countdown Concert Johnny's Entertainment performer
2017 KAT-TUN KAZUYA KAMENASHI CONCERT TOUR 2017 Theー ~Follow Me~ Main performer

Awards

Years Awards
2005
  • 44th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor - "Gokusen 2"
  • 8th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix: Best Supporting Actor - "Gokusen 2"
2006
  • 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor - "Nobuta wo Produce"
  • Japan Gold Disc Awards: Song Of The Year - "Seishun Amigo"
  • 23rd Best Jeans Award: Best Male Jeanist
2007
  • 24th Best Jeans Award: Best Male Jeanist
  • 1st Astar TV Drama Awards: Best New Asian Star of 2007 for Japan
2008
  • 25th Best Jeans Award: Best Male Jeanist
2009
  • 26th Best Jeans Award: Best Male Jeanist
  • 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter): Best Actor - "Kami no Shizuku"
2010
  • 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter): Best Actor - "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge"
  • 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Annual): Best Actor - "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge"
  • 27th Best Jeans Award: Best Male Jeanist
  • TV Navi Drama Awards (January–March) : Best Actor - "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge"
2011
  • 15th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Fall): Best Actor - Yokai Ningen Bem
  • 15th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Annual): Best Actor - Yokai Ningen Bem
  • 71st Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor - Yokai Ningen Bem
2013
  • 15th Udine Far East Film Festival, Italy - My Movie Audience Award (It's Me, It's Me)
2016
  • 19th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter): Best Actor - Kaito Yamaneko
2017
  • Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring): Best Actor - Boku, Unmei no hito desu

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kazuya Kamenashi para niños

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