Takeshi Kaneshiro

Videogames

• Onimusha: Warlords(2001) (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
• Onimusha 3: Demon Siege(2004) - (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi

Misc

• Smap X Smap September(2002) TV Episode
• Smap X Smap October(2002) TV Episode

Awards

Takeshi Kaneshiro is one of 10 recipients of the Green Planet Film Award (23 March 2010) in the category "10 Best International Actors of the Decade (Asia)". Source - the official site of the award http://www.movie-voters.com/3001.html .

Personal life

Kaneshiro is known for trying to avoid the media spotlight. He 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.”

Career

In 1992, Kaneshiro made his singing debut, entering the business with the nickname Aniki, meaning 'older brother' in Japanese. His debut album wasHeartbreaking 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.

His first movie wasExecutioners(1993) and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Wong Kar-wai filmChungking Express(1994) and a string of other Hong Kong movies. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the highly successful Japanese TV mini-seriesGod, Please Give Me More Time(1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese movies such asReturner(2002).

Kaneshiro's work, however, is more heavily concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 2008 and 2009 for its second part he starred inRed Cliff(Chinese: 赤壁; pinyin: Chìbì), a high budget film by Hong Kong director John Woo . He has also played the romantic lead in the Zhang Yimou filmHouse of Flying Daggers, and starred alongside Jet Li and Andy Lau in the filmThe Warlords. Kaneshiro has 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.

In 2003, Kaneshiro was featured in Time Magazine and was coined as becoming the Asian film industry's Johnny Depp .Moreover, Kaneshiro was interviewed by CNN in the TalkAsia segment in 2006.

Outside of the entertainment business, Kaneshiro has acted as a spokesperson and model for Emporio Armani (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, and the most recent Biotherm Homme since 2005.

Biography

Kaneshiro's mother is from Taiwan and his father from Okinawa , Japan.He was born and raised in Taipei and hold Japanese citizenship.

He has two elder brothers, one seven years older, one one year older.After graduating from Taipei Japanese Junior High School, he enrolled at English-based Taipei American School , which enabled him to converse in English . While he was studying there, he began doing TV commercials and decided to quit school to pursue a singing and acting career. He is multi-lingual, fluent in Mandarin , Taiwanese Hokkien and Japanese , and to lesser degrees in English and Cantonese .

Name

Kaneshirois a common Okinawan family name .In kanji ,金城isKaneshiroand武isTakeshi( given name ), with Japanese readings. He appears as金城 武(Kaneshiro Takeshi) in Japanese media.

AlthoughKaneshirois not a Chinese surname, the first kanji ofKaneshirocoincides with the Chinese surnameJin金and with the Korean surname "Kim" 김. Since personal names are commonly written in Chinese characters in both Chinese and Japanese naming conventions, with surnames before given names, this gives Kaneshiro the freedom whether distinguish himself as a Japanese or not when working in Chinese-speaking countries by preserving or removing the space between his surname and given name.

Albums

Movie soundtracks

Movies

• The Battle of Red Cliff II(2009) asZhuge Liang
• K-20: Legend of the MaskK-20(2008)
• The Battle of Red Cliff(2008) asZhuge Liang
• Sweet Rain(2008) asChiba - The Death God
• The Warlords(2007) as Jiang Wuyang
• Confession of Pain(2006) as Bong
• Perhaps Love(2005) (TitledWinter Songfor the Japanese release)
• House of Flying Daggers(2004) (TitledLoversfor the Japanese release)
• Turn Left, Turn Right(2003)
• Returner(2002)
• Lavender(2000)
• Space Travelers(2000)
• Tarzan(1999) asTarzan(Voice for Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese versions)
• Tempting Heart(1999)
• The Sleepless Town(1998)
• Anna Magdalena(1998)
• Too Tired to Die(1998)
• First Love: The Litter on the Breeze(1997)
• The Odd One Dies(1997)
• Downtown Torpedoes(1997)
• Hero - The Legend(1997)
• The Jail In Burning Island(1997)
• Misty(1996)
• Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words"(1996)
• Lost and Found(1996)
• Forever Friends(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
• Heroic Trio 2: Executioners(1993)

Drama

Kamisama, Mou Sukoshi Dake

Japan

• 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)

1. 城, very commonly found in surnames and place names *snip* Thus Kaneshiro can also be read Kinjo.", by George H. Kerr
2. ^ http://www.wretch.cc/blog/gakinme/4742069
3. ^ movieseer.com
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12. in TOUCHmagazine (Hong Kong) Issue 46 Nov, 05
"Takeshi Kaneshiro" . imdb.com. . Retrieved April 12, 2010. "Takeshi Kaneshiro" . chinesemov.com. . Retrieved April 12, 2010.