Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, born July 9, 1974 in Seiyo, Ehime, Japan)[1] is a Japanese actor, singer, television host, and a former member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia.[2]

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
草彅 剛
Kusanagi in 2006
Kusanagi in 2006
Background information
Born (1974-07-09) July 9, 1974
OriginSeiyo, Ehime, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, television host
Years active1987–present
LabelsJohnny & Associates
Member of
  • Atarashii Chizu
Formerly of

Early life

Kusanagi grew up in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan.

Career

Music
Main article: SMAP

In 1987, at age 13, Kusanagi auditioned to enter Johnny & Associates, a Japanese talent agency that recruits and trains young boys, preteens to teens, to become singers and members of boy bands. After five of the other band members auditioning individually from 1986 through 1987, in autumn 1987, twenty boys, from ages ten to seventeen, were put together into a group called The Skate Boys, which was initially created as backup dancers for a famous boy band, Hikaru Genji.[3] In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".[4]

A year after the dissolution of SMAP, Kusanagi, alongside former members Shingo Katori, and Goro Inagaki formed the group, Atarashii Chizu.[5][6]

Acting

He had the lead role in the movie, Yomigaeri (黄泉がえり) (January 18, 2003; a Japan public presentation). Moreover, his Korean-language-Japanese-produced movie The Hotel Venus (ホテルビーナス, Hoteru Bīnasu) (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004.

In 2020, Kusanagi took on the role of Nagisa, a transgender nightclub worker in Eiji Uchida's Midnight Swan. The film won numerous awards, such as Picture of the Year, and he was subsequently awarded the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.[7]

Television

As a member of the boyband SMAP, Kusanagi used to co-host the weekly variety show SMAP×SMAP alongside his fellow bandmates for 20 years. In 2001, he hosted the variety show Chonangang on Fuji TV.[8] Determined to debut in Korea, Kusanagi started learning the Korean language and appearing on Korean variety shows. This focus on Korean culture led to him adopting Chonangang as his Korean persona in various SMAP concerts, even releasing several singles. Originally, Chonangang was intended to focus on Kusanagi's journey in South Korea, however lasted eight years due to its popularity.[9] Because of the show's success, the format shifted to feature interviews with popular Korean celebrities such as Lee Min-ho, and led to Kusanagi interviewing former South Korean Presidents Roh Moo-hyun, and Lee Myung-bak on TBS.[10]

Personal life

Kusanagi announced his marriage on December 30, 2020.[11]

Arrest

On April 23, 2009, at around 3 a.m., Kusanagi was arrested on suspicion of public indecency at Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo.[12] On April 24, 2009, he held a press conference accompanied by his attorney and apologized for his misbehavior. Prosecutors decided not to indict Kusanagi because of his apology. He took a one-month-long hiatus and returned to the taping of SMAPxSMAP on May 28, 2009.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 Shoot! Kamiya Atsushi Lead role
1995 Anne no Nikki Peter (voice)
1999 Messengers Hironori Suzuki Lead role
2000 Séance Fumio Hayasaka Guest appearance
2003 Yomigaeri Heita Kawada Lead role
2004 The Hotel Venus Chonan Lead role
The Taste of Tea Projectionist Cameo appearance
Nin x Nin: Ninja Hattori-kun, the Movie Man Cameo appearance
2006 Sinking of Japan Toshio Onodera Lead role
Like a Virgin Japanese teacher Cameo appearance
2007 The Adventures of Super Monkey Sagosho Cameo appearance
2008 Yama no Anata Tokuichi Lead role
I Want to Be a Shellfish Saburo Onishi Cameo appearance
2009 Ballad Matabe Ijiri Lead role
2011 1,778 Stories of Me and My Wife Sakutaro Makimura Lead role
2012 A Ghost of a Chance Teruo Hosho
Dearest Yuji Tamiya
Ninkyo Helper Hikoichi Tsubasa Lead role
2013 Maruyama, the Middle Schooler Tatsuo Shimoi Lead role
2015 Attack on Titan Grisha Cameo appearance
Attack on Titan End of the World Grisha Cameo appearance
2018 The Bastard and the Beautiful World Osamu Anthology film
2019 Makuko Koichi Nagumo
The Stormy Family Kotetsu Suzuki Lead role
2020 Midnight Swan Nagisa Lead role
2022 Sabakan [13]
2024 Goban-giri Yanagida Kakunoshin Lead role [14]

Television (as actor)
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1988–1989 Abunai Shonen III Himself Main role
1989 Jikan desuyo Heisei Gannen Hattori
1990 P.S. Oboetokeyo Tsuyoshi
1991 Furimukeba Kimi… Takashi Kobayashi
1992 Motto, Tokimeki wo Himself Guest appearance
1992–1993 Hime-chan no Ribbon Koichi Shikura / Himself (voice)
1995 Inochi Uruwashiku Daisuke Tsugawa
Tsuki Uma-ya Oen Jikencho Seinosuke Ikeda
Ienakiko 2 Tsuyoshi Kuroiwa
Mada Koi wa Hajimaranai Hiroshi Ochiai
Mokuyou no Kaidan Shinichi Imamura Main role
1996 Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari 8 Ichiro Hiraoka
Kekkon Shiyouyo Jyunya Sugimura
Oishii Kankei Kazuma Kimura
1997 Boku ga Boku de Arutame ni Etsuro Mizoguchi Main role
Sasho Taeko Sadatsugu Yurioka
Ii Hito Yuji Kitano Main role
Gift Yuji Kitano Guest appearance; episode 7
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Ichiro Kawashima Main role
Narita Rikon Ichiro Hoshino Main role
1998 Sensei Shiranaino? Yusaku Kinoshita Main role
Jinbē Shin Teranishi
1999 Furuhata Ninzaburo vs SMAP Himself Main role
Bakayaro 1999 Masato Yamaguchi Main role
Kourei Fumio Hayasaka Cameo appearance
1999–2003 Team Yusuke Kazami Main role
2000 Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari Taro Tanaka Main role
2000–2001 Food Fight Mitsuru Ihara Main role
2001 Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari Kenichiro Honda Main role
Star no Koi Sosuke Nakata Main role
2002 Saranheyo Chonan Kan Main role
2003 Boku no Ikiru Michi Hideo Nakamura Main role
Taikouki Saru to Yobareta Otoko Hideyoshi Toyotomi Main role
2004 Shinsengumi! Enomoto Takeaki Taiga drama
Kaikyou wo Wataru Violin Chanhyon Chin Main role
X’smap Master Main role
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi Inu to Yobareta Otoko Tsunayoshi Tokugawa Main role
2005 Koi ni Ochitara Shimao Suzuki Main role
Chiisana Untenshu Yohei Takanashi Guest appearance
2005–present PythagoraSwitch Himself (voice)
2006 Ai to Shi wo Mitsumete Minoru Kono Main role
Boku no Aruku Michi Teruaki Otake Main role
2008 Suzuki Fusai no Jingi naki Tatakai Lawyer Cameo appearance; episode 1 and 2
Ryokiteki na Kanojo Saburo Masaki Main role
2009 Yume wo Kanaeru Zou Fumio Fumiyama (voice) Main role
Crayon Shin-chan Mataro (voice) Guest appearance
2009–2011 Ninkyo Helper Hikoichi Tsubasa Main role
2010 99 Years of Love: Japanese Americans Nagayoshi / Ichiro Hiramatsu Main role
Dokutomato Satsujin Jiken Himself Main role
2011 Fuyu no Sakura Tasuku Inaba Main role
2012 37sai de Isha ni natta Boku Yuta Konno Main role
Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Makoto Saeki Main role
2013 Aji Ichi Monme Yoshito Takuma Cameo appearance
Kamisama no Belebou Osamu Tezuka Main role
Dokushin Kizoku Mamoru Hoshino Main role
Furuhata vs SMAP The Aftermath Himself Main role
2013–2016 Specialist Yoshito Takuma Main role
2014 Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Kenta Misawa Main role
Oretachi ni Asu wa aru Himself Main role
Sazae-san Himself (voice) Guest appearance; episode 7148
2015 Zeni no Sensou Tomio Shiraishi Main role
Shin Naniwa Kinyudo Tomio Shiraishi Guest appearance
2017 Uso no Sensou Koichi Ichinose Main role
2021 Reach Beyond the Blue Sky Tokugawa Yoshinobu Taiga drama [15]
2022 Lost Man Found Takeshi [16]
2023 War of Traps Washizu Toru Main role [17]
Boogie Woogie Zen'ichi Hatori Asadora [18]

Television (as personality)
Year Title Role Notes
1994–2014 Waratte Iitomo Himself
1995–1996 Tamori’s The World of Music Himself
1996–1997 Oh! El Club Himself (host)
1996–2016 SMAP×SMAP Himself (host, chef, performer)
1997 Scratch Himself (host)
1997–2005 Docchi no Ryori Show Himself
1998 Muchu Sengen Ganbarimasu Himself (host)
1998–2018 Pussma Himself (host)
2001–2003 Chikyu Fushigi Daishizen Himself (narrator)
2001–2010 Chonan Kan Himself (host)
2003–2016 Tsuyoshi Kusanagi’s Ganbatta Taishou Himself (host)
2004–2014 Bokura no Ongaku Himself (host)
2005 24 Hour Television Himself (host) Telethon
2005–2014 FNS Music Festival Himself (host) TV special; 15 episodes
2007–2016 Baby Smap Himself (host)
2012–2014 FNS Music Fes. In Summer Himself (host) TV special; 3 episodes
2014–2015 SmaShip Himself (host) TV special; 2 episodes
2015–present Bura Tamori Himself (narrator)
2022-present Waruiko Atsumare Himself (host, performer) 2 episodes in 2021; 1 episode in 2022; become a regular show from April 2022
2022-present Kusanagi Yasutomo no Usagi to Kame Himself (host) 4 episodes in 2021; become a regular show from May, 2022

Web program
Year Title Role Notes
02-05/11/2017 72 Hour Honne TV Host
01/01/2018 27 Hun Hon no chotto TV Host
30-31/01/2018 72 Hun mou chotto TV - Shingo Katori Birthday Special Himself Appeared on phone
May, 2018-present 7.2 Atarashii Betsu no Mado Himself (host, performer)
16/09/2018 Namie Amuro Densetsu's Live Video Revival: WE ▼ NAMIE FINAL Encore LIVE Host
2019-2021 Nagisuke! Host With Yusuke Santamaria

Japanese dub
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2005 Robots Rodney [19]
2007 Strings Hal
2018 Mutafukaz Angelino [20]

Radio
Year Title Role Notes
1994–2016 Ohayo SMAP Himself
1995–present SMAP POWER SPLASH → ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH Himself Changed to "ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH" since 2017

Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Saint Seiya Shiryu Lead role
1992 Dragon Quest Atlas Lead role
1993 Another Shunichi Lead role
Hime-chan's Ribbon Daichi Kobayashi Lead role
1995 Haisenkoku no Oji Taketoshi Hanezawa Lead role
1999–2000 Kamata Koshin-kyoku Yasuji Muraoka Lead role
2002 Tsubaki Hime Himself Lead role
2006 Chichi Kaeru Kenichiro Kuroda Lead role
2008 Mabuta no Haha Chutaro Lead role
2010 K2 Taylor Lead role
2012–2013 Boku ni Honou no Sensha wo Naoki Yanagihara Lead role
2013 Nito Monogatari Sukune Lead role
2015 burst! Himself Lead role
2018 Ballyturk
2018 Musical Drama: La Strada Zampano
2019 Family Story PART1 Nakaji Nobuhiro Lead role
2021 Family Story PART1 Nakaji Nobuhiro Replay
2020 Musical Drama: The rise of Arturo Ui Arturo Ui Lead role
2021-2022 Musical Drama: The rise of Arturo Ui Arturo Ui Replay
2022 burst! Himself Replay

Publications
  • Kore ga Boku desu. (April 1997) ISBN 978-4847012792
  • Okiraku (March 2007) ISBN 978-4048944892
  • Kusanagiron (May 2008) ISBN 978-4087804942
  • Okiraku 2 (March 2016) ISBN 978-4047317321
  • Jeongmal Book (December 2002) ISBN 978-4838714254
  • Jeongmal Book Hangul (December 2002) ISBN 978-4838714186
  • Jeongmal Book 2 (November 2004) ISBN 978-4838715589
  • Jeongmal Book 2.5 (November 2004) ISBN 978-4838715596
  • Tsuki no Machi Yama no Machi (February 2011) ISBN 978-4847019647
  • Document Kusanagi Tsuyoshi in Yomigaeri (2003) ISBN 978-4048535755
  • The Hotel Venus Starring Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (2004) ISBN 978-4048537353
  • Nippon Chinbotsu Photo Book featuring Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (2006) ISBN 978-4048539807
  • Yama no Anata Tokushi no Koi (2008) ISBN 978-4087804959

References
  1. The second character 彅 in his Japanese name is composed of a thinned 弓 the left of a 剪. (It does not appear correctly in some cases.)
  2. "SMAP". Japan-Zone. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  3. "SMAP". Japan-Zone. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  4. "SMAPの前身「スケートボーイズ」に所属していた豪華メンバーたち". Excite News. Nikkan Taishu. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. Ronald (September 22, 2017). "A New Group Rises Out of SMAP's Ashes". ARAMA! JAPAN. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  6. "Former SMAP members announce new project with clues". SBS PopAsia. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  7. Schilling, Mark (March 19, 2021). "Japan Academy Awards Hand Top Honor to Indie Hit 'Midnight Swan' While 'Fukushima 50' Triumphs". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  8. "チョナン・カン". フジテレビ (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  9. Min, Yuen Shu (March 1, 2011). "Kusanagi Tsuyoshi x Chonangang: Transcending Japanese/Korean Ethnic Boundaries in Japanese Popular Culture". Asian Studies Review. 35 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1080/10357823.2011.552708. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 218621789.
  10. "SMAP草彅くん、韓国大統領と直接対話。2代に渡る。". ライブドアニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  11. "草なぎ剛、一般女性と結婚「今までと変わらぬスタンスで仕事を続けていきたい」". Oricon. December 30, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  12. "SMAP member Kusanagi arrested for stripping naked in Tokyo park". Japan Today. Kyodo. April 23, 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011.
  13. "尾野真千子＆貫地谷しほり＆草彅剛らが出演『サバカンSABAKAN』製作決定". Cinema Cafe. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  14. "碁盤斬り". eiga.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  15. "青天を衝け:草なぎ剛は「天性」 慶喜役で改めて増す存在感 CP「こういう人だったのでは」と". Mantan-web. December 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  16. "「拾われた男」に薬師丸ひろ子、北村有起哉、要潤、田辺桃子、夏帆ら19名出演". Natalie. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. "罠の戦争". TV drama database. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  18. "草なぎ剛、朝ドラ初出演に喜び 『ブギウギ』で"ヒロインの師匠"役【コメント全文】". Oricon. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  19. "『ロボッツ』". Cinema Today. June 13, 2005. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  20. "『ムタフカズ』声優陣に上坂すみれ、桜庭和志、Creepy Nuts、吉田尚記ら". CINRA.NET. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
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