ACTOR INTRODUCTION:
TAKENAKA NAOTO 竹中直人
Welcome to the first Actor Introduction of this blog! I'll be trying to write about famous actors of Japan, hopefully, those that are not too famous in the West so that I don't just repeat the ramblings of other people on more famous/younger/better looking (but usually less talented people).
Well with that out of the way......
The actor that I'll be briefly (hopefully) babbling about today is the multi-talented Takenaka Naoto (竹中 直人). Non-Japanese people who watch Japanese dramas and movies possibly may recognise this unique face, but not quite know just who he is, as he has appeared in many popular shows/films, but usually as support characters.
Generally, he plays a comedic or odd ball character, which he does with great skill, having first breaked out onto show business as a comedian back in the late 70's. He gained the attention of public with his monomane (impersonation) skills, the most notable being Bruce Lee and Matsuda Yuusaku (actor). He eventually progressed from being a comedian to acting in films and dramas, and spent most of the 80's being an actor. However, it was really from the 90's that he bloomed.
**Shiko is like a traditional stepping action that Sumo's do. Fujatta is stepped, so = (I) Stepped Shiko.
Here's a video of shiko. Start the video at around 48sec to see.

Other popular movies that he has been in, although in bit part roles (as usual), are
Azumi
(With cutie pie Ueto Aya O(≧▽≦)Oキャー!!)
Ping Pong
Water Boys
Swing Girls
(with Ueno Juri)
He also had a veeeery small role in 20th Century Boys, in which he basically does a weird little dance and drops dead.......it's fairly random and funny.
The role that most non-Japanese people would recognise him off in recent times however is as the perverted orchestra conductor Franz von Strezeman, off the extremely popular drama series "Nodame Cantabile".
Yes, he plays some old European dude, and looks quite ridiculous. The make up is quite cheap (?, well its a drama) and is obviously an Asian man with a prosthetic nose and machine aided tan. You eventually stop taking notice of it though (sort of), but that doesn't really matter because he is quite hilarious in this role with his strange Japanese accent and shifty movements....and pervasious (don't think thats a word) eyes. A very funny ero oyaji (Old perv).
Okay well i've finally kind of written most of what I think I should about him, plus I can't really be bothered doing anymore...
Basically he's the comedic bit-part king of Japan, and its quite amazing, as despite mostly only having small roles such as this, he is still generally very noticeable and memorable with the characters he plays. He oozes a unique aura, unique face, a deep unique voice and unique character, and I suppose that this the reason why he's so famous in Japan, or at least the reason I like him. Look at the friendly face on the first picture....I would love to have him as an uncle or something..
lol, amazing actor! I first saw him on Water boys and was really blown away! I also watched ping pong but it wasn't as memorable as Water boys. need to watch Swing girls one of these days, can't really find the time to do so T_T
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with you about Ping Pong. I didn't find it particularly interesting to be honest hehe..but yes you definitely should watch Swing Girls when you get the chance to!
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