Takeda Shinji: Chapter 3 ~ Acting & Musicals
Onto Takeda Shinji's acting career^^
First of all, among my favorite ladies, Shinji has acted together, once with Matsu Takako, twice with Kanno Miho and twice with Mizuki Arisa.
With Kanno Miho, besides Kimi no Te, they starred another drama together in 1998 titled LOVE AGAIN. The leads were Watabe Atsuro and Ishida Hikari. Watabe and Ishida's characters were highschool sweethearts and they still love each other, but Ishida was arranged married to Takeda Shinji, the heir of a big company where Watabe works. Kanno Miho played a girl who loves Watabe. So Shinji and Miho doesn't has much connection here, zannen...
With Matsu Takako, was in the drama "Konna Watashi ni Dare ga shita?" (Who Did This to Me?) in Oct-Dec 1996. The leads were Tsutsui Michitaka (Kakei in Kimura Takuya's Asunaro Hakusho/Ordinary People) and Takeda Shinji. Co-starring Esumi Makiko, Matsu Takako and Hirosue Ryoko. A comedy drama about two guys who aims to be professional comedian combi. Esumi is a genius manager who promised them stardom. Matsu is Tsutsui and Shinji's college classmate, their close friend. She never believe that they'll make it successfully and made fun of them. Both Tsutsui and Shinji has feelings for Matsu, and Matsu seem to show signs of liking Shinji more. But although Shinji and Matsu had feelings for each other, they tried to ignore their feelings and keep maintain their friendship. Among fans, this was said to be a "maboroshi"(illusion) drama, because it was never released as VHS nor DVD. And it was never rerun on TV due to the low ratings in the original airtime. Hiks... I'm so sad =( Mitaiii... Shinji-Matsu combi.... T_T
With Mizuki Arisa... was "Houkago" (Afterschool) in 1992. I had this drama since a loooong time ago (I watched this in 2003 I think?) and I loved it, loved it, loved it! Such a hillarious, fun, comedy highschool drama lead by Arisa and Ishida Issei. These two switched souls and so Arisa had to play the role of a boy and Issei had to be a girl, lol! Hillarious! Takeda Shinji played a very small role as this geek/nerd boy with glasses that Arisa has a crush on... well, Arisa's character in Ishida Issei's body to be exact, lol. The second time was "Jajauma Narashi" (Taming the Stubborn Tomboy Girl) in 1993, I've reviewed this before here: http://yanie02.livejournal.com/80245.html
As an actor, I think his most worthy drama was really "Kimi no Te ga Sasayaite iru":
http://yanie02.livejournal.com/tag/kimi no te ga sasayaiteiru
This is the most successful drama that he lead, and according to Wiki, together with Kanno Miho, he received highly positive critics and praises for his acting performance in this drama.
Another well-received drama Shinji lead was the original version of "Minami-kun no Koibito" in early 1994. The rating was very good back then and the drama was quite popular among youngsters. Due to this drama, Shinji shot stardom and became more popular among young girls. I love this drama alot, alot! Minami-kun and Chiyomi's relationship is just too cute and adorable!^v^ And "Minami-kuuuunn!!" ...kyaaa, I love Minami-kun character alot! Kakkoiii and yasashiii, just like Nobe Hirofumi! XDDD I read past articles about this drama and apparently the director wanted for Minami Hiroyuki character to be as close as it can to Takeda Shinji's true nature, so the director told him he can just be himself, and also they let Shinji choose his own outfits for the filming. I really think Shinji and Takahashi Yumiko has very good chemistry and that's amazing, because Shinji has to film most of the scenes with Chiyomi by himself alone!O_O Bcoz 16cm tall Chiyomi has to be filmed with blue screens. But I think Shinji's acting here was great, without seeing Takahashi Yumiko's expressions in real time, he can act responsively, and right on the spot too, like when he feel a bit embarrassed or a bit dokidoki and all. Shinji gave comments back then, that it was such an unpassable high wall for him, for being so young yet he has to perform acting all by himself in most of the scenes and has to respond to someone doesn't exist in front of him. But I think he did just great! My most fave scene was when they sing together at karaoke and the song is Nakayama Miho's "Sekaijuu no Dare yori Kitto"! Love that song!^v^ This drama has a sad ending, and Shinji's tears in the ending scene was so real, felt so hurt to see that =( But then, due to the audience's complains, FujiTV made a drama SP a year later with a happy ending, ha...
Besides what I mentioned above, the other dramas he lead.... were a flop XD Of course he starred successful dramas too, like Suna no Utsuwa, Hotaru no Hikari, Wakamono no Subete, but... he was just a supporting character in those dramas.
Another Shinji's drama I'm interested in, is the drama adaptation of the GHIBLI anime movie, "Umi ga Kikoeru" (I Can Hear the Sea). But this SP drama is kind of like a sequel to the anime. I love the anime so I'd really like to see the drama adaptation! Too bad I can't find this anywhere. He's the lead here.
I also want to watch his drama SP "Sore kara no Hibi" (Everyday Life Since Then) in 2004, co-starring Matsumoto Koshiro (Matsu Takako's father) and Seto Asaka. Koshiro as his father, Asaka as his little sister. A family drama. But I can't find this one anywhere as well =(
In terms of quality, I think "Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai" a drama in 2006 that he starred, was very good. But the ratings were very low. I've reviewed this one before: http://yanie02.livejournal.com/80770.html
Currently, I'll be looking forward to his appearance in "0-goshitsu no Kyaku" starting Feb 26. But what I'm looking forward to, the most, is INCITE MILL movie, adapted from the best-selling suspense thriller novel about 10 people locked up in the building and they were forced to kill each other, starring Fujiwara Tatsuya, Ayase Haruka, Ishihara Satomi too and many more! It's to celebrate HoriPro anniversary and Shinji is one of the 10 people.
I think Shinji is more successful and active in the wide-screen movie world. He's a leading role in most of the movies he starred.
His BEST MOVIE ever is definitely "Koneko no Namida" (Tears of a Kitty) premiered in 2008, starring together with Hirosue Ryoko. I've reviewed this here: http://yanie02.livejournal.com/81294.html
In 1998, he got a leading role in "Tokyo Eyes", a Japanese-speaking movie directed by a French director, Jean-Pierre Limosin and produced by a French production house as well. At first, the original script was written as "Paris Eyes", a French film, with local casts and crew and the movie was to be shot in Paris. However, the director suddenly changed his mind and decided to shoot it in Japan with Japanese casts. The director and the chief-operator, both French, did not speak Japanese but they decided to take the challenge anyway and accepted to work with Japanese casts and crews. Shinji was chosen by the director to play the leading role after three months casting, auditioning a number of Japanese actors. The background of this movie was pretty interesting, but to be honest, I didn't really like the movie.
I personally love his movie in 1995, titled Daishitsuren ~ LOST LOVE, which also stars Yamaguchi Tomoko, Kato Masaya, Suzuki Kyoka, Nakatani Miki, Kanno Miho and Seto Asaka. There are 8 love stories in this movie and it all started in an amusement park^^ Shinji was paired with Nakatani Miki and their story is one of my favorite because it's very youthful and fun. Ex-SMAP member, Katsuyuki Mori, also starred this movie.
One of his worth-to-mention movie, I guess, is GOHATTO (Taboo), a Beat Takeshi movie in 1999. It depicts the story of the Shinsengumi troops and Shinji played the role of Okita Soji, the first regime captain of Shinsengumi. I'm a fan of NHK's Shinsengumi, but I was kinda disappointed watching this one, due to the yaoi elements, lol. Sorry, I'm definitely not a fan of yaoi stuff XD Thank goodness, Shinji was not involved in any of the yaoi scenes nor plot, lol.
He had also lead a Taiwanese movie, "Drop Me a Cat" in 2003, that has never been shown in Japan. Hmm... I guess Shinji's voice is dubbed here.
He was the leading role in LOVEDEATH, a 2007 movie. This movie was pretty nice, to my surprise and it has hillarious scenes that I just couldn't stop laughing, but there are also some gory, violent scenes, so I guess this is like a black comedy. Shinji plays Sai, a young ex-yakuza member, seeked by a yakuza boss' girlfriend, Sheela. Sheela stole away a big sum of money from the yakuza boss, so she is a fugitive wanted by both the police and the yakuza gang. She seeked help from Sai and so they both made an escape together. The movie was full of actions and half-naked Shinji =P Gosh, that perfect body!*v* Shinji only has one minus point ne... he is short XD
Anyway, I enjoyed the hillarious scenes between the idiotic cops and idiotic yakuza guys, and Shinji was ULTRA-KAKKOII during the fight scenes and gun-shooting scenes. He had a lips-sucking kiss too, with the female lead. Wow, he kisses real nice =P
In all the stage plays he has ever starred, 80% of them he was the leading role. What I reeeaaally want to watch is Densha Otoko The Stageplay!*v* I think Shinji can really pull it off as an otaku, lol.
I've watched one of his stageplay full in video, titled "Yashagaike" (The Demon Pond), also starring Tabata Tomoko, Matsuda Ryuhei and Matsuyuki Yasuko. It is a play directed by the famous, Miike Takashi. It has some great dialogues and superb acting from the casts, I think Matsuyuki Yasuko's performance as the Dragon Princess was amazing. Too bad, the general plot lacks, or maybe it's just not my cup of tea.
What interests me the most is that Shinji does musicals as well. Can he sing? Apparently, he sooooooo can!! He has a very lovely musical singing voice!!*v* I'm pleasantly surprised! (and I think this what made me admire him alot more! Coz I LOVE musical stuff!)
So far, he has starred 1 musical wide-screen movie and 4 musical stageplays. The movie is titled "Happiness of the Katakuris", premiered in 2002, a Miike Takashi film, with a mix of horror, comedy, claymation sequences and MUSICAL. It has received many positive critics. It is loosely adapted from a Korean 1998 film titled "The Quiet Family", another black comedy movie, but I think the Korean one is not musical at all. Shinji actually sings and dances in this "Happiness of the Katakuris" movie. Omoshiroi!^^
As for stageplays, among the 4 musicals, he is the leading role in 3 of them, "Triumph of Love", "Elizabeth" and "Blood Brothers".
I don't know much about "Triumph of Love", about prince and princess' love story, I think^^ The female lead is Asami Hikaru, a well-known stage actress, ex-Takarazuka member.
Here's a musical scene from "Elisabeth", a duet by Death(Takeda Shinji) and Elizabeth (Suzukaze Mayo): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeBJCbQG1Do
Shinji played the male lead, the angel of Death (or the Grim Reaper) who is romantically involved with Princess Elizabeth. Shinji gets very positive critics for his performance as Death in "Elizabeth", one of them is here: http://todaysgoneby.com/?p=131
Ever since his awesome performance in Elizabeth, seem like Shinji's musical acting skill is more acknowledged in the musical world. Last year summer, he got another leading role in the musical play, "BLOOD BROTHERS", originated from West-End, England. This musical will return again this year, in April and May, performing in other towns beside Tokyo.
BLOOD BROTHERS sets in London about twin brothers, Mickey(Takeda Shinji) and Eddie, who were separated since birth. Mickey raised in a poor family. Eddie raised in a rich family. At 7 years old, they met coincidentally and become friends without knowing their own identities. But as their mother believe in superstitious that twin brothers separated since birth will die when they meet again and know the truth, she and Eddie's adoptive mother always tries to separate them. Mickey and Eddie has a childhood friend, Linda(Suzuki Ami). When they grew up, Mickey falls for Linda. Eddie loves Linda as well. But Eddie knows Mickey loves her too, and let them be together. Although Linda finally married Mickey and had a baby with him, during the downfall of Mickey's life (he robbed a bank and got prisoned), Linda turned to Eddie. The climax scene is the twin brothers aiming guns at each other...
My goodness, the story reminds me too much, of a Chinese wuxia writer, Gu Long's novel titled "Jue Dai Shuang Jiao" (The Twins), LOL!
That's one of my most favorite wuxia novel. Mickey sounds alot like Xiao Yu er, the bad/evil brother, and the one who live in poverty =P Maybe the creator of this play was inspired from that Chinese novel^^
What's interesting is... the main casts, Takeda Shinji, Suzuki Ami, etc plays the 7 years old characters as well! lol.
I love Takeda Shinji - Suzuki Ami pair! He calls her "Ami-chan" ^^ They look good together. In the press conference, when Ami was asked how will she portray Linda in love with Mickey, Linda's first love, she said, "I'll just imagine my pet dog...". Shinji look so shocked, haha~ The other casts asked, "So there's no Mickey in your mind but your dog??". Shinji asked too, "I'll be right in front of you, but you'll imagine your dog instead?" looking hurt! Haha~ Suzuki Ami is quite funny. Shinji give comments in interview that she's such a carefree person and she never look sad or upset at all, always cheerful. And as I mentioned before in the previous entry, when Suzuki Ami was asked by the interviewer, "Which part of Takeda Shinji-san you want him to fix?". She said, "I hope he'd stop coming to my changing room, apologizing to me for his mistakes during the play, while brushing his teeth!".
In August this year, Shinji will be starring another musical play titled "ROCK 'N ROLL", also starring Ichimura Masachika(Shinohara Ryoko's husband). Actually, Shinji is currently on concert tour together with Ichimura now titled "Sorezore no Concert", performing musical numbers as well with Shinji playing the saxophone.
Seem like Shinji is currently focusing on musicals ^_^ I'm hoping he'll cross path with Matsu Takako someday in a musical^^
To be continued...