Eiji Wentz
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese singer, entertainer, and actor. He is a member of the singer-songwriter duo WaT
, and belongs to the production company Burning Productions.
to a German-American father and Japanese mother, Wentz became involved in the entertainment industry at a very young age. Wentz initially started as a model at age 4, and made his acting debut as the role of Chip in the Four Seasons Musical Troupe Production of Beauty and the Beast
. He became famous as a child actor as a regular on the NHK television show where he played bass guitar
and piano
at age 10. During live performances, he played the acoustic bass
as well as the keyboard
. He started learning the guitar
from age 17.
He originally wanted to be a fashion model, but he was too short to become one. When he terminated his contract with Tensai Terebi-kun, he decided to get away from show-business, but after the recommendation of Hiromi Go
, he entered Burning Productions and became a tarento
.
He began his acting career at the age of 18, when he played a minor role in the NHK television series Toshiie To Matsu.
In 2007, he started to appear in several of Cocorico
's comedy shows as Shorty Tanaka (ちっこい田中, Little Tanaka), and since Tensai Terebi Kun, he is a deshi (exclusive student) of Yoshimoto
comedian Hosei Yamazaki.
with Teppei Koike
. They started in 2002 with street performances. In February 2004, they released an indie-label CD. In August 2005, they signed with Universal Music Group
and had their major debut in November 2005.
s. He also has over 800 manga
.
WaT
WaT is a Japanese pop duo composed of singers/songwriters Eiji Wentz and Teppei Koike. They met each other in 2002 and formed WaT, playing live street performances with their guitars. Their debut single, "Boku no Kimochi", was released in 2005. Wentz, who is half German-American and half Japanese,...
, and belongs to the production company Burning Productions.
Early career
Born in Mitaka, TokyoMitaka, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 November 2010, the city has an estimated population of 176,737. The total area is 16.50 km² and is about 50 – 55 meters above sea level...
to a German-American father and Japanese mother, Wentz became involved in the entertainment industry at a very young age. Wentz initially started as a model at age 4, and made his acting debut as the role of Chip in the Four Seasons Musical Troupe Production of Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
. He became famous as a child actor as a regular on the NHK television show where he played bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at age 10. During live performances, he played the acoustic bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
as well as the keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
. He started learning the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
from age 17.
He originally wanted to be a fashion model, but he was too short to become one. When he terminated his contract with Tensai Terebi-kun, he decided to get away from show-business, but after the recommendation of Hiromi Go
Hiromi Go
is a Japanese singer, part of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. His real name is .In the 1970s, he was called "New Big Three" with Goro Noguchi and Hideki Saijo. He belonged to Johnny & Associates, but later left the agency...
, he entered Burning Productions and became a tarento
Tarento
is a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
.
He began his acting career at the age of 18, when he played a minor role in the NHK television series Toshiie To Matsu.
In 2007, he started to appear in several of Cocorico
Cocorico
Cocorico may refer to:* The Brazilian TV program, Cocoricó* The French art magazine, Cocorico * The Puerto Rican soda drink, Coco Rico* A Japanese comedy act, Cocorico...
's comedy shows as Shorty Tanaka (ちっこい田中, Little Tanaka), and since Tensai Terebi Kun, he is a deshi (exclusive student) of Yoshimoto
Yoshimoto Kogyo
is a major Japanese entertainment conglomerate, with its headquarters based in Osaka. It was founded in 1912 as a traditional theatre, and has since grown to be one of the most influential companies in Japan, employing most of Japan's popular owarai talent, producing and promoting the shows they...
comedian Hosei Yamazaki.
Musical career
After Tensai Terebi-kun ended, Wentz continued to play music and started the band WaTWaT
WaT is a Japanese pop duo composed of singers/songwriters Eiji Wentz and Teppei Koike. They met each other in 2002 and formed WaT, playing live street performances with their guitars. Their debut single, "Boku no Kimochi", was released in 2005. Wentz, who is half German-American and half Japanese,...
with Teppei Koike
Teppei Koike
is an actor and singer from Japan. He was born in Ōsakasayama, Osaka Prefecture. He belongs to the production company Burning Productions and is a member of the singer-songwriter duo WaT with his partner, Eiji Wentz.- History :2001...
. They started in 2002 with street performances. In February 2004, they released an indie-label CD. In August 2005, they signed with Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and had their major debut in November 2005.
Popularity
His popularity may be derived from his self‐mocking "comedian" character, as he often talks about his "foolishness", short height, and lack of English skill (his father is American but he can't speak English).Personal life
Wentz is a follower of the baseball team Saitama Seibu Lions. He was once invited to the Lions' victory ceremony in 2008, and has a large collection of baseball cardBaseball card
A baseball card is a type of trading card relating to baseball, usually printed on some type of paper stock or card stock. A card will usually feature one or more baseball players or other baseball-related sports figures...
s. He also has over 800 manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
.
Variety television
- Hayami English Network (1994–1995)
- Tensai Terebi-kun / Tensai Terebi-kun Wide (April 1995 – March 2000)
- Chikara no Kagiri Go Go Go!! (October 2001 – February 2002)
- Shūkan Tokudane Kazoku!! (October 2002 – December 2002)
- F2/F2-X (October 2002 – September 2004)
- Nōnai Esthe IQ SupliIQ Sapuriis a Japanese game show airing Saturday nights from 19:00-19:54 JST on Fuji TV. It consists of mostly logic puzzles and brain teasers. Some examples of games are:*Kanji Puzzle*Match Sticks*Mis-match Manga*Spot the Difference-External links:*...
(May 2004 – March 2009, as host) - Pretty Kids (October 2004 – March 2005, as host)
- Hanataka Tengu (April 2005 – September 2005)
- Barioku! (October 2005 – March 2006, as host)
- Ame nimo Makezu (April 2006 – September 2006, as host)
- AinoriAinori', literally "Ride together", or "Car pool" but can also be read as "love ride", is a popular television program that runs Monday evenings from 11 pm in Japan on Fuji TV. It debuted on October 11, 1999...
(April 2006 – March 2009, as host) - Ponkikki (April 2006 – March 2007, as host)
- D no Gekijō (September 2006 – September 2007)
- Dokusen! Kinyōbi no Kokuhaku (October 2007 – March 2008)
- Kentei Japon (April 2008 – September 2008)
- Atarashii Nami 16 (October 2008 – March 2009, as host)
- Jinsei motto mankitsu hour Tokimeke! Week wonder (October 2008 – February 2009)
- Sakiyomi (July 2008 – present)
- Super Surprise (April 2009 – present, as host)
- Minna no Enquete Show Honne no Dendou!! Shinsuke niha wakarumai (May 2009 – present)
Television dramas
- Kyūmei Senshi Nano Seibaa (1995), a drama within the NHK show Tensai Terebi-kun
- Toshiie Tomatsu (2002) as Mori Ranmaru
- Tentei Kazoku (2002) as Tomoda Yūki
- GokusenGokusenis a manga series by Kozueko Morimoto. The story follows Kumiko Yamaguchi, the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss and teacher at an all-male private high school. In 2008, a SP manga was out, featuring some of Yankumi's old students who are by now working adults.In 2002, the manga was adapted into a...
, part 6 guest star (2002) as Yūki Masato - Raion Sensei (2003) as Furuta Takumi
- Fujiko Hemingu no Kiseki (2003) as Ōtsuki Urufu
- Aa, Tantei Jimusho, part 3 guest star (2004) as Inaba Yusuke
- Tadashii Renai no Susume (2005) as Takeda Hiroaki
- Rondo, part 1-2 guest star (2006) as Toda Masato
- Kirakira Kenshūi (2007) as Tachioka Ken
- Nodame Cantabile in Europe Lesson 1 & 2 (2008) as Franck
Movies
- Kamen Rider The FirstKamen Rider the Firstis a 2005 Japanese tokusatsu film. The film is an adaptation of the television series Kamen Rider, though there are many differences between the film and the original programme; some of these, however, are due to a closer reliance on the original Kamen Rider manga by Shotaro Ishinomori...
(2005) Mitamura Haruhiko - Animation movie Brave StoryBrave Storyis a Japanese fantasy novel written by Miyuki Miyabe. It was serialized in various regional newspapers between the November 11, 1999 and February 13, 2001 before being published in two hardcover volumes by Kadokawa Shoten in March 2003...
(2006) Ashikawa Mitsuru - Lovely ComplexLovely Complex, also known as Lovely Complex, is a romantic comedy shōjo manga by Aya Nakahara. It was published by Shueisha in Bessatsu Margaret from 2001 to 2006 and collected in 17 tankōbon volumes. The series is about the romance between a tall girl and a short boy who are treated as a comedy duo by their...
(2006) Dancing Yoshiko - Captain Tokio (2007) Furuta
- Gegege no Kitarō (2007) Kitarō
- Gegege no Kitarō: Sennen Noroi Uta (2008) Kitarō
- Nodame Cantabile: Saishū Gakushō (Part 2) (2010) Franck