Kanata Hongo
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese actor
and model
. He is part of Stardust Talent agency and has appeared several times in music videos, movies, TV series, and magazines. His major breakthrough role was as the anime character Ryoma Echizen
in the film adaptation
of The Prince of Tennis
, and became even more widely known when he was cast as Shin in Nana 2
. In television, his most notable role was as Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono
and recently he starred in Seigi no Mikata
.
, Hyde
and Leehom Wang. Hongō played the role of Sho as a child, while the adult role was played by Gackt. He appeared in a movie called Hinokio
which was released in July 2005 in Japan
. Hongō is also the young boy in the singer Yui
's music video for her song "Tomorrow's Way." In 2006, Kanata was cast as the popular anime
character Ryoma Echizen
in the live-action adaptation film of The Prince of Tennis
. He joined the majority of the Seigaku Regulars of the Prince of Tennis musicals
as he was replacing Kotaro Yanagi, who couldn't play the role due to a car accident he was involved in.
Hongō also portrayed the young bassist Shinichi Okazaki in the movie Nana 2
, which was released in Japan on December 9, 2006. He had replaced Kenichi Matsuyama who had previously played Shin in the first Nana
film. His next feature film was alongside Michael Pitt
and Keira Knightley
in Silk which was screened at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
. This marked Hongō's first appearance in an English language film, where he played a Japanese servant boy. He also starred in another music video, B'z
s "Eien no Tsubasa
" along with Tsubasa Honda and in GReeeeN
's music video of "Namida Sora".
In television, Hongō's first major role was as major supporting character Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono
and performed a wonderful tear jerking moment in one of the later episodes. His superb job in acting lead him to being another major supporting character in the drama
Seito Shokun! as rebellious student Kohei Aoki. Later, he appeared as a guest in two other shows. In 2008, he starred as Riku Okamoto in Seigi no Mikata
, broadcasted by NTV. He said Okamoto was probably his most normal role to date. He was then featured in the music video for The Gospellers' "Sky High", which was the opening to the second season of anime Nodame Cantabile
.
Hongō starred in three films in late 2008. They included Aoi Tori, K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces and Goth. The latter two were released in Japan on the same day, December 20. Goth is based on a Japanese novel with the same name, written by Otsuichi.
His latest movie portrayal was as Jōichiro Nishi in Gantz (live action movie).
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. He is part of Stardust Talent agency and has appeared several times in music videos, movies, TV series, and magazines. His major breakthrough role was as the anime character Ryoma Echizen
Ryoma Echizen
is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former...
in the film adaptation
The Prince of Tennis (film)
is a 2006 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis manga series by Takeshi Konomi. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy...
of The Prince of Tennis
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The title is often shortened to , a portmanteau of the two parts in the Japanese pronunciation of the words "Tennis Prince". The manga was first published in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in July 1999, and ended...
, and became even more widely known when he was cast as Shin in Nana 2
NANA 2
Nana 2 is the sequel to the Japanese movie Nana, an adaptation of the manga by Ai Yazawa, directed by Kentarô Ôtani. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings finished the movie in time for the December 9, 2006 release.-Synopsis:Taking place shortly...
. In television, his most notable role was as Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono
Himitsu no Hanazono
is a 2007 Japanese drama series by KTV, a Kansai-based affiliate of Fuji TV. The show is also known as The Secret Garden or Hanazono's Secret...
and recently he starred in Seigi no Mikata
Seigi no Mikata
is a story first published by Shueisha as a manga by Hijiri Chiaki, and then made into a short-running TV drama in 2008 by Nihon Television, directed by Satoru Nakajima. The story is about a 15-year-old girl named Yoko, who is being tormented by her older sister Makiko...
.
Career
Hongō has appeared in several movies, including Moon Child, which also starred GacktGackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
, Hyde
Hyde (singer)
is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as vocalist for the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel, as well as for Vamps. While in L'Arc-en-Ciel his name is stylized as hyde, whereas in his solo work and Vamps it is stylized as HYDE....
and Leehom Wang. Hongō played the role of Sho as a child, while the adult role was played by Gackt. He appeared in a movie called Hinokio
Hinokio
Hinokio is a 2005 Japanese science fiction film directed by Takahiko Akiyama and starring Masatoshi Nakamura, Kanata Hongo and Mikako Tabe. Its tagline is "Inter Galactic Love".-Overview:...
which was released in July 2005 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Hongō is also the young boy in the singer Yui
Yui (singer)
, stylized as YUI, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, and radio personality. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan when she was 17 and released her debut single months later...
's music video for her song "Tomorrow's Way." In 2006, Kanata was cast as the popular anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
character Ryoma Echizen
Ryoma Echizen
is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga and anime series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi. In the series, Ryoma is portrayed as a twelve-year-old tennis prodigy who won four consecutive Junior Tennis Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former...
in the live-action adaptation film of The Prince of Tennis
The Prince of Tennis (film)
is a 2006 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis manga series by Takeshi Konomi. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy...
. He joined the majority of the Seigaku Regulars of the Prince of Tennis musicals
Tenimyu
The Prince of Tennis Musical , also known as "TeniPuri Musical," "Tenimyu," or "GekiPuri" , is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on manga series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump.The first musical...
as he was replacing Kotaro Yanagi, who couldn't play the role due to a car accident he was involved in.
Hongō also portrayed the young bassist Shinichi Okazaki in the movie Nana 2
NANA 2
Nana 2 is the sequel to the Japanese movie Nana, an adaptation of the manga by Ai Yazawa, directed by Kentarô Ôtani. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings finished the movie in time for the December 9, 2006 release.-Synopsis:Taking place shortly...
, which was released in Japan on December 9, 2006. He had replaced Kenichi Matsuyama who had previously played Shin in the first Nana
Nana (manga)
is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Ai Yazawa, serialized in Cookie published by Shueisha. The manga derives its title from the name of the two main characters, both of whom are called Nana. Nana Komatsu is a small town girl who goes to Tokyo to follow her boyfriend and...
film. His next feature film was alongside Michael Pitt
Michael Pitt
Michael Carmen Pitt is an American actor and musician. Pitt is best known in film for his role in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and in television for his portrayal of James "Jimmy" Darmody in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire.-Personal life:Pitt was born in West Orange, New Jersey, the...
and Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
in Silk which was screened at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. This marked Hongō's first appearance in an English language film, where he played a Japanese servant boy. He also starred in another music video, B'z
B'z
is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone...
s "Eien no Tsubasa
Eien no Tsubasa
"Eien no Tsubasa" is the forty-third single by B'z, released on May 9, 2007. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon charts.- Track listing :# - 5:11# - 4:49-References:* - External links :* *...
" along with Tsubasa Honda and in GReeeeN
GReeeeN
is a Japanese pop/rock/hip hop/breakbeat vocal group from Kōriyama city in Fukushima Prefecture, comprising the all-male four members Hide, Navi, 92, and Soh. They made their debut with Universal Music in 2007. Their logo image is of a mouthful of teeth, and the four Es indicate the number of members...
's music video of "Namida Sora".
In television, Hongō's first major role was as major supporting character Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono
Himitsu no Hanazono
is a 2007 Japanese drama series by KTV, a Kansai-based affiliate of Fuji TV. The show is also known as The Secret Garden or Hanazono's Secret...
and performed a wonderful tear jerking moment in one of the later episodes. His superb job in acting lead him to being another major supporting character in the drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
Seito Shokun! as rebellious student Kohei Aoki. Later, he appeared as a guest in two other shows. In 2008, he starred as Riku Okamoto in Seigi no Mikata
Seigi no Mikata
is a story first published by Shueisha as a manga by Hijiri Chiaki, and then made into a short-running TV drama in 2008 by Nihon Television, directed by Satoru Nakajima. The story is about a 15-year-old girl named Yoko, who is being tormented by her older sister Makiko...
, broadcasted by NTV. He said Okamoto was probably his most normal role to date. He was then featured in the music video for The Gospellers' "Sky High", which was the opening to the second season of anime Nodame Cantabile
Nodame Cantabile
is a manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. It was serialized in Japan by Kodansha in the magazine Kiss from July 2001 to October 2009 and collected in 23 tankōbon volumes. A two-volume sequel, called Nodame Cantabile: Opera Chapter, which began serialization in the 10 December 2009 issue of Kiss, was released...
.
Hongō starred in three films in late 2008. They included Aoi Tori, K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces and Goth. The latter two were released in Japan on the same day, December 20. Goth is based on a Japanese novel with the same name, written by Otsuichi.
His latest movie portrayal was as Jōichiro Nishi in Gantz (live action movie).
Dramas
| Year | Broadcast Network | English Title | Japanese Title | English Translation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | TBS Tokyo Broadcasting System , TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named .... |
Aikurushii | あいくるしい | Sweet | Shu Nagumo |
| 2006 | TBS | Kiraware Matsuko no Issho | 嫌われ松子の一生 | The Life of Despised Matsuko | Youichi Ryu (15 Years Old) |
| 2007 | Fuji TV Fuji Television is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the .... , KTV Kansai Telecasting Corporation , often called or , is a TV station affiliated with Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System in Osaka, serving the Kansai region of Japan... |
Himitsu no Hanazono Himitsu no Hanazono is a 2007 Japanese drama series by KTV, a Kansai-based affiliate of Fuji TV. The show is also known as The Secret Garden or Hanazono's Secret... |
ヒミツの花園 | The Secret Garden | Hinata Kataoka |
| TV Asahi TV Asahi , also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network.... |
Seito Shokun! | 生徒諸君! | Attention Students! | Kohei Aoki | |
| NTV Nippon Television is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,... |
Tantei Gakuen Q Detective School Q is a manga series, written by Tadashi Agi and illustrated by Fumiya Satō, originally serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 2001 and 2005, spanning 22-tankōbon volumes... |
探偵学園Q | Detective School Q | Daisuke Makino (Guest Starring in Episode 2) | |
| Fuji TV | Iryu 2 | 医龍 Team Medical Dragon 2 | Iryu Team Medical Dragon 2 | Guest Starring in Episode 8 | |
| 2008 | NTV | Seigi no Mikata Seigi no Mikata is a story first published by Shueisha as a manga by Hijiri Chiaki, and then made into a short-running TV drama in 2008 by Nihon Television, directed by Satoru Nakajima. The story is about a 15-year-old girl named Yoko, who is being tormented by her older sister Makiko... |
正義の味方 | Ally of Justice | Riku Okamoto |
| 2009 | NTV | Reset | リセット | Reset | Episode 14 |
| 2010 | TBS | Yankee-kun to Megane-chan | ヤンキー君とメガネちゃん | Yankee-kun and Megane-chan | Gaku Izumi |
| WOWOW WOWOW WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo... |
Tokyo23 | TOKYO23～サバイバルシティ | Tokyo23: Survival City | Dan Komori |
Movies
| Year | English Title | Japanese Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Returner Returner is a 2002 Japanese science fiction film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki and starring Anne Suzuki and Takeshi Kaneshiro.-Plot:Milly is a soldier from 2084, where humanity is on the verge of extinction because of the "Daggra", an alien race. In mankind's final stronghold in Tibet Milly leaps into a... |
リターナー Ritānā | Young Miyamoto |
| 2004 | Moon Child | MOON CHILD | Young Sho |
| 2005 | Hinokio: Inter Galactic Love Hinokio Hinokio is a 2005 Japanese science fiction film directed by Takahiko Akiyama and starring Masatoshi Nakamura, Kanata Hongo and Mikako Tabe. Its tagline is "Inter Galactic Love".-Overview:... |
ヒノキオ Hinokio | Satoru Iwamoto |
| Until the Lights Come Back | 大停電の夜に Daiteiden no yoru ni | Shota | |
| 2006 | The Prince Of Tennis The Prince of Tennis (film) is a 2006 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis manga series by Takeshi Konomi. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy... |
テニスの王子様 Tennis no oujisama | Ryoma Echizen |
| Nana 2 NANA 2 Nana 2 is the sequel to the Japanese movie Nana, an adaptation of the manga by Ai Yazawa, directed by Kentarô Ôtani. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings finished the movie in time for the December 9, 2006 release.-Synopsis:Taking place shortly... |
ナナ2 Nana 2 | Shinichi Okizaki, "Shin" | |
| 2007 | Silk | シルク Shiruku | Japanese Servant Boy |
| 2008 | The Blue Bird | 青い鳥 Aoi Tori | Shinichi Sonobe |
| K-20: Legend of the Mask K-20: Legend of the Mask at film festivals, The Fiend with Twenty Faces on home video in the United States and The Legend of the Black Mask in the United Kingdom) is a 2008 Japanese action feature film written and directed by Shimako Satō and based on a novel by Sō Kitamura and its sequel. The film released worldwide on... |
K-20: 面相>Kaijin Nijū Mensō • Den | Yoshio Kobayashi | |
| Goth | GOTH | Itsuki Kamiyama | |
| 2011 | Gantz Gantz is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku. Gantz tells the story of Kei Kurono and his friend Masaru Kato who die in a train accident and become part of a semi-posthumous "game" in which they and several other recently deceased people are forced to hunt down and kill aliens... |
GANTZ | Jōichiro Nishi |
Music videos
| Year | Song Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Lovibe | The Boom |
| 2005 | Tomorrow's Way | Yui Yui (singer) , stylized as YUI, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer, actress, and radio personality. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she played live at various locations in her home town before being noticed by Sony Music Japan when she was 17 and released her debut single months later... |
| Zutto Yomikake no Natsu | Tomita Lab | |
| 2006 | Hitoiro Hitoiro "Hitoiro" is Mika Nakashima's 20th single overall and her second under the name Nana starring Mika Nakashima. This single was released on the 29 November, 2006. The single was the main themes of "Nana 2" and her last single under the name Nana starring Mika Nakashima... |
Nana starring Mika Nakashima Mika Nakashima is a Japanese singer, model, and actress. She has achieved five number-one albums in Japan and also embarked on an acting career, most notably in the live-action movie Nana, based on the manga of the same name.- Early life and debut :... |
| 2007 | Eien no Tsubasa Eien no Tsubasa "Eien no Tsubasa" is the forty-third single by B'z, released on May 9, 2007. This song is one of B'z many number-one singles in Oricon charts.- Track listing :# - 5:11# - 4:49-References:* - External links :* *... |
B'z B'z is a Japanese hard rock duo, composed of and .B'z has released 45 consecutive #1 singles, 24 #1 albums, and sold more than 79 million records in Japan alone... |
| Namida Sora | GReeeeN GReeeeN is a Japanese pop/rock/hip hop/breakbeat vocal group from Kōriyama city in Fukushima Prefecture, comprising the all-male four members Hide, Navi, 92, and Soh. They made their debut with Universal Music in 2007. Their logo image is of a mouthful of teeth, and the four Es indicate the number of members... |
|
| 2008 | Sky High | The Gospellers |
Books/magazines
- Boy Actor vol.1 (September 2005 and PIA)
- "Nana2" Novelization (2006 and Shueisha Cobalt)
- Real G vol.1 (January 2007 and SDP)
- Real G vol.2 (May 2007 and SDP)
Others
- Concert Costarring "Gackt Live Tour 2003 The Month Of The Upper Chord"
- The Radio Play "At Night Of A Big Blackout" - Shota Tazawa