voice actor
Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...
and singer. He is known for his role as Jenath Dira in the '' Get Ride! Amdriver''
anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from July 1999 to March 2008, with its chapters collected in forty-two ''tankōbon'' volumes. ...
'' musical series,
Tenimyu
, also known as for short, is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on the manga series ''The Prince of Tennis'' created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''.
The first music ...
Panther
Panther may refer to:
Large cats
*Pantherinae, the cat subfamily that contains the genera ''Panthera'' and ''Neofelis''
**'' Panthera'', the cat genus that contains tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards.
*** Jaguar (''Panthera onca''), found in So ...
in ''
Eyeshield 21
is a Japanese manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Yusuke Murata. The series tells the story of Sena Kobayakawa, an introverted boy who joins an American football club as a secretary, but after being coerced by quart ...
''. He is currently employed by Production Ogi. His blood type is B.
Career
He works primarily in stage productions, but has appeared in a few movies and television series and has lent his voice to a few anime series.
As Jenath Dira in ''Get Ride! Amdriver''
In 2004, Kujirai earned his first acting role, voicing the main character, Jenath Dira, in the anime television series ''Get Ride! Amdriver''.Get Ride! Amdriver Official Site /ref>
He then later released a CD single for the series when he performed the second opening theme song to the show called ''READY?''.
As Kaoru Kaidoh in The Prince of Tennis Musicals
Kujirai won the role of Kaoru Kaidoh, the viper-like 2nd year regular of
Seigaku
''The Prince of Tennis'' manga and anime series has a large cast of fictional characters created by Takeshi Konomi; many have appeared in the musical and film adaptations. The cast of the series is largely made up of the members of the variou ...
Middle School's tennis club, in the '' Prince of Tennis'' musical series,
Tenimyu
, also known as for short, is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on the manga series ''The Prince of Tennis'' created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''.
The first music ...
. From 2005 to 2006, he became the second actor to play Kaidoh as a member of the second generation Seigaku cast. He made his debut as Kaidoh on January 8, 2005 in the ''Side Yamabuki'' performance in
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...
. That same year, his role as Kaidoh was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga. On March 29, 2006, in the ''Dream Live 3rd'' live concert, he, along with the majority of the Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles.
However, Kujirai returned to play Kaidoh for the slated August 2006 ''Advancement Match Rokkaku'' musical, because actor Takahiro Tasaki, who was originally slated to play Kaidoh in the Rokkaku musical, left the production to pursue other opportunities; Kujirai was brought back as Tasaki's substitute. Afterwards, the role of Kaidoh was played by Tomo Yanagishita, Yuuichirou Hirata, and by
Seigaku
''The Prince of Tennis'' manga and anime series has a large cast of fictional characters created by Takeshi Konomi; many have appeared in the musical and film adaptations. The cast of the series is largely made up of the members of the variou ...
Regulars, were able to reprise their roles in the movie. The only major casting change was the casting of
Kanata Hongo
Kanata is an indigenous Canadian word in the Iroquoian language meaning "village" or "settlement". It is the origin of the name of Canada.
Kanata may also refer to:
* Kanata, Ontario, a suburb of Ottawa, Canada
* Kanata Aikawa (born 2004), Japan ...
as
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 Tournam ...
, the main protagonist.
''The Prince of Tennis'' was released on May 13, 2006 and opened on the tenth spot in the Japanese Box Office.
In the ''Byakkotai'' TV Drama
Kujirai appeared in the TV Asahi movie drama, ''Byakkotai'', starring
Yamashita Tomohisa
, also widely known as , or Tomo, is a Japanese singer, actor, and TV host.
Yamashita joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates as a trainee in 1996 (age 11) and made his small acting debut for NHK's ''Shonentachi'' (1998) and has be ...
and Tanaka Koki which was broadcast on January 6 and 7, 2007.
In ''Arakure KNIGHT''
In 2007, Kujirai appeared in the film, ',Arakure Knight Official Site /ref> the live-action movie adaptation of the 1982 to 1988 manga series, ''Aratanaru Shobaku'' by Satosi Yoshida. The film was released in April 2007.
Kujirai once again appeared alongside former
Tenimyu
, also known as for short, is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on the manga series ''The Prince of Tennis'' created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''.
The first music ...
castmates,
Yuu Shirota
is a Japanese-Spanish actor and singer, most known for his role as Kagurazaka Makoto in the Japanese television drama live action adaption of ''Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, Hana-Kimi'', Kunimitsu Tezuka in the ''Tenimyu, Prince of Tennis Musicals' ...
,
Masaki Kaji
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known for his role as Takeshi Momoshiro in the ''Prince of Tennis'' musical series, ''Tenimyu'', and the live film adaptation. He was also part of a young men's stage acting troupe, D-BOYS, which perform in ...
Kujirai keeps a personal blog, which he updates regularly.
Filmography
Discography
Album
Kujirai released a mini-album on October 6, 2004, called ''Ready?'' for the anime television show, ''Get Ride! Amdriver''. The song, ''Ready?'', was recorded for the show's second opening theme song.
Album Stats
Album was released for the ''Get Ride! Amdriver'' anime television show in Japan (JPN), only.
Track Listings
Track Listings for the ''Ready?'' Album:
#"Ready?"
#"Vivid"
#"Ready? (Karaoke)"
#"Vivid (Karaoke)"
Stage
* 2006 as Ishimori Kenkichi in ''Yoisho! no Kamisama''
* 2006 as Hibino Shuuichi in'
Musicals
TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Kaoru Kaido)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': Side Yamabuki feat. St. Rudolph (In Winter of 2004–2005)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': Dream Live 2nd (2005)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen (2005)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen in Winter (In Winter of 2005–2006)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': Dream Live 3rd (2006)
* ''The Prince of Tennis Musical'': Advancement Match Rokkaku feat. Hyotei Gakuen (2006)
MUSICAL DEAR BOYS (as Osamu Igarashi)
* ''Musical Dear Boys'' (2007)
* ''Musical Dear Boys – VS East Honmoku'' (2008)
Rock Musical BLEACH (as Renji Abarai)
*''Rock Musical BLEACH'' (scheduled for July 2011)
See also
*
Tenimyu
, also known as for short, is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on the manga series ''The Prince of Tennis'' created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump''.
The first music ...
*
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from July 1999 to March 2008, with its chapters collected in forty-two ''tankōbon'' volumes. ...
Movie
*
The Place Promised in Our Early Days
is a 2004 Japanese anime film written, produced, cinematographed, directed and edited by Makoto Shinkai in his feature film debut. Set over several years in an alternate history where the Soviet Union occupies half of Japan, it follows two ...
*
The Prince of Tennis
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from July 1999 to March 2008, with its chapters collected in forty-two ''tankōbon'' volumes. ...