is a 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...

ese circus

Circus

A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...

 performer. He is the first Japanese circus performer to become a member of the World of Top Entertainer tour. He currently works as a world wide circus performer. His other stage names include "Kinosuke Otowa" and "Clown Joker".

Personal life

Dio Kobayashi was born in Shiga-chou, Ishikawa prefecture in 1972. After graduating from designing-arts (design class) at Hakui-industrial high school, he became a T.V. cameraman, only to change careers and become a stage performer for a production company (event co.).

He enrolled at Kinjou University in March 1997, and graduated in Japanese Traditional Art in the Department of Art in 1999. At this time, Dio was also participating in the World of Top Entertainer tour. After completing his graduation examinations at Kinjou University, he moved the activity base to the United States, transferring from Kinjou University to Columbia College.

Dio joined the World of Top Entertainer tour as its first Japanese performer. He got the title of Japanese circus performer of the only world class.

Early career

For new car presentation was being held, and Dio was asked to perform a flying trapeze act above the new automobiles so he could be filmed and used in their advertisements. Problems had occurred before the job even started; the sponsor did not offer any safety nets. If the performer was to make a mistake, he would fall on the rear view mirrors of the cars. The ropes were set 6 meters high off the ground. Not even the veteran performers were willing to take the offer because they knew this job was too dangerous, even for them. Kobayashi was the only man to raise his hand and take the job. He refuses to say that it was a gamble with his life. "I was confident because I trained with or without safety nets. I had to do it." Everything went without a hitch, and because of his triumph, he earned the name 'Dio'.

Senior career

Many Americans were impressed with Dio’s somersault acrobatics while holding 2 torches blinded on a rope. Now he plays the part of a bandit on a horse in the Disney series, ‘Mulan‘. Dio participates in the Bolijoy Circus, the Taiwan Circus, and Cirque Du Soleil in Canada as a free entertainer. Recently, he advises T.V. programs for his own shows. "I was most impressed by the powerful performances of the American performers. Magicians, Dancers, Singers, and acrobatic performers all coming together. I want to become a creative entertainer. I do not want to die being just an actor. For me to popularize the creativity of an entertainer in Japan, it would take awhile." The Hakugin show that took place in June 2001 was a proud accomplishment for Dio. He showed the people of Japan his talent and it lifted his spirits. He was aiming for the world. "Next time I stage a big event like Hakugin, I hope to perform it with the same group that I inspired. By that time they would be professionals and we would be able to perform the event." The flares in his eyes seemed to roar as he talked about the true entertainers of the world. He participated in a 2001 charity tour, 'Wa', with Toshi

Toshi (musician)

, better known by his stage name Toshi , is a Japanese singer and musician. He is best known as vocalist and co-founder of the heavy metal group X Japan. The band elevated to legendary status in Japan, until its disbanding in 1997. Toshi then went on to have an extensive solo career...

, vocalist of the metal band X Japan

X Japan

is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...

.

Dio participated in the production of the 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....

 series Kaleido Star

Kaleido Star

is an anime series produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding. The series was created by Junichi Sato, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida...

 as a special adviser in 2002. Junichi Sato

Junichi Sato

is an anime director.-TV anime:*Queen Millennia *Patalliro! *Bemubemu Hunter Kotengu Tenmaru...

 (supervisor of Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...

 and Ojamajo Doremi) wrote a letter to Dio asking him to participate in Kaleido Star

Kaleido Star

is an anime series produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding. The series was created by Junichi Sato, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida...

. Dio moved to every country in the world while working in the circus. Dio agreed, and production was approved, making the TV animation possible. Moreover, this was the first time in which Dio took charge of being a special adviser to an animated series. Dio said, "I am more of an Introducer than an adviser". A character in the series was also named Dio in his honor.

In 2003 Dio married fashion model Yu-ko, and retired as a circus performer when his daughter was born. During Dio's marriage, he worked a variety of odd jobs. Dio's first major film role was in Princess Raccoon

Princess Raccoon

is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki. The "raccoon" of the English title is actually a translation for the tanuki. It is a love story set in the musical genre and stars Zhang Ziyi as a tanuki princess and Joe Odagiri as the banished prince she falls in love with...

, a 2005 operetta directed by Seijun Suzuki

Seijun Suzuki

, born Seitaro Suzuki on May 24, 1923, is a Japanese filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter. His films are renowned by film enthusiasts worldwide for their jarring visual style, irreverent humour, nihilistic cool and entertainment-over-logic sensibility...

, as an itinerant entertainer. He joined the CD work for Japanese musician ‘Ketsumeishi’, a popular musician among young Japanese people. He was in charge of the cast of the CD jacket. In 2005, Dio and Yu-ko divorced.

Returning to the circus performer

A new livelihood came to pass after the divorce; however, this new life for him and his daughter still posed many problems. The life of being a single father to a 3 year old greatly restricted his life. Though he could not perform, he lives in his daughter as she learns the way of the circus player. There came a time when Dio reclaimed the title of circus player, though it was not physically easy being a man over 30 years old.

Controversy

In July 1995, during one of Dio’s shows, he had asked a guest to hold a small, cigarette-like roll of paper in his mouth, and Dio would use his whip to remove it out of his mouth. He made a slight mistake, hitting and injuring the man’s nose. It was not a serious accident, and the guest forgave him, but damage had occurred deep in his heart spurring the young whip master to temporarily give up his whips. Giving up his fame, Dio returned to Ishikawa prefecture to attend Kinjou College for a teachers license.

Performances

• 1996: An excellent prize of the balloon contest was won
• 1997: International Top Entertainer tour

('97 Japanese representative
The world performance tour performer is elected and organized
with one excellent person each country of the world)

• 1997: An excellent prize of the balloon contest was won
• 1998: Judge of amateur street performance contest
• Volunteer group pierrot factory establishment
• 1998: Hokkoku Asunaro Beneficence prize winning
• 1998: Chief lecturer at Kanazawa city citizens art village acrobatics school
• 2000: Joined the Disney World Show
• 2000: Joined The LasVegas Circus Show
• 2000: Joined the Haha Chinese Circus in Taiwan
• 2000: Joined the Circus in Russia
• 2002: Chief Judge of performance Contest in Sky Festa

Art

• 1997: Dio’s picture was nominated in The 29th ShinInten Japanese Art section.
• 1997: Dio’s picture was nominated in The 21st Nisouten Japanese Art section.
• 1998: Dio’s picture was nominated in The 22nd Nisouten Japanese Art section.

Production

• Christmas display for the Hokuriku Electric Power Company Alice pavilion.
• Live performance with Toshi (X-Japan).
• Coordinated the model of Japanese singer ‘Ketumeishi’ CD jacket ‘Namida’.

Movies

• Fighter in the Shadow [short film] (2001 USA)
• Princess Raccoon
  Princess Raccoon
  is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki. The "raccoon" of the English title is actually a translation for the tanuki. It is a love story set in the musical genre and stars Zhang Ziyi as a tanuki princess and Joe Odagiri as the banished prince she falls in love with...
  
  (2005 JAPAN)
• My Girlfriend is a Cyborg (2008 JAPAN)

External links

• Dio Official Homepage