Jai West is an actor, poet of French Canadian and Japanese descent born in Vancouver, British Columbia and currently based in Tokyo, Japan. He is best known for his work on screen as manic Japanese American gangster Lee in Sion Sono
's "HAZARD
" (2005), a thief grappling with his sexual identity in Gen Sekiguchi's "Survive Style 5+
" (2004), and portraying Beethoven in the popular Tokyo Gas commercials. He has appeared in numerous films and television series, from "21 Jump Street
" (1990) to Takashi Shimizu
's "The Great Horror Family
" (2004) and Takashi Miike
's "Big Bang Love, Juvenile A" (2006). West has released two spoken word poetry albums in Japanese and English under the pseudonym Lotus Chamelion.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,... |
Young Ioki | TV series |
| 1993 | Highlander Highlander -In regional cultures:* Highlander, a person from the Scottish Highlands* Highlander, person from the Scottish Gaelic culture of Gàidhealtachd in the Scottish highlands and islands* The Górale, lit. "Highlanders", a culture in southern Poland and northern Slovakia... |
The Kid | TV series |
| 1992-94 | The Odyssey | Spook / Feelgood | TV series |
| 1995 | Matt | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Once in a Blue Moon | Mexican Bandito | |
| 2000 | Worst Contact | Kerara | Short film |
| 2001 | Yonimo kimyô na monogatari: Aki no tokubetsu hen | Jack the Rabbit | TV movie |
| 2001 | Bus Panic!!! | The Busjacker | Short film |
| 2002 | Mike Hama, the Private Detective | Jake the Bellhop | TV series |
| 2004 | Bob | Short film | |
| 2004 | Tonaka Kyoojoorou | TV series | |
| 2004 | HAZARD Hazard A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazard does not exist when it is not... |
Lee | |
| 2004 | Survive Style 5+ Survive Style 5+ Survive Style 5+ is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Gen Sekiguchi. It stars Tadanobu Asano, Kyōko Koizumi, Reika Hashimoto, Jai West, Sonny Chiba and Vinnie Jones.-Synopsis:... |
J - Burglar | |
| 2005 | Tameiki no riyû | Tetsuya Ihara | |
| 2006 | Hachimitsu to Clover | Man at party | |
| 2006 | 13 no tsuki | Mori | |
| 2006 | Big Bang Love, Juvenile A Big Bang Love, Juvenile A Big Bang Love, Juvenile A is a 2006 film directed by Takashi Miike.-Plot:An unknown future. A boy confesses to the murder of another in an all-boy juvenile detention facility. The story follows two detectives trying to uncover the case... |
Deranged Prisoner | |
| 2006 | Cherry Girl Cherry Girl Cherry Girl is a J-Drama featuring Japanese artist Kumi Koda. The film was directed by Shuta Takahata and is written by Osamu Suzuki Cherry Girl was Kumi Koda's acting debut.- Information :... |
George | Video |
| 2007 | Ojisan Sensei | Jay | TV series |
| 2007 | Tokyo no uso | Tamura | |
| 2007 | Tengu Gaiden | Louis | Short film |
| 2008 | Love Exposure Love Exposure is a 2008 Japanese film written and directed by Sion Sono. The film gained a considerable amount of notoriety in film festivals around the world for its four-hour duration and themes including love, family, lust, religion and the art of upskirt photography. The first version was originally six... |
Bosozoku Leader | |
| 2010 | King Game | Johnny B. | |