Masahiro Takashima
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
actor.
. He married the stage actress Sylvia Grab in 2005.
. His part as Tsuda in Busu
that same year earned him the Japan Academy Prize for Newcomer of the Year, as well as the Blue Ribbon Award
, Hochi Film Award, Kinema Junpo
Award, and the Mainichi Film Award for Best New Actor in 1988. Since that time he has appeared in feature films, including Gunhed
, ''Legend of Zipang (1990), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, and Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess
, and The Climbers High. He appeared in the television crime drama
Sangaku kyûjotai Shimon Ikki.
, is well-known. He is a fan of Kiss
, and admitted in an interview with the Japanese weekly magazine Flash, that the first concert he attended was a Kiss show at Nippon Budokan
in 1978. Takashima appeared on the Japanese music show Rock Fujiyama
in 2006 and 2007, speaking about his favorite English
band King Crimson
, stating that he had attended live concerts of the following groups: King Crimson, Michael Schenker Group
, Yes
and AC/DC
. Takashima was asked to write the liner notes for King Crimson's compilation album
after his first appearance on Rock Fujiyama.
As a singer, Takashima released singles and albums from 1992 to 1994. He covered the King Crimson song Starless
. on the B side of his 1993 single Kowarerukurai Dakishimetai (こわれるくらい抱きしめたい). On Rock Fujiyama, he was nicknamed Starless Takashima (スターレス髙嶋) because he was a King Crimson enthusiast.
Takashima professes to like Grand Funk Railroad
, Thin Lizzy
and the Sex Pistols
. Takashima surprised Kiss enthusiast Marty Friedman of Megadeth
when he showed rare Kiss memorabilia on Rock Fujiyama.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actor.
Family
Takashima comes from a family of actors, including his father (Tadao Takashima), mother (Hanayo Sumi) and younger brother Masanobu TakashimaMasanobu Takashima
is a Japanese film and television actor.-Career:He has appeared in over twenty television productions and ten films in Japan and other countries as well....
. He married the stage actress Sylvia Grab in 2005.
Acting career
Takashima debuted in the 1987 film Totto Channel, directed by Kazuki ŌmoriKazuki Omori
is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.-Career:Born in Osaka, Ōmori studied at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and actually holds a license to practice medicine. While in school, he began making films independently, with Kuraku naru made matenai! , which featured Seijun Suzuki,...
. His part as Tsuda in Busu
Usu
An Usu is a large Japanese mortar with a pestle called kine , used to pound rice or millet.While the function of an usu is similar to the smaller suribachi and surikogi mortars, the shape is very different, as the usu usually lacks the rough pattern in the bowl, and has a differently shaped pestle...
that same year earned him the Japan Academy Prize for Newcomer of the Year, as well as the Blue Ribbon Award
Blue Ribbon Awards
The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers...
, Hochi Film Award, Kinema Junpo
Kinema Junpo
, commonly called , is a Japanese film magazine which began publication in July 1919. The magazine was founded by a group of four students, including Saburō Tanaka, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology . In that first month, it was published three times on days with a "1" in them. These first three...
Award, and the Mainichi Film Award for Best New Actor in 1988. Since that time he has appeared in feature films, including Gunhed
Gunhed (film)
is a 1989 Japanese live-action mecha film. It is an adaptation of the manga "Gunhed" by Kia Asamiya.-Plot:In 2038, a gang of scavengers infiltrate an industrial complex on a island within a prohibited zone. They are looking for the element Texmexium, which is rare and very valuable...
, ''Legend of Zipang (1990), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, released in Japan as , is a 1993 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Wataru Mimura. It was the twentieth film in Toho's Godzilla series and the first to feature BabyGodzilla. It is also the fifth film to feature Rodan and the third film...
, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
, and Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess
Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess
is a Japanese film directed by Shinji Higuchi released May 10, 2008. It is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress.-About:Principal photography began on November 1, 2007, and location filming has taken place in areas such as Mount Aso, Kumamoto Castle, Ibaraki Prefecture, and Shizuoka...
, and The Climbers High. He appeared in the television crime drama
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
Sangaku kyûjotai Shimon Ikki.
Rock addict
Takashima's love of rock music, especially progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, is well-known. He is a fan of Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, and admitted in an interview with the Japanese weekly magazine Flash, that the first concert he attended was a Kiss show at Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
in 1978. Takashima appeared on the Japanese music show Rock Fujiyama
Rock Fujiyama
is a Japanese music variety television show that was broadcast by TV Tokyo from April 3, 2006, to March 26, 2007. It is the substantial remake of "Mr. Heavy Metal" that was broadcast in 2005. Despite the title, the key genre in the program is heavy metal, just like "Mr...
in 2006 and 2007, speaking about his favorite English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
band King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, stating that he had attended live concerts of the following groups: King Crimson, Michael Schenker Group
Michael Schenker Group
The Michael Schenker Group is a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker. In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992. After that, the Michael Schenker Group was reformed.The...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
. Takashima was asked to write the liner notes for King Crimson's compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
after his first appearance on Rock Fujiyama.
As a singer, Takashima released singles and albums from 1992 to 1994. He covered the King Crimson song Starless
Starless
"Starless" is a piece by British progressive rock band King Crimson. It was featured on the Red album in 1974.The lyrics and melody for "Starless" were written by John Wetton. He originally intended the song to be the title track of the group's previous album Starless and Bible Black...
. on the B side of his 1993 single Kowarerukurai Dakishimetai (こわれるくらい抱きしめたい). On Rock Fujiyama, he was nicknamed Starless Takashima (スターレス髙嶋) because he was a King Crimson enthusiast.
Takashima professes to like Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
, Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
and the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
. Takashima surprised Kiss enthusiast Marty Friedman of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
when he showed rare Kiss memorabilia on Rock Fujiyama.