Taichi Kokubun
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese keyboardist
and actor. He is keyboard of Tokio
, a Johnny & Associates
musical group.
. He attended the Tokio Metropolitian Yoyogi High School, from which other members of Johnny's Entertainment groups attended, but was expelled from the school.
, Kokubun, like other Tokio members, was a backup-dancer for various Johnny's Entertainment boy bands at the time, including Hikaru Genji. In 1990 he became the keyboardist of Tokio, but it was not until 1994 that the band debuted.
In 2004, Kokubun took a break from Tokio to form a temporary group with KinKi Kids
member Tsuyoshi Domoto
. Together they released the theme song to Fantastipo a movie in which they both starred.
He has also hosted Gachinko! with other Tokio
members. Currently Kokubun hosts Kaitai Shin Show and Shonen Club Premium on NHK
, Tetsuwan Dash and Guruguru Ninety-Nine on NTV
, R30 on TBS
, Mentore G on Fuji TV, and Aura no Izumi on TV Asahi
.
In April 2009, Kokubun became a sportscaster
for the Fuji TV sports show Sports!.
Aiko
from 1998. However, the two broke up in 2007. In 2009, Kokubun announced in an interview that he began a new relationship.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and actor. He is keyboard of Tokio
Tokio (band)
Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994. It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates...
, a Johnny & Associates
Johnny & Associates
is a talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. Johnny & Associates trains and promotes groups of male idols, collectively known as , in Japan.-1962–1989:...
musical group.
Early life
Taichi Kokubun was born in Higashikurume, TokyoHigashikurume, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 116,006 and a population density of 8,980 persons per km²...
. He attended the Tokio Metropolitian Yoyogi High School, from which other members of Johnny's Entertainment groups attended, but was expelled from the school.
As an artist
Prior to debuting with TokioTokio (band)
Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994. It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates...
, Kokubun, like other Tokio members, was a backup-dancer for various Johnny's Entertainment boy bands at the time, including Hikaru Genji. In 1990 he became the keyboardist of Tokio, but it was not until 1994 that the band debuted.
In 2004, Kokubun took a break from Tokio to form a temporary group with KinKi Kids
KinKi Kids
is a Japanese duo consisting of Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. Although the members share the same surname, the only relation they have to each other is that they both hail from the Kinki region, hence the duo's name....
member Tsuyoshi Domoto
Tsuyoshi Domoto
is a Japanese idol, singer, actor, singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, television personality, writer and illustrator. Along with Koichi Domoto , he is a member of KinKi Kids, which is a Japanese duo under the management of Johnny & Associates.- Biography :Born in Nara, Domoto joined the...
. Together they released the theme song to Fantastipo a movie in which they both starred.
As an actor
Kokubun began his acting career with a role in Abunai Shōnen III, a 1989 Japanese drama. Since 1993, he has played parts in various drama shows, as well as movies such as Fantistipo and Shaberedomo Shaberedomo.He has also hosted Gachinko! with other Tokio
Tokio (band)
Tokio is a Japanese rock/pop band formed by Johnny & Associates that debuted in 1994. It is made up of five men who were signed with Sony Music Entertainment from 1994 to 2001, with Universal Music Japan from 2001 to 2008, and are now signed under J Storm, a label owned by Johnny & Associates...
members. Currently Kokubun hosts Kaitai Shin Show and Shonen Club Premium on NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, Tetsuwan Dash and Guruguru Ninety-Nine on 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,...
, R30 on 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 ....
, Mentore G on Fuji TV, and Aura no Izumi on 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....
.
In April 2009, Kokubun became a sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for the Fuji TV sports show Sports!.
Personal life
In 2001, it was revealed that Taichi Kokubun has dated Japanese singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Aiko
Aiko (singer)
Aiko is a J-Pop singer-songwriter and vocalist. She studied popular music vocals at the Osaka College of Music, and after graduating in 1996, she became a DJ on FM Osaka...
from 1998. However, the two broke up in 2007. In 2009, Kokubun announced in an interview that he began a new relationship.
Filmography
| Year/s | Title | Medium | Role/s | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Abunai Shōnen III | TV | Uncredited role | |
| 1993 | Dousoukai | TV | Ushio | |
| 1994 | Otōsan wa Shinpaisho | TV | ||
| Yagami-kun no Katei no Jijo | TV | Koji Yagami | ||
| 1995 | Haruyo, Koi | TV | ||
| The Chef | TV | Taichi | ||
| 1996 | Glass no Kakeratachi | TV | ||
| 1997 | Kin no Tamago | TV | ||
| Kenshui Nanako | TV | Shinya Aramaki | ||
| 1998 | Oshigoto Desu | TV | ||
| 1999 | Yonigeya Honpo | TV | ||
| Shin Oretachi no Tabi | TV | Episode 10 only | ||
| 2000 | Bus Stop | TV | Kyugo Abe | |
| 2001 | Omae no Yukichi ga Naiteiru | TV | ||
| 2002 | Otōsan | TV | Jiro Yamaguchi | |
| Engimono | TV | Lead role | ||
| 2004 | Tokio | TV | Takumi Miyamoto | Lead role |
| 2005 | Hiroshima Showa 20 nen 8 Gatsu Muika | TV | Michaki Shigematsu | |
| Fantistipo | Movie | Toraji | Starred with KinKi Kids KinKi Kids is a Japanese duo consisting of Koichi Domoto and Tsuyoshi Domoto under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. Although the members share the same surname, the only relation they have to each other is that they both hail from the Kinki region, hence the duo's name.... member Tsuyoshi Domoto Tsuyoshi Domoto is a Japanese idol, singer, actor, singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist, television personality, writer and illustrator. Along with Koichi Domoto , he is a member of KinKi Kids, which is a Japanese duo under the management of Johnny & Associates.- Biography :Born in Nara, Domoto joined the... , whom he released the theme song to the movie with |
|
| 2006 | Dance Drill | TV | Wataru Ishibashi | |
| 2007 | Inochi no Iro Enpitsu | TV | Lead role | |
| Shaberedomo Shaberedomo | Movie | Mitsuba | Award a Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor | |