is a Japanese

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

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

. He is probably best known for his roles as Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis

The Prince of Tennis

is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Konomi. The title is often shortened to , a portmanteau of the two parts in the Japanese pronunciation of the words "Tennis Prince". The manga was first published in Japan in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in July 1999, and ended...

musical series, Tenimyu

Tenimyu

The Prince of Tennis Musical , also known as "TeniPuri Musical," "Tenimyu," or "GekiPuri" , is a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on manga series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump.The first musical...

, when he replaced Yamazaki Ichitaro (who played Kikumaru in the very first show), and Tōshirō Hitsugaya

Toshiro Hitsugaya

is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. In the series, Hitsugaya is the captain of the 10th Division in the Gotei 13, a group of Soul Reapers protecting Soul Society. His lieutenant is Rangiku Matsumoto...

 in "Rock Musical Bleach". During his run in Tenimyu, he garnered the nickname "Nagayan", which he is still referred to by fans and friends. He made his television debut in 1998 with the drama Change.

As Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis Musicals

Nagayama's major stage debut was from 2003 to the beginning of 2005 for the role of the acrobatic Eiji Kikumaru in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, as part of the first generation Seigaku cast. When the series came out in 2003, Ichitaro played the role during the spring run of the first show, and Nagayama played the role during the summer run. Afterwards, Nagayama was set to permanently take over the role, understudying the role of Shusuke Fuji as well, when Ichitaro left the series.

The end of 2003 brought tragedy to Tenimyu. Less than two weeks before the second show, Remarkable 1st Match Fudomine, Kotaro Yanagi - who was playing the lead role of Ryoma Echizen

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 Tournaments in America. His father is Nanjiro Echizen, a former...

 at the time - was hospitalized due to a car accident. Because the musical's rehearsals were well underway and performance dates already set, several changes were made in the cast for the show: J-pop

J-pop

, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...

 singer Kimeru

Kimeru

Kimeru Kimeru Kimeru (most often written either in Romaji (Kimeru) or with Katakana (キメル), but has been written as きめる (Hiragana) and (決める) (Kanji), (June 17, 1980) is a Japanese pop musician, singer, and stage actor. He is most famous for his work with The Prince of Tennis...

, who was playing the role of Fuji, had to step up as Echizen; Nagayama was shifted over to Fuji, and Ichitaro was brought back as Kikumaru. After Yuya Endo

Yuya Endo

is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his role as Ryoma Echizen in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu. He is also part of a young men's stage acting troupe, D-BOYS, which perform in various skit-like performances, and is currently the group's leader.-Career:Endo's...

 was brought in as the new Echizen, Kimeru and Nagayama went back to their roles as Fuji and Kikumaru respectively. Nagayama graduated from the series with his fellow castmates after the Side Fudomine musical; along with several graduated Tenimyu members, he got a cameo role in the Prince of Tennis live film adaptation

The Prince of Tennis (film)

is a 2006 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis manga series by Takeshi Konomi. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy...

.

Since Nagayama's graduation, the role of Kikumaru has been played by Osamu Adachi

Osamu Adachi

is a Japanese actor and a member of the acting group D-BOYS. He is best known for his role as Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and in the live film adaptation.- Career :...

, Koji Seto

Koji Seto

is a Japanese actor and singer. His major works include lead roles as Wataru Kurenai in Kamen Rider Kiva and Hiro in Koizora; and supporting roles as Satoru Okura in Atashinchi no Danshi, Ariake Yamato in Otomen, and Eiji Kikumaru in Tenimyu...

, Kyousuke Hamao

Kyousuke Hamao

, born on June 25, 1991, is a Japanese actor, entertainer and model. He is best known for his role as Eiji Kikumaru of the fourth generation Seigaku cast in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu...

, Shouta Takasaki, and Yuta Koseki. Nagayama, along with Kimeru and Endo, went to see Yanagi graduate from Tenimyu at the final performance of Dream Live 3rd in 2006.

Nagayama returned to his role as Kikumaru and reunited with the 1st generation Seigaku cast to perform in Tenimyu's Dream Live 7th in 2010.

Other work

Since his graduation, Nagayama is currently starring as Tōshirō Hitsugaya

Toshiro Hitsugaya

is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. In the series, Hitsugaya is the captain of the 10th Division in the Gotei 13, a group of Soul Reapers protecting Soul Society. His lieutenant is Rangiku Matsumoto...

 in the Rock Musical Bleach

Bleach (manga)

is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Noriaki "Tite" Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a —a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki...

series, which also stars some of his old Tenimyu cast mates.

He enjoyed his first starring role in a theatrical production with Switch wo Osu Toki, in July 2006. His line of designer clothing, Blossam, can be found at the Gainhttp://gaingain.com/ shop in Tokyo. Nagayama has released several idol DVDs - Blossam in 2004, and two DVD/Photobook sets in 2007, entitled On and Off - as well as a single and two full-length albums. Since its formation in 2004, he has been very active with his Japanese fan club, and holds several members-only events each year. He maintains an active and popular blog, which he updates several times each week with photos. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, especially baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

, swimming

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

, and karate

Karate

is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

, and remaking/designing clothing. Above all, Nagayama is earnest and serious about his work and his fans, and this has helped him build and maintain a loyal base of support worldwide.

Profile

• Name: 永山たかし
• Name (romaji): Nagayama Takashi
• Real Name: 永山毅 (Nagayama Takashi)
• Date of birth: 1978 November 16
• Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Musical

TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Eiji Kikumaru, Fuji u/s)

• The Prince of Tennis Musical (summer of 2003)
• The Prince of Tennis Musical: Remarkable 1st Match Fudomine - Shusuke Fuji (In Winter 2003-2004)
• The Prince of Tennis Musical: Dream Live 1st (2004)
• The Prince of Tennis Musical: More Than Limit St. Rudolph Gakuen (2004)
• The Prince of Tennis Musical: Side Fudomine ~Special Match~ (In Winter 2004-2005)
• The Prince of Tennis Musical: Dream Live 7th (2010)

Rock Musical BLEACH (as Tōshirō Hitsugaya)

• Rock Musical BLEACH (2005)
• Rock Musical BLEACH Saien (2006)
• Rock Musical BLEACH The Dark of The Bleeding Moon (2006)
• Rock Musical BLEACH Live Bankai Show Code: 001 (2007)
• Rock Musical BLEACH No Clouds in the Blue Heavens (2007)
• Rock Musical BLEACH Live Bankai Show Code: 002 (2008)
• Rock Musical BLEACH The All (2008)
• Rock Musical BLEACH Live Bankai Show Code: 003 (2010)

Other musicals

• Rock'n Jam Musical (2004)
• Rock'n Jam Musical - Saien (2005)
• Flowers for Algernon Musical (2006)
• Rock'n Jam Musical II (2006)
• Rock'n Jam Musical II - Saien (2007)
• Rock'n Jam Live - Live (2007)

TV series

• Change
  Change
  Change may refer to:- The process of becoming different:* Social change* Biological metamorphosis* Change , the mathematical study of change* Percentage change, in statistics* Fold change, in statistics...
  
  (ANB, 1998)
• Newscaster Kasumi Ryoko (ANB, 1999)
• Abunai Houkago (ANB, 1999, Episode 2)
• Norowareta Kagai Jugyou (KTV, 1999)
• Kowai Douwa: Cinderella (TBS, 1999)
• Shoushimin Kane (CX, 1999)
• Another Heaven Eclipse (ANB, 2000, Episodes 6-8)
• Gekka no Kishi (ANB, 2000)
• Hanamura Daisuke (KTV, 2000)
• Wakareru Futari no Jikenbo (ANB, 2000, Episode 7)
• Seigi no Shichiya Momonori: Tomoko no Jikenbo (CX, 2000)
• Koko Dake no Hanashi: Haigo no Onna (ANB, 2001)
• G-Taste: Kyoushi Mizukoshi Sayaka (ANB, 2001)
• Shin Omizu no Hanamichi (CX, 2001)
• Love & Fight (TBS, 2001)
• Morning Musume New Spring Love Stories: Toki o Kakeru (TBS, 2002)
• Yo ni mo Kimyou na Monogatari ’02 Haru Tokubetsu hen Mushi Geimu (CX, 2002)
• Kamen Rider Ryuki
  Kamen Rider Ryuki
  is a Japanese tokusatsu television series. It was the twelfth installment in the Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei, and it was shown on TV Asahi from February 3, 2002 to January 19, 2003. The catchphrase for the series is...
  
   (ANB, 2002, Episodes 22-23)
• Kaiki File 2: Senrozoi no Apartment (YTV, 2002)
• Hot Man (TBS, 2003)
• Team4 (CX, 2003)
• Hikeshiya Komachi (NHK, 2004)
• Fantasm: Noroi no Yado (NHK, 2004)
• Chi Ato (TBS, 2004)
• Chushingura
  Chushingura
  is the name for fictionalized accounts of the historical revenge by the Forty-seven Ronin of the death of their master, Asano Naganori. Including the early , the story has been told in kabuki, bunraku, stage plays, films, novels, television shows and other media...
  
   (ANB, 2004, Episode 1)
• Ōoku: Dai Isshou (CX, 2004, Episode 7)
• Otōto
  Ototo
  Otōto is a drama that aired on TBS. It first aired in Japan on April 30, 1990.-Synopsis:Based on the autobiographical novel by Koda Aya, this made-for-TV movie follows the siblings Gen and Hekiro and their relationship with each other...
  
   (ANB, 2004)
• F2-X (CX, 2004)
• Yasashii Jikan (CX, 2005)
• Astro Kyuudan (TV ASAHI, 2005)
• Nihon no Rekishi (CX, 2005)
• Ōoku: Dai Isshou Special (CX, 2005)
• Shichinin no Onna Bengoshi (TV ASAHI, 2006, Episode 8)
• Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
  Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
  , known in English as The Man Who Can't Get Married or He Who Can't Marry, is a 2006 Japanese drama broadcast by Fuji TV. The theme song is "Swimmy" by Every Little Thing.The drama was produced by Kansai Telecasting Corporation and Media Mix Japan....
  
   (KTV, 2006, Episode 11)
• Delicious Gakuin
  Delicious Gakuin
  Delicious Gakuin , translated as Delicious Academy, is a japanese TV-drama.-Synopsis:After being kidnapped and being taken to a cooking school told they must enroll, a group of boys deal with learning tons of recipes while also focusing on thoughts of love, friends, and intentions.-Cast:* Nishijima...
  
   (TV TOKYO, 2007) as Okita Tsukasa
• Ururun (TBS, 2007)
• Sunshine Days (Kanagawa TV, 2007)
• Tadashii Ouji no Tsukuri Kata
  Tadashii Ouji no Tsukuri Kata
  is a Japanese comedy television drama that aired from January 8, 2008 to March 25 of 2008 on TV Tokyo.-Cast:* Yanagi Kotaro as Shinozaki Tatsuya* Midori Yurie as Yuki Nami* Aiba Hiroki as Hata Shurinosuke...
  
   (TV TOKYO, 2008) as Nanbara Takashi
• Koi no Paradora (2008, Episode 8)
• Dageki Tenshi Ruri (2008, Episode 3)
• Shibatora
  Shibatora
  was an 11-episode TV series broadcast in Japan in 2008, starring Teppei Koike as the main protagonist and Suzuka Ohgo as the heroine. The series is based on the manga created by Yuma Ando. The series consists of many twists, combining dark themes with comedic moments.-Synopsis:No matter how you...
  
   (2009, Special)

Movies

• Usagi
  Usagi
  Usagi may refer to:*Usagi, a Japanese term for rabbit*Usagi, a Japanese unisex given name meaning rabbit*Hana Usagi, a manga series by Kentarō Kobayashi*Samurai Usagi, a manga series by Teppei Fukushima...
  
  (1998)
• Tennen Shōjo Mahn Next (1999) - Yuuya Narugi
• Muscle Heat (2002)
• Yume Oikakete (2003)
• Norio no Heya (2004)
• Touch (2005)
• Parazoku: Parapara ja nai ka! (2006)
• The Prince of Tennis
  The Prince of Tennis (film)
  is a 2006 live-action movie directed by Yuichi Abe and based on The Prince of Tennis manga series by Takeshi Konomi. It condenses the storyline from when Ryoma arrives in Japan to the match against Hyotei Academy...
  
   (2006)
• Sakugoe (2007)
• Bokura no Hōteishiki (2008)
• Hana Guerilla (2009)
• Nude (2010)

Plays

• Oni to Hito to (2000)
• Mother Courage and Her Children
  Mother Courage and Her Children
  Mother Courage and Her Children is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin...
  
   (2005)
• Watashi wa Obasan ni Natte ‘ru !? (2006)
• Funny Bunny (2007)
• Switch o Osu Toki: Kimi wa Naze Ikiteiru ‘n da? (2006 & 2007)
• Aru Hi, Bokura wa Yume no Naka de Deau (2007)
• Jisoku 246 (2008)
• Kuchuu Blanco (2008)
• Every Little Thing
  Every Little Thing
  Every Little Thing is a pop and soft rock duo from Japan who debuted in August 1996 with the release of their first single called "Feel My Heart"...
  
  (2008)
• Hakase to Tarō no Ijō na Aijō (2008)
• Shatō (2008)
• Tokubetsuhō Dai 001 jō DUST (2009)
• Maharaja Mode (2009)

Music

• Kokoro ga (2005)

1. 心が… (My Heart...)
2. おくるうた (A Song for You)
3. 雨音 (The Sound of the Rain)
4. 心が…(Toscana version) (My Heart...)

• JAM (2005):

1.春に思い出し想う (I'll Be Thinking Of You In the Spring)
2.おくるうた (A Song for You)
3.言葉～ (One Word)
4.Sample
5.おもいでにデキなくて (I Can't Make You Into a Memory)
6.南口 (Southern Exit)
7.心が…(Romano version) (My Heart...)
8.雨音 (The Sound of the Rain)
9.Slow Jam
10.終着駅 (Terminal Station)
11. JAM/Bonus Track

• LOVE (2006):

1.バーガーショップ (Burger Shop)
2.僕の中 (Inside Of Me)
3.恋・愛 (Passion - Love)
4.恋の痛み (The Pain of Love)
5.kiss℃ (Temperature of a Kiss)
6.去りしきみ (The You That's Gone)
7.あかり (Light)
8.叫べ！ (Shout!)
9.唇 (Lips)
10.かたち (Shape)
11.LOVE/Bonus Track

• I Feel Fine (featured on the DVD 'On', 2007)

External links

• Takashi Nagayama's Official Homepage
• Takashi Nagayama's Official Blog
• Takashi Nagayama's Official Blog - 3/2006~11/2008
• Strawberry Meet Takashi Nagayama's official fanclub
• Gain Store (Blossam Clothing Line)