Tetsuo Kurata
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese television
, stage
and film
actor
and administrator, best known for portraying Kotaro Minami, the main character in the tokusatsu
television series Kamen Rider Black
and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX
. At the age of 19 he made his acting debut in Black, and has since appeared in many other television series and Japanese doramas. His birth name is .
. In a 2006 interview, Kurata had stated that, during the audition, he hadn't been able to portray the character appropriately, and did not think he would get the role. To his surprise, he was chosen by Shōtarō Ishinomori
himself to play the lead role, beating some 8,000 other contestants. During this period, Kurata underwent intense training that included stage combat
techniques, physical exercise
sessions and acting and singing lessons.
On October 4, 1987, Kamen Rider Black premiered on TBS
to public and critical acclaim. The success of the series, which ran for 51 episodes, generated enough interest from Toei Company
executives to persuade them to produce a sequel, something unprecedented in the Kamen Rider Series
franchise. After finishing his work on Black, Kurata was approached by Toei and renewed his contract for one more year in exchange for a salary
raise to work on Black's sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. This second series was less successful than its predecessor due to its witty and comical style, which differed deeply from the shadowy, darker tone of the original. In a 1989 magazine interview, Kurata said he preferred Black over Black RX, quoting the comedy from the latter as "excessive". It is rumored that Kurata declined later invitations to reprise his role as Kotaro in fear of being typecast
ed, but such rumors were never confirmed.
Following the end of Black RX, Kurata has appeared in various television series and doramas as supporting characters. He has apparently been out of the public spotlight after taking a hiatus from the entertainment industry, but came back to voice Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black in Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu, as well as appearing in Battle of the Cooking Iron (Ore Gohan), pitting himself against Takayuki Tsubaki
, known for his role as the title character of Kamen Rider Blade
.
In 2009, Kurata returned as Kotaro Minami in the movie Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker and also made a cameo appearance in Kamen Rider Decade
, reprising his role as Kotaro Minami.
Away from the world of entertainment, Kurata owns a steakhouse called Billy the Kid in Kōtō
, Tokyo. He also acts from time to time in TV dramas and stage plays in his spare time.
(1988) Kamen Rider Black RX
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 television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
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...
and administrator, best known for portraying Kotaro Minami, the main character in the tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
television series Kamen Rider Black
Kamen Rider Black
, translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo...
and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX
Kamen Rider BLACK RX
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series produced as part of the Kamen Rider Series. The ninth show in the franchise, it was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October...
. At the age of 19 he made his acting debut in Black, and has since appeared in many other television series and Japanese doramas. His birth name is .
Biography
Kurata auditioned for the role of Kotaro Minami in January 1987, when he had just graduated from high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. In a 2006 interview, Kurata had stated that, during the audition, he hadn't been able to portray the character appropriately, and did not think he would get the role. To his surprise, he was chosen by Shōtarō Ishinomori
Shotaro Ishinomori
was a Japanese manga artist who became an influential figure in manga, anime, and tokusatsu, creating several immensely popular long-running series such as Cyborg 009 and Himitsu Sentai Goranger, what would go on to become part of the Super Sentai series, and the Kamen Rider Series...
himself to play the lead role, beating some 8,000 other contestants. During this period, Kurata underwent intense training that included stage combat
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
techniques, physical exercise
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
sessions and acting and singing lessons.
On October 4, 1987, Kamen Rider Black premiered 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 ....
to public and critical acclaim. The success of the series, which ran for 51 episodes, generated enough interest from Toei Company
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
executives to persuade them to produce a sequel, something unprecedented in the Kamen Rider Series
Kamen Rider Series
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
franchise. After finishing his work on Black, Kurata was approached by Toei and renewed his contract for one more year in exchange for a salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
raise to work on Black's sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. This second series was less successful than its predecessor due to its witty and comical style, which differed deeply from the shadowy, darker tone of the original. In a 1989 magazine interview, Kurata said he preferred Black over Black RX, quoting the comedy from the latter as "excessive". It is rumored that Kurata declined later invitations to reprise his role as Kotaro in fear of being typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
ed, but such rumors were never confirmed.
Following the end of Black RX, Kurata has appeared in various television series and doramas as supporting characters. He has apparently been out of the public spotlight after taking a hiatus from the entertainment industry, but came back to voice Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black in Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu, as well as appearing in Battle of the Cooking Iron (Ore Gohan), pitting himself against Takayuki Tsubaki
Takayuki Tsubaki
is a Japanese actor who is probably best remembered for his role as Kazuma Kenzaki / the eponymous character in the tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Blade.-Television/Drama:* Kamen Rider Blade as Kazuma Kenzaki / Kamen Rider Blade...
, known for his role as the title character of Kamen Rider Blade
Kamen Rider Blade
, is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the fourteenth installment in the Kamen Rider Series. It aired on TV Asahi from January 25, 2004 to January 23, 2005. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. Along with the standard insect motif of the Kamen...
.
In 2009, Kurata returned as Kotaro Minami in the movie Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker and also made a cameo appearance in Kamen Rider Decade
Kamen Rider Decade
is the title of the first of the 2009 editions of the long-running Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu dramas. Decade, as its title suggests, is the tenth of the Heisei Rider Series, having begun with Kamen Rider Kuuga in 2000...
, reprising his role as Kotaro Minami.
Away from the world of entertainment, Kurata owns a steakhouse called Billy the Kid in Kōtō
Koto
Koto may refer to:*Koto , a Japanese musical instrument*Koto , a traditional dress made by Creole women in Suriname*Koto , Italian/Dutch synth pop group*Kōtō, Tokyo, a ward in Tokyo, Japan...
, Tokyo. He also acts from time to time in TV dramas and stage plays in his spare time.
Partial filmography
- Kamen Rider BlackKamen Rider Black, translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo...
(1987) - Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black - Aired on: May 3, 1987 - May 15, 1988 - 51 Episodes - Kamen Rider Black RXKamen Rider BLACK RXis a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series produced as part of the Kamen Rider Series. The ninth show in the franchise, it was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October...
(1988) - Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black RX - Aired on: May 24, 1988 - April 9, 1989 - 47 Episodes - Ranpo Edogawa: The Dark Light (1990)
- Kimi no Na Wa (1991)
- Men Who Fight (1992) - Syoji Matuoka
- Nogaremono Orin (2007) - Take Hazime
- Kamen Rider DecadeKamen Rider Decadeis the title of the first of the 2009 editions of the long-running Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu dramas. Decade, as its title suggests, is the tenth of the Heisei Rider Series, having begun with Kamen Rider Kuuga in 2000...
(2009) - Kotaro Minami(RX)/Kamen Rider Black RX, Kotaro Minami(Black)/Kamen Rider Black - Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-ShockerKamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shockeris the film adaptation of the 2009 Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Decade. The film was released in Japanese theaters on August 8, 2009, alongside the Samurai Sentai Shinkenger film, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger The Movie: The Fateful War. The catchphrases for the movie are and...
(2009 ToeiToei Companyis a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
) - Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black RX (cameo)
Tokusatsu Songs
(1987) Kamen Rider BlackKamen Rider Black
, translated as Masked Rider Black, is a tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the eighth installment in the famous Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu shows. It is a joint collaboration between Ishinomori Productions and Toei, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo...
- Kamen Rider Black Opening Theme
- Ore no Seishun 1st Movie Closing Theme
(1988) Kamen Rider Black RX
Kamen Rider BLACK RX
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series produced as part of the Kamen Rider Series. The ninth show in the franchise, it was a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei Company, and aired on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October...
- Kuroi Yuusha Insert Theme
Television series
- Abare Hasshū Goyō TabiAbare Hasshu Goyo Tabiwas a network prime-time television jidaigeki series in Japan from 1991 to 1994. It starred Teruhiko Saigō.The series began in 1991 in the 9:00 p.m. time slot on the TV Tokyo network. Saigō created the role of Tōdō Heihachirō. The character was a , a law-enforcement official of the Tokugawa...
(1992) - Wataru Seken wa oni BakariWataru Seken wa Oni Bakariis a Japanese television drama series that first aired on TBS in 1990.-Cast:* Takuya Fujioka* Hisano Yamaoka* Aiko Nagayama* Izumi Pinko* Yoshiko Nakada-Episodes:...
(Season 3~) (1996~) - Akiba Kazuo