Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi(草彅剛) is an
actor and a member of the popular
idol group
SMAP of Japan. Born in
Ehime,
Japan on
July 9,
1974, he grew up in
Kasukabe,
Saitama.
Kusanagi is the most likable of all members of SMAP, with a gentle personality and positive outlook. In addition, he is famous for being a Japanese idol who is proficient in the
Korean language.
Kusanagi is known to join many shows where he can have food.
Kusanagi made several long visits to
South Korea in 2003, taking auditions and appearing on variety TV shows and in commercials. At this time, he released a Korean language CD in Korea and Japan.
Following this, he hosted his own
variety show Chonan Gang チョナン・カン in 2004 with Korean guests and themes.
Chonan Gang is also his Korean artist name, and the direct Korean translation of his name. It is written 초난강 in
Hangul. He also hosted a program in which he talked with South Korean President Roh Mu-hyun in Korean, while the president was on an official visit to Japan in June 2003 (see: http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?sfrm=1&n=200306060135).
He had the lead role in the movie,
Yomigaeri 黄泉がえり (January 18, 2003; a Japan public presentation.) Moreover, his Korean-language-Japanese-produced movie
Hotel Venus ホテルビーナス (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the
Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004.
Although his place as a member of SMAP was not conspicuous in the beginning, he came in first place on the ranking list of
millionaires in 2003 in
Johnny & Associates following the positive performance of a variety of productions he starred in. In addition, riding on the boom of Korean popular culture;
hanryu following the unprecedented success of
Winter Sonata in Japan, Kusanagi has eclipsed every other member of SMAP in popularity, except perhaps the ever-popular
Takuya Kimura.
Kusanagi loves
jeans, and he was chosen as the best jeanist for five years until 2003, when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Dramas
*Kekkon shiyouyo(結婚しようよ,1996)
*Oishii kankei(おいしい関係,1996)
*Ii hito.(いいひと。,1997)
*Drama special Sasyou Taeko -Kikan no aisatsu-(ドラマスペシャル沙粧妙子－帰還の挨拶－,1997)
*Narita rikon(成田離婚,1997)
*Sensei shiranaino?(先生知らないの？,1998)
*Jinbee(じんべえ,1998)
*TEAM(TEAM,annual drama series between 1999-2003.)
*
Food Fight(フードファイト,2000)
*Star no koi(スタアの恋,2001)
*Boku no ikiru michi(僕の生きる道,2003)
*Taikouki -Saru to yobareta otoko(太閤記～サルと呼ばれた男,2003)
*Boku to kanojo to kanojo no ikiru michi(僕と彼女と彼女の生きる道,2004)
*Sinsengumi!(新選組！,2004)
*Tokugawa Tsunayoshi -Inu to yobareta otoko(徳川綱吉～イヌと呼ばれた男,2004)
*Kaikyou wo wataru Violin(海峡を渡るバイオリン,2004)
Variety program
* "SMAP×SMAP"
* "
Dotch Cooking Show" (どっちの料理ショー)
* "
New Dotch Cooking Show" (新どっちの料理ショー)
* "「Pu」sma"
* "Morita Kazuyoshi Hour Waratte iitomo!(Friday)"
* "
Waratte Iitomo! Special number number"
* "Chonan Gan g(チョナン・カン)"
Movies
*Messenger(メッセンジャー,1999)
*Yomigaeri(黄泉がえり,2003)
*Hotel Venus(ホテルビーナス,2004)
Other
*Chikyuu fushigi daisezen(地球ふしぎ大自然！,Earth wonderful Nature!)"(Narrator)
*Convenience store"SHOP99"(CM)
*Hime-chan no Ribbon(姫ちゃんのリボン,Animation,1992/93,Hasekura senior's CV, also as himself in episode 13)"
