Shunsuke Kazama

Template:Short description Template:More footnotes Template:Infobox person Template:Nihongo is a Japanese actor and television personality.

Career

In 1997, when Kazama was in his second year of junior high school, he entered Johnny & Associates and started activities as a trainee. He made his debut on stage that same year in a Shonentai stage play.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1999, he played Kenjiro Kanesue in Kinpachi-sensei.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His performance earned him the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix award for Best Newcomer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2002, Kazama was member of unit "FOURTOPS" with fellow trainees Tomohisa Yamashita, Toma Ikuta, and Jun Hasegawa. The quartet hosted Shounen Club, a Johnny's Jr. variety show. In September 2003, Yamashita was chosen to be a member of a new unit, News. FOURTOPS was dissolved with News' debut, and the remaining members would focus on acting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They reunited in 2018 for Fuji Television's Year-End show Johnny's Countdown as back dancers for duo Tackey & Tsubasa, just as they did in the group's original days, for the duo's final appearance on the show.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2011, Kazama won a Television Drama Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He was a member of TU→YU in 2008, along with V6's Hiroshi Nagano, NEWS's Takahisa Masuda, Hey! Say! JUMP's Hikaru Yaotome and actor Tatsuya Takeda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He starred in the feature-length film Maebashi Visual Kei, as a young farmer who tries to make it big in a visual kei band.<ref name="Maebashi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When fellow Johnny Kazunari Ninomiya from Arashi, with whom Kazama has a close friendship, opened Twitter in 2023, he included a link to Kazama's Johnny's Web profile as if it were his own, much to the amusement of both their fans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mostly known as an actor, Kazama's musical career is basically non-existent, except for a few units at the beginning. So he was happy to receive a present from fellow Johnny and long time friend (Arashi's) Masaki Aiba. On 28 September 2023, at the last airing of the program VS Damashii in which both appeared, Aiba as "captain" and he as "assistant captain". Aiba gifted Kazama (and all the Damashii members) a CD copy of the show's theme song "New Again! Again and again!" saying, "Congratulations on your CD debut, Kazama-kun", to what Kazama responded, "This is the first CD that includes my voice in 26 years (of my entertainment career)."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

It was announced on 16 December 2023 that Kazama would be leaving the agency by year's end, to work as a freelance actor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Kazama married a non-celebrity woman in 2013, after dating for ten years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to some gossip sites and fan blogs, Kazama's wife is former actress Kazuna Kawamura. Kawamura and Kazama met in 2004 during the performance of the play "Claudia", a first for Kawamura, who relied in the experience that Kazama had at that time. According to those sites, the pair started dating when the play ended. When it came time to get married, months before, Kawamura announced her retirement from the industry. When Kazama reported the marriage, he named her as a non-celebrity woman, to keep prying eyes from their private life.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kazama and his wife are parents of a boy, born around 2016. His existence was unknown until the child was 3 years old. According to people who have worked with him, Kazama is a very private person, and it isn't his intention to keep hidden his private life, just that he rarely speaks about it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On December 22, 2020, Kazama's talent agency announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He made a full recovery on January 4.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
2011	Maebashi Visual Kei	Takuji		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012	Ninkyo Helper	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2013	Suzuki Sensei	Template:Sort		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Petal Dance	Kawada		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2015	Z Island	Shigeru		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2016	Cats Don't Come When You Call	Template:Sort	Lead role	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Template:Sort	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Midori: The Camellia Girl	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Black Widow Business	Hiroshi		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2021	Every Trick in the Book	Hideyoshi Kōchi		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Sensei's Pious Lie	Masami Hayafuji		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	How Dare You?			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television

Year(s)	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1999−2004	Kinpachi-sensei	Template:Sort	3 seasons	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Taikouki Saru to Yobareta Otoko	Koichiro	Television film	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	Akihabara@Deep	Page	Lead role	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011	Still, Life Goes On	Template:Sort		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2011−2012	Chūgakusei Nikki	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012−2013	Jun and Ai	Template:Sort	Asadora	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013	Matching Love	Template:Sort	Television film	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2014	Boku no Ita Jikan	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Keiji	Template:Sort	Television film	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Asunaro San San Nana Byoushi	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2014−2015	Bonkura	Sakichi		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2015	Keisei Saimin no Otoko	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2016	99.9 Criminal Lawyer	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2017	Gekokujo Juken	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Rikuoh	Template:Sort		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2018	Segodon	Hashimoto Sanai	Taiga drama	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2020−2021	Awaiting Kirin	Tokugawa Ieyasu	Taiga drama	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021−2022	Come Come Everybody	Haruhiko Katagiri	Asadora	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Silent	Masaki Haruo		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Hatsukoi, Zarari	Ryuji Okamura	Lead role	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Unmet: A Neurosurgeon's Diary	Hirotsugu Emoto	Episode 1	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	Unbound	Tsuruya Kiemon	Taiga drama	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other TV shows

• Zip! (Monday's main personality) (2018- ) (NTV)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• VS Damashii (Team's assistant captain) (2021-2023) (Fuji TV)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Animation

• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (2000−2004) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX (2004−2008) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi
• Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light (2005) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi
• Yu-Gi-Oh!: Bonds Beyond Time (2010) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• From Up On Poppy Hill (2011) − Shirō Mizunuma & Hiroshi Tachibana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions (2016) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi

Video games

• Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links (2016) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi
• Jump Force (2019) − Yugi Mutou/Yami Yugi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Venue
1997	Johnny's Fantasy Kyo to Kyo
2000	Big: Yume wa Kanau	Billy Copepki	Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo
2000	Millennium Shock	Company worker Jun (understudy)	Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
2001−2002	Show-geki Shock	Company worker Jun (understudy)	Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
2002	Playzone 2002: Yoshifumi	Policeman Townsperson (understudy)	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo Festival Hall, Osaka
2003	Shock is Real Shock	Shunsuke	Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
2003	Playzone 2003: Vacation	Local correspondent Terrorist boy Soldier	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo Festival Hall, Osaka
2004	Shocking Shock	Shunsuke	Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
2004	Chikyū Gorgeous Vol 7. "Claudia"	Dragon child	Nissay Theatre, Tokyo Aichi Arts Centre, Nagoya Fukuoka Sunpalace, Fukuoka Festival Hall, Osaka Niigata Terrsa, Niigata
2004−2005	West Side Story	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo Orix Theater, Osaka
2004	Chikyū Gorgeous 10th Anniversary "Claudia"	Dragon child	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo NHK Osaka Hall, Osaka
2006	Fall Guy	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo Theater Brava!, Osaka
2007	Takizawa Enbujō 2007	Saburo	Shinbashi Enbujō, Tokyo
2008	Koi wa Comedy	Pierre	Japan Tour
2008	Full House	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Nishinomiya
2008	Frying Pan and Handgun	Shigeta	Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo Sankei Hall, Osaka
2009	Kagotsurube	Rikkyo	Aoyama Theatre, Tokyo NHK Osaka Hall, Osaka
2010	Alibi no nai Tenshi	Masashi Tada	Panasonic Globe Theatre, Tokyo Sankei Hall, Osaka
2010	Believer	Steven	Setagaya Public Theater, Tokyo Umeda Arts Theater, Osaka Fukuoka Civic Hall, Fukuoka Denryoku Hall, Sendai
2011	Watashi wa Dare!?	Kunike Nomura	Mitsukoshi Theater, Tokyo
2011	Destiny 30 − Delux The Ninth Live	Aran	Telepia Hall, Nagoya Umeda Arts Theater, Osaka Sunshine Theatre, Tokyo
2011	Watashi wa Dare!? Replay	Kunike Nomura	Shin Kabuki-za, Osaka
2012	Otoko no Hanamichi	Kosuke Tōdō	Shin Kabuki-za, Osaka Hashima City Arts Centre, Hashima Le Theatre Ginza by Parco, Tokyo
2014	Chikyū Gorgeous Vol 13. "Kuzariāna no Tsubasa"	Gankutsu	Akasaka ACT Theater, Tokyo Aichi Arts Centre, Nagoya Canal City Theater, Fukuoka Umeda Arts Theater, Osaka
2014	Sakamoto Yūji Rōdoku geki 2014	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Sogetsu Hall, Tokyo
2014	Rōsoku Rōdoku Nakameguro		Woody Theatre, Tokyo
2015	Better Half	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Honda Theatre, Tokyo Sankei Hall, Osaka Yomiuri Otemachi Hall, Tokyo
2015	Baghdad Zoo no Bengal Tiger		New National Theatre Tokyo
2016	Kokami@network Vol 14. Intolerance no Matsuri	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Space Zero, Tokyo Theater Brava!, Osaka Yomiuri Otemachi Hall, Tokyo
2016	Dragon Quest Live Spectacle Tour	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Saitama Super Arena, Saitama Fukuoka Convention Center, Fukuoka Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka Yokohama Arena, Yokohama
2017	Better Half Replay	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Honda Theatre, Tokyo Winc Aichi, Aichi Kurume City Plaza, Fukuoka Sankei Hall, Osaka

External links

• Shunsuke Kazama at GamePlaza-Haruka Voice Acting Database Template:In lang
• Shunsuke Kazama at Hitoshi Doi's Seiyuu Database
• Template:Anime News Network
• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0443562

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