Taichi Kokubun

Taichi Kokubun 国分 太一
Background information
Born	(1974-09-02) September 2, 1974 (age 50)
Origin	Higashikurume, Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Rock
Occupations	Keyboardist actor
Instruments	Electronic keyboard piano
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Sony Music Entertainment Universal Music Japan Storm Labels

Taichi Kokubun (国分 太一, Kokubun Taichi, born September 2, 1974) is a Japanese keyboardist and actor.^[1][2] He plays keyboard for Tokio, a musical group of Starto Entertainment formerly known as Johnny & Associates.

Early life

Taichi Kokubun was born in Higashikurume, Tokyo.

Career

As an artist

Before debuting with Tokio, Kokubun, like other Tokio members, was a backup-dancer for Johnny's Entertainment boy bands, including Hikaru Genji.^[3] In 1990 he became the keyboardist of Tokio, but it was not until 1994 that the band debuted.^[3]

In 2004, Kokubun took a break from Tokio to form a temporary group with KinKi Kids member Tsuyoshi Domoto.^[3] Together they released the theme song to Fantastipo, a movie in which they 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 drama shows and movies such as Fantistipo and Shaberedomo Shaberedomo.

He has hosted Gachinko! with other Tokio members.^[2] Currently Kokubun hosts Kaitai Shin Show and Shonen Club Premium on NHK, Tetsuwan Dash and Guruguru Ninety-Nine on NTV, R30 and Sekai Kurabete Mitara on TBS, Mentore G on Fuji TV, and Aura no Izumi on TV Asahi.^[4]

In April 2009, Kokubun became a sportscaster for the Fuji TV show Sports!.^[5]

Filmography

Year/s	Title	Medium	Role	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 member Tsuyoshi Domoto, 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[2]

References

1. "Johnny's Net Tokio Profiles" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-12-21.
2. "Taichi Kokubun on IMDB". Retrieved 2009-12-21.
3. "TOKIO - artists - JaME U.S.A." Retrieved 2009-09-29.
4. "Kokubun completes conquest of major networks". TokyoGraph. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
5. "Taichi Kokubun becomes a sportscaster". TokyoGraph. Retrieved 2009-12-21.

External links

• Taichi Kokubun at IMDb
• Tokio Official Website