Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

Quick Facts: Who was Tsuyoshi Kusanagi?

Subject:

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

Known for:

Japanese entertainer known for his work in boy bands, acting, and Korean cultural endeavors.

Born:

1974-07-09

Century / Era:

1974s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi; born July 9, 1974 in Seiyo, Ehime, Japan) is a Japanese actor, singer, television host, and a former member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia. Kusanagi grew up in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan. In 1987, at age 13, Kusanagi auditioned to enter Johnny & Associates, a Japanese talent agency that recruits and trains young boys, preteens to teens, to become singers and members of boy bands. After five of the other band members auditioning individually from 1986 through 1987, in autumn 1987, twenty boys, from ages ten to seventeen, were put together into a group called The Skate Boys, which was initially created as backup dancers for a famous boy band, Hikaru Genji. In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A year after the dissolution of SMAP, Kusanagi, alongside former members Shingo Katori, and Goro Inagaki formed the group, Atarashii Chizu. 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 The Hotel Venus (ホテルビーナス, Hoteru Bīnasu) (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004. In 2020, Kusanagi took on the role of Nagisa, a transgender nightclub worker in Eiji Uchida's Midnight Swan. The film won numerous awards, such as Picture of the Year, and he was subsequently awarded the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As a member of the boyband SMAP, Kusanagi used to co-host the weekly variety show SMAP×SMAP alongside his bandmates for 20 years. In 2001, he hosted the variety show Chonangang on Fuji TV. Determined to debut in Korea, Kusanagi started learning the Korean language and appearing on Korean variety shows. This focus on Korean culture led to him adopting Chonangang as his Korean persona in various SMAP concerts, even releasing several singles. Originally, Chonangang was intended to focus on Kusanagi's journey in South Korea, however lasted eight years due to its popularity.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1974 (1974-07-09): Birth of Tsuyoshi Kusanagi — Japanese entertainer known for his work in boy bands, acting, and Korean cultural endeavors.
2. 1986: 1986 Milestone — After five of the other band members auditioning individually from 1986 through 1987, in autumn 1987, twenty boys, from ages ten to seventeen, were put together into a group called The Skate Boys, which was initially created as backup dancers for a famous boy band, Hikaru Genji.
3. 1987: 1987 Milestone — In 1987, at age 13, Kusanagi auditioned to enter Johnny & Associates, a Japanese talent agency that recruits and trains young boys, preteens to teens, to become singers and members of boy bands.
4. 1988: 1988 Milestone — In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".
5. 2001: 2001 Milestone — In 2001, he hosted the variety show Chonangang on Fuji TV.
6. 2003: 2003 Milestone — He had the lead role in the movie, Yomigaeri (黄泉がえり) (January 18, 2003; a Japan public presentation).
7. 2004: 2004 Milestone — Moreover, his Korean-language-Japanese-produced movie The Hotel Venus (ホテルビーナス, Hoteru Bīnasu) (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004.
8. 2020: 2020 Milestone — In 2020, Kusanagi took on the role of Nagisa, a transgender nightclub worker in Eiji Uchida's Midnight Swan.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

True or False: “Tsuyoshi Kusanagi was a founding member of the group Atarashii Chizu after SMAP's initial formation.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He formed Atarashii Chizu with Shingo Katori and Goro Inagaki a year *after* the dissolution of SMAP.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Tsuyoshi Kusanagi