Top 25 Japanese Actresses on MDL
I first found Yamashita Tomohisa while trolling a streaming site for a new drama to watch after finishing everything I could find from Matsuda Shota. I found 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made because it was labeled as hot, and I figured I'd give it a shot. I was immediately hooked and continued to start from the beginning of his career by watching Nobuta Wo Produce where I also met Kamenashi Kazuya. Their chemistry in this drama is undeniable.
Now a few facts about Yamapi - by the way, do you know why he's called Yamapi? When he was a Johnny's Junior, he was always trying to wear another color besides his assigned color pink. His instructor would always yell at him "YAMASHITA, PINK! PINK!" which was shortened into Yamapi. Watch him tell the story here.
Basics
Native name: Yamashita Tomohisa (山下 智久/やました ともひさ)
Also known as: Yamapi, YamaP, Pi, Tomo-chan, TomoPi, P-Chan
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History
Tomo and his sister Rina were raised mostly by their mother Naomi after their parents separated.
Tomo and Jin
While in Johnny's, he practically lived with Akanishi Jin. He was there so much that whenever Jin came home, Yamapi would yell out "Welcome home!" like he lived there. As far as I know, they are still friends (as much as Johnny's Entertainment will allow).
Here are few videos and interviews of them interacting:
Music Station 2009 - Yamapi Interview - Music station full video
Entering Johnny's
Yamapi sent out several applications to many talent agencies but only Johnny's accepted him. He had decided to apply after watching a drama that Takizawa Hideaki was in, and from then on, wanted to act for a living.
He entered Johnny's at the age of 11 in 1996 as a Johnny's Junior (which is what they call trainees) and quickly became one of the most popular Juniors among his peers. Once Johnny's Junior's leader Takizawa Hideaki (Tackey) debuted as part of J-pop duo Tackey & Tsubasa, Yamapi was chosen to be the Johnny's Juniors' new leader. At that time, he went to high school at Horikoshi Gakuen's Performing Arts course for high school students, which he graduated from in 2004. Other celebrities he went to school with are Koki Tanaka, Koike Teppei, and Yu Shirota.
Kamenashi Kazuya stated in an interview that it was always Yamapi and "the rest" of the Juniors. He always stood out.
For full acting credits, see Yamapi's MDL page here.
Awards
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Music
NEWS
In 2003, Yamashita was selected to be in the band NEWS (which stands for North, East, West, South) along with:
- Takahiro Moriuchi, who left the group before they held their first concert
- Uchi Hiroki, who is also in Kanjani8 and was on temporary suspension for underage drinking from 2004 - 2006
- Nishikido Ryo, who is also in Kanjani8. He left NEWS in 2011 but stayed with Kanjani8
- Kusano Hionori, who was suspended indefinitely for underage drinking
Yamashita Tomohisa left NEWS in 2011. The remaining four members are Keiichiro Koyama, Takahisa Masuda, Shigeaki Kato, and Yuya Tegoshi.
Solo
Concerts
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Composing
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Other Groups
Anime Credits
"Love Chase" by Tomohisa Yamashita (ending credits in episodes 52 - 62) for Toriko anime.
Okay, let's take a breather because, damn, this man has done A LOT of stuff. I also keep getting distracted by his hotness in videos while linking them. Especially Let Me. I think I could watch that video on repeat all day. Watch this interview while I go get a drink:
Endorsements
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Here are a few more pics I found:
Okay, so this last one gives me an inkling as to why guys love maid costumes so much.
There is a love rumor about this man that has been persistent for two years now but it has not been proven as true, nor will it ever be if they both want to keep their jobs. During the filming Boku, Unmei no Hito Desu, Yamapi was seen heading to the apartment of Ishihara Satomi and Japanese tabloids are all speculating about marriage now.
My favorite dramas with Yamapi (other than the ones listed in the first paragraph) are Buzzer Beat, Stand Up!!, and Kurosagi.
Hope you enjoyed this installment!
Previous episodes: Kamenashi Kazuya
Next episode: Oguri Shun
