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Takeshi Kaneshiro
Pinyin	Jīnchéng Wǔ (Mandarin)
Jyutping	Gam1sing4 Mou5 (Cantonese)
Birth name	金城 武 Kaneshiro Takeshi
Ancestry	Japanese (Okinawan), Taiwanese
Born	October 11, 1973 (1973-10-11) (age 36) Taipei, Taiwan
Other name(s)	Aniki
Occupation	Actor, singer
Genre(s)	Mandopop, Cantopop
Years active	1992–present
Official Website	Takeshi

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Japanese and Chinese: 金城 武, romaji: Kaneshiro Takeshi, Pinyin: Jīnchéng Wǔ), born October 11, 1973, is an actor of mixed heritage – his father is Ryukyuan and his mother is of Taiwanese descent.

Name

Kaneshiro is a common Okinawan family name^[1]. In kanji, 金城 is Kaneshiro and 武 is Takeshi (given name), with Japanese readings. He appears as 金城 武 (Kaneshiro Takeshi) on Japanese media.

Although Kaneshiro is not a Chinese surname, the first kanji of Kaneshiro coincides with the Chinese surname Jin 金. Since personal names are commonly written in Chinese characters in both Chinese and Japanese naming conventions, with surnames before given names, this gives Kaneshiro the freedom whether distinguish himself as a Japanese or not when working in Chinese-speaking countries by preserving or removing the space between his surname and given name.

Biography

With a mother from Taiwan and a father from Okinawa, Kaneshiro was born and raised in Taipei and is a Japanese citizen (nationality).^[2][3]

He has two elder brothers who are seven and one years older than him.^[4] After graduating from Taipei Japanese Junior High School, he enrolled at English-based Taipei American School, which enabled him to converse in English. He is multi-lingual: fluent in Chinese (Mandarin and Taiwanese) and Japanese. As a result of his varied background, Kaneshiro can speak with varying degrees of fluency in English, Cantonese, and Japanese. While he was studying there he began doing TV commercials, and he decided to quit school to pursue a singing and acting career.

Career

In 1992, Kaneshiro made his singing debut, entering the business with the nickname Aniki, meaning 'older brother' in Japanese. His debut album was Heartbreaking Night (1992). Contracted to EMI, he wrote many of his own Mandarin and Cantonese songs. The following year, his popularity propelled him into acting and he no longer produces any commercial music.

His first movie was Executioners (1993) and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Wong Kar-Wai film Chungking Express (1994) and a string of other Hong Kong movies. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the highly successful Japanese TV mini-series God, Please Give Me More Time (1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese movies such as Returner (2002). Kaneshiro's work, however, is more heavily concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He also became well known in the video game industry portraying the samurai warrior Samanosuke in the Capcom hit Onimusha. In a June 2007 article on the movie site Ain't It Cool News, it was revealed that Kaneshiro will be in the Onimusha movie, reprising his role as Samanosuke and for a 2011 release.^[5][6][7]

Outside of the entertainment business, Kaneshiro has acted as a spokesperson and model for Emporio Armani Underwear (2008) as well as, Prada (1998), Lifecard credit card company, VAIO personal computer, Honda, Lipice lips moisturizer, SonyEricsson, Pocari Sweat soft drink, Morinaga chocolate, Volvic, GEOS (eikaiwa) (language school), Petronas oil company, Japan Asia Airways, Hyundai Motor Company, Toyota MarkX ZiO, Mitsubishi Galant, NTT docomo the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan, NTT Yellow Pages, Shiseido, Lycos, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Kadokawa Shoten a well-known Japanese publisher based in Tokyo, Rice Burger, Roasted barley tea, One2Free (HK), and Kiwi cold drink, and the most recent Biotherm Homme since 2005.^[8]

Personal life

About his personal life Kaneshiro has been quoted as saying “If one day I get married and have kids, I will probably be one of those men who really care for the family. I will eat at home every day, and help with the chores and take care of the children.”^[9]

Filmography

Movies

• The Battle of Red Cliff II (2009) as Zhuge Liang
• K-20: Legend of the Mask K-20 (2008)
• The Battle of Red Cliff (2008) as Zhuge Liang
• Sweet Rain (2008) as Chiba - The Death God
• The Warlords (2007) as Jiang Wuyang
• Confession of Pain (2006) as Bong
• Perhaps Love (2005) (Titled Winter Song for the Japanese release)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004) (Titled Lovers for the Japanese release)
• Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004) - (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
• Turn Left, Turn Right (2003)
• Returner (2002)
• Onimusha: Warlords (2001) (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
• Love in year 2000 (2000) (voice: Japanese version)
• Lavender (2000)
• Space Travelers (2000)
• Tarzan (1999) as Tarzan (Voice for Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese versions)
• Tempting Heart (1999)
• Misty (1998)
• Sleepless Town (1998)
• Anna Magdalena (1998)
• Too Tired to Die (1998)
• First Love: The Litter on the Breeze (1997)
• The Odd One Dies (1997)
• Downtown Torpedoes (1997)
• Hero - The Legend (1997)
• Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words (1996)
• Lost and Found (1996)
• The Jail In Burning Island (1996)
• The Feeling of Love (1996)
• Trouble Maker (1995)
• School Days (1995)
• China Dragon (1995)
• Forever Friends (1995)
• Fallen Angels (1995) - as He Zhiwu
• Young Policemen in Love (1995)
• No Sir (1994)
• The Wrath of Silence (1994)
• Don't Give a Damn (1994)
• Mermaid Got Married (1994)
• Chungking Express (1994) - as He Zhiwu, Cop 223
• Heroic Trio 2: Executioners (1993)

Drama

Japan

• Golden Bowl (2002) (Japanese: ゴールデンボウル)
• Love 2000 (2000) (Japanese: 二千年の恋)
• God, Please Give Me More Time (1998) (Japanese: 神様、もう少しだけ)
• The Miracle on a Christmas Night (1995) (Japanese: 聖夜の奇跡)

Hong Kong

• Colour Of Armour (1995)

Taiwan

• Grass Scholar (1992)

Discography

Albums

Movie soundtracks

Videogames

• Onimusha (2001) (VG)
• Onimusha 3 (2004) (VG)

Misc

• Smap X Smap September (2002) TV Episode
• Smap X Smap October (2002) TV Episode

References

External links

• Takeshi Kaneshiro at the Internet Movie Database
• Takeshi Kaneshiro at LoveHKFilm.com
• Takeshi Kaneshiro International forum
• Takeshi KaneshiroTakeshi Kaneshiro Fans Forum
• Takeshi Kaneshiro Pictures