Masahiro Nakai
| Masahiro Nakai | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 中居 正広 |
| Born |
August 18, 1972 Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor, television host, song-writer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Victor Entertainment |
| Associated acts | SMAP |
Masahiro Nakai (中居 正広 Nakai Masahiro, born August 18, 1972) is a Japanese television host, actor, newscaster, radio personality, and the leader of SMAP, the best-selling boy band in Asia.[1] While working as a member of a boy band, he worked extensively as a television presenter, hosting many of his own talk shows, variety shows, music shows, news programs, and several Olympic games as a sportscaster. His conversational method and technique has been critically praised, establishing himself as one of the most well-respected, iconic hosts in the Japanese entertainment industry. He is the host of six weekly television programs and one radio program.
Since his first major role in the drama television series, Aji Ichimonme (1995), he has had a successful acting career, both in television and film. He has starred in many high-rated television series such as, Densetsu no Kyoushi (2000), Shiroi Kage (2001), Suna no Utsuwa (2004), and Ataru (2012), and a blockbuster film, Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai (2008).
He is credited for changing the Japanese entertainment industry, becoming the first non-comedian celebrity to have a career as a television host and expanding the capacity of a boy band. He is one of the wealthiest and highest-paid celebrities in Japan, identified as the highest tax payer in the Japanese entertainment industry by the Japanese National Tax Bureau since 2003.[2]
Early life
Nakai was born in Kugenuma, Fujisawa, Kanagawa as the youngest of three brothers. He is a big fan of baseball.[3]
Career
Music
In 1986, at age 14, Nakai 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 the following year, 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.[4] In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".[5] Nakai, being the oldest of the group, was chosen to become the leader.
Acting
In 1988, he made his acting debut in a television series, Abunai Shonen III, along with his band members. After several supporting roles, in 1995, he landed his first major role in a drama television series, Aji Ichimonme. Following its success, he established himself as a leading man, starring in many high-rated television series such as, Densetsu no Kyoushi (2000), Shiroi Kage (2001), Suna no Utsuwa (2004), and Ataru (2012). In 2008, he starred in a blockbuster film, Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai (2008).[6][7]
Television
At age 16, he decided that he wanted a professional career as a television presenter while working as a member of a boy band and started to actively participate in variety programs with popular comedians. In 1996, he launched his first self-titled television program, Nakai-kun Onsen. In 1997, he became the youngest male presenter to host the Kohaku Uta Gassen, at age 25. He hosts three weekly prime-time television programs three late-night programs and one radio program, as of 2016; SMAPxSMAP since 1996, The Sekai Gyoten News and Kinyoubi no Sma tachi e since 2001, Nakai no Mado since 2012, Mi ni Naru Toshokan since 2013, and Momm since 2015. He occasionally hosts TV specials, such as Kohaku Uta Gassen, 27 Hour Television, and a ten-hour long music program, Ongaku no Hi.
Sportscaster
From 1995, he started utilizing his knowledge on sports, serving as a sports commentator on Sunday Jungle, from 1995 to 2000. In 2004, he officially launched his career as a sportscaster, after becoming the host of the 2004 Summer Olympics and has hosted seven Olympic games during their television coverage on TBS.[8] He has also served as the play-by-play commentator for several baseball tournaments, such as the World Baseball Classics.
Filmography
Television (as personality)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-2014 | Waratte Iitomo | Himself | |
| 1995-2000 | Sunday Jungle | Himself (sports commentator) | |
| 1996-1998 | Nakai kun Onsen | Himself (host) | |
| 1996-2010 | Utaban | Himself (host) | |
| 1996–present | SMAPxSMAP | Himself (host, performer) | |
| Mecha-Mecha Iketeru! | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| 27 Hour Television | Himself (host) | TV special; 10 episodes | |
| 1997-1998 | D-1 Grand Prix | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes |
| 1997-2009 | Kouhaku Uta Gassen | Himself (host) | TV special; 6 episodes |
| 1998-2002 | SataSma | Himself (host) | |
| 2000–present | Konya mo Nemurenai | Himself (host) | TV special; 17 episodes |
| 2001–present | The Sekai Gyoten News | Himself (host) | |
| Kinyoubi no Sma tachi e | Himself (host) | ||
| 2002 | DeliSma | Himself (host) | |
| 2002-2003 | VS Nihon TV | Himself (host) | TV special; 2 episodes |
| 2002-2004 | Wakachuki | Himself (host) | |
| 2003 | Smao | Himself (host) | |
| 2004-2013 | Black Variety | Himself (host) | |
| 2004–present | Olympic Games | Himself (host, newscaster) | |
| 2006-2009 | Super Drama Festival | Himself (host) | TV special; 7 episodes |
| 2007–present | Baby Smap | Himself (host) | |
| World Baseball Entertainment Tamacchi | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| 2008-2012 | The Dainenpyou | Himself (host) | TV special; 7 episodes |
| 2008–present | Nanaban Shoubu | Himself (host) | TV special; 8 episodes |
| 2010 | The Music Hour | Himself (host) | |
| 2010-2013 | Sekai wa Sugee Koko made Shirabemashita | Himself (host) | TV special; 5 episodes |
| 2010-present | CDTV Special | Himself (host, performer) | TV special: 6 episodes |
| Draft Kinkyu Namatokuban Okasan Arigato | Himself (host) | TV special; 6 episodes | |
| Baseball Chin-play Ko-play Taisho | Himself (host) | TV special: 6 episodes | |
| 2011-2012 | Coming Soon | Himself (host) | |
| Dramatic Living Room | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes | |
| 2011-2013 | Ayashii Uwasa no Atsumaru Toshokan | Himself (host) | |
| 2011–present | Ongaku no Hi | Himself (host, performer) | TV special; 5 episodes |
| Nakai no Kakezan | Himself (host) | TV special; 6 episodes | |
| 2012-2013 | Kayoukyoku | Himself (host) | |
| 2012–present | Ashita e Concert | Himself (host, performer) | TV special; 5 episodes |
| Nakai no Mado | Himself (host) | ||
| Nodojiman The World | Himself (host) | TV special; 13 episodes | |
| 2013-2014 | Sound Room | Himself (host) | |
| 2013–present | Mi ni Naru Toshokan | Himself (host) | |
| Wide Na Show | Himself (commentator) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Utage | Himself (host, performer) | |
| SmaShip | Himself (host) | TV special; 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | NHK Nodojiman | Himself (host) | |
| 2015–present | Momm | Himself (host) | |
| Kami Sense Shio Sense | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes | |
| Utage Special | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes | |
| Sports Gogai Scoop Neraimasu | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes | |
Television (as actor)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-1989 | Abunai Shonen III | Himself | Main role |
| 1989 | Jikan Desuyo Heisei Gannen | Hiroshi Takarada | |
| 1991 | Gakkou e Ikou | Katsumi Matsuda | |
| 1992 | Motto, Tokimeki wo | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 1993 | Aiyo Nemuranaide | Mamoru Koga | |
| Ude ni Oboeari 3 | Yunosuke Shibutani | ||
| 1995 | Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari | Kazuyuki Oida | Main role |
| 1995-2013 | Aji Ichimonme | Satoru Ibashi | Main role |
| 1995 | Kagayaku Kisetsu no Naka de | Shinichi Higuchi | |
| Kagayake Rintaro | Himself | Cameo; 2 episodes | |
| 1996 | Dareka ga Dareka ni Koishiteru | Kentaro Ishida | Main role |
| Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari | Okada | Main role | |
| Shori no Megami | Kohei Yoshimoto | Main role | |
| 1996-2015 | Naniwa Kinyudo | Tatsuyuki Haibara | Main role |
| 1997 | Boku ga Boku de Arutame ni | Hayato Narise | Main role |
| Ii Hito | Himself | Cameo appearance | |
| Saigo no Koi | Toru Natsume | Main role | |
| 1998 | Brothers | Shinjin Fujiwara | Main role |
| 1999 | Furuhata Ninzaburo vs SMAP | Himself | Main role |
| Good News | Bunichi Kurosawa | Main role | |
| 2000 | Densetsu no Kyoushi | Daisuke Kazama | Main role |
| Sazae-san | Man (voice) | Cameo appearance; episode 4550 | |
| 2001 | Yonimo Kimyo na Monogatari | Yoji Sagara | Main role |
| 2001-2003 | Shiroi Kage | Yosuke Naoe | Main role |
| 2004 | Suna no Utsuwa | Hideyoshi Waga | Main role |
| X’smap | Jyunsa | Main role | |
| Sazae-san | Man at hospital (voice) | Cameo appearance; episode 5456 | |
| 2009 | Konkatsu | Kuniyuki Amamiya | Main role |
| 2010 | Dokutomato Satsujin Jiken | Himself | Main role |
| 2011 | Sazae-san | Himself (voice) | Cameo appearance |
| 2012-2013 | Ataru | Zai Inoguchi | Main role |
| 2013 | Furuhata vs SMAP The Aftermath | Himself | Main role |
| 2014 | Oretachi ni Asu wa aru | Himself | Main role |
| Sazae-san | Himself (voice) | Cameo appearance; episode 7148 | |
| 2015 | Zeni no Sensou | Tatsuyuki Haibara | Guest appearance; 1 episode |
| Sazae-san | Himself (voice) | Cameo appearance; episode 7323 | |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Private Lesson | Koji Kaneko | Guest appearance |
| 1994 | Shoot | Toshihiko Tanaka | Main role |
| 2002 | Mohō Han | Koichi Amikawa | Main role |
| 2008 | Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai | Toyomatsu Shimizu | Main role |
| 2010 | Ototo | Himself | Cameo |
| 2013 | Ataru The First Love & The Last Kill | Zai Inoguchi | Main role |
| 2016 | Te wo Tsunaide Kaerouyo | Koji Soga | Guest appearance |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-2009 | Ohayo SMAP | Himself | |
| 1993-1994 | All Night Nippon | Himself | |
| 1995–present | Some Girl' SMAP | Himself | |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Saint Seiya | Pegasus Seiya | Main role |
| 1992 | Dragon Quest | Main role | |
| 1993 | Another | Main role | |
Discography
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4th Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actor | Aji Ichimonme | Won[9] |
| Best Newcomer | Won[9] | |||
| 1997 | 14th Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actor | Saigo no Koi | Won[9] |
| 2003 | 7th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Actor | Suna no Utsuwa | Won[10] |
| 2004 | 40th Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actor | Won[9] | |
| 2008 | 21st Nikkan Sports Film Awards | Best Actor | Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai | Won[11] |
| 2009 | TV Navi Spring 2009 Drama Awards | Best Actor | Konkatsu! | Won[9] |
Publications
- Music Clamp: SMAP MIND Vol.1 (1997) ISBN 978-4-87728-151-9
- Music Clamp: SMAP MIND Vol.2 (1997) ISBN 978-4-87728-160-1
- Music Clamp: SMAP MIND Vol.3 (1997) ISBN 978-4-87728-176-2
- Music Clamp: SMAP MIND Vol.4 (1997) ISBN 978-4-87728-177-9
- Shifuku Darake no Nakai Masahiro Zokango Kagayaite (August 18, 2009) ISBN 978-4594060183
- Shifuku Darake no Nakai Masahiro Zokango Kagayaite Part2 (December 11, 2012) ISBN 978-4594067335
- Shifuku Darake no Nakai Masahiro Zokango Kagayaite Part3 (January 15, 2013) ISBN 978-4594067403
- Shifuku Darake no Nakai Masahiro Zokango Kagayaite Part4 (April 18, 2014) ISBN 978-4594070342
References
- ↑ "SMAP". Japan-Zone. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ↑ "The Boy Bachelor". The Japan Times. 2003-05-25. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ↑ "Nakai designated 'support captain' for Olympic baseball team". Tokyograph. 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ↑ "SMAP". Japan-Zone. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ↑ "SMAPの前身「スケートボーイズ」に所属していた豪華メンバーたち". Excite News. Nikkan Taishu. Retrieved Aug 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Masahiro Nakai chosen for 'Shellfish' remake". Tokyograph. 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ↑ Schilling, Mark (2008-11-21). "Making a case for a 'war criminal'". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ↑ "中居正広、7大会連続五輪キャスター就任 テーマソングはSMAP名曲「ありがとう」". Oricon Style. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Drama Academy Awards". Tokyograph. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ↑ "Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix". Tokyograph. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ↑ "21st Nikkan Sports Film Awards". Tokyograph. 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2010-02-20.