Takuya Kimura

Takuya Kimura (Japanese: 木村 拓哉, Hepburn: Kimura Takuya, born November 13, 1972) is a renowned Japanese actor, singer, and radio personality. He has been regarded as a Japanese icon following his successful career as an actor and a popular member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia. Known in media as a heartthrob in Japan, his influence extended to fashion, impacting the styles adopted by the Japanese men in the mid-90s. Kimura's acting career took off in 1988 when he made his debut in the TV series 'Abunai Shonen III', attracting attention in 1993 in the high-rated TV series, Asunaro Hakusho. His massive fame grew, particularly through his lead role in the TV series 'Long Vacation' in 1996, which saw significant success and became the highest rated program. This success helped him gain more recognition and a wider fan base. He has since starred in films, with a notable supporting role in Cannes-nominated film '2046' in 2004 and a voice acting role for Studio Ghibli's 'Howl’s Moving Castle'. In 2017, he appeared in the film 'Blade of the Immortal', with director Takashi Miike expressing confidence in his suitability for the role due to his varied experiences in films.