Jin Akanishi

Jin Akanishi 赤西 仁
Birth name	赤西 仁 (Akanishi Jin)
Born	July 4, 1984 (1984-07-04)
Origin	Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Genres	Pop, R&B, Hip hop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, arranger, artist, actor, television personality
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, drums
Years active	1998-present
Labels	J-One Records, Warner Music Group
Associated acts	KAT-TUN, Koichi Domoto, Crystal Kay, LANDS, Jason Derulo
Website	jinakanishiusa.com

Jin Akanishi (赤西 仁, Akanishi Jin, born July 4, 1984) is a Japanese idol, singer-songwriter, actor, seiyū, and former radio host. Akanishi is a former member of the J-pop group, KAT-TUN, and was one of the two lead vocalists. Since the group's debut in 2006, it has achieved 14 consecutive number ones (including studio albums) on the Oricon charts.

Akanishi is also a budding actor with roles in the second season of popular NTV school drama, Gokusen 2, Anego and Yukan Club. He was also a co-host of KAT-TUN's own variety show, Cartoon KAT-TUN, and used to host a radio program called "KAT-TUN Style" with bandmate Junnosuke Taguchi from October 2007 to March 2008.

Early life

Born in the Chiba Prefecture on July 4, 1984, Akanishi is the oldest child. His family consists of his parents and a younger brother, Reio, who also works in the entertainment industry as an actor under the stage name, Fuuta. His given name, Jin ("benevolence"), comes from one of the five Confucian virtues. He moved to Tokyo in the first grade. He is the best friend of Tomohisa Yamashita and the two remain close today. In 1997, when he was still in grade school, a classmate sent in a photo of him to idol magazine, Myojo, and he was featured in the "Cool Classmates" corner of the issue. Akanishi expressed interest in the entertainment industry and his mother thus sent in an application to Johnny's Entertainment on his behalf in 1998. Though he technically failed his audition on November 8, 1998, he was told to stay when he tried to return his number plate to a man who happened to be Johnny Kitagawa himself. He entered Johnny & Associates at the same time as future bandmates Kazuya Kamenashi and Yuichi Nakamaru.

Recording career

2001–2006: Early career

After he was made a Johnny's Jr. member in 2000, Akanishi was part of a number of groups like Musical Academy Dancing, J2000 and B.A.D. before being drafted into a six-member unit in 2001 with other juniors Kazuya Kamenashi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda and Yuichi Nakamaru. Though the group was originally meant to only be backup dancers for Koichi Domoto of KinKi Kids, the sextet's unexpected popularity led their agency to allow them to expand into a separate group called KAT-TUN, an acronym formed by the first letter of the members' surnames. Despite the group's popularity (they even released DVDs of their live concerts in 2003 and 2005—a first for JE groups that hadn't debuted), they were not allowed to make their bow until five years later.

2006–2009: Debut as a member of KAT-TUN

KAT-TUN's debut on March 22, 2006 was marked by a tripartite release of their debut single, debut album and a DVD chronicling the making of their first music video. All three releases were immensely successful on the Oricon charts with "Real Face" and "Real Face Film" certified as the best-selling single and domestic music DVD of 2006 respectively. The group's next single, "Signal", was also a massive hit debuting at number 1 and selling more than 500,000 copies.

Much to the Japanese public's surprise, Akanishi announced in a press conference on October 13, 2006 that he was leaving the country to study English abroad for an indefinite amount of time. Despite his absence, KAT-TUN were obliged to continue its activities and released their third single and second studio album, "Bokura no Machi de" and Cartoon KAT-TUN II You, which both topped the charts. Akanishi finally returned from Los Angeles, the United States after six months on April 19, 2007. He quickly resumed work by joining his bandmates on their nationwide tour on April 21. All of KAT-TUN's subsequent singles and albums have since debuted at number 1 and the band has sold more than 6 million records in just over three years.

Akanishi is also a songwriter having written songs for KAT-TUN and for himself, including "Hesitate", "Love or Like" (from Cartoon KAT-TUN II You), "Lovejuice" (B-side of the limited edition 2 of "Don't U Ever Stop"), "Care" (from Break the Records: By You & For You) and "Wonder." The song "Wonder" is a collaboration with R&B artist, Crystal Kay. Akanishi is also featured in the song "Helpless Night" from Crystal Kay's greatest hits album Best of Crystal Kay, released on September 2, 2009. He can play the guitar and has composed both music and lyrics for "Murasaki (ムラサキ)", "ha-ha" and "Pinky". He also collaborated with bandmate Ueda to create the song, "Butterfly" (from Best of KAT-TUN).

2009–2010: Rocking with LANDS

At the event of Tokyo Girls Collection on September 5, 2009, Jin appeared as a special guest to promote his new movie, Bandage, he performed the movie's theme song which marked this as the solo debut under the temporary unit LANDS with Takeshi Kobayashi, the producer of Mr. Children. Kobayashi wrote the lyrics and music of their debut single "Bandage." The song features drummer Nobuaki Kaneko of Rize. It was released on November 25, 2009; each copy contains a postcard to enter the drawing for tickets to LANDS' special concert, held on January 16, 2010 in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

On November 30, 2009, it was announced that LANDS would release an album, Olympos, on January 13, 2010. It includes "Bandage" and 7 other songs.

2010: Solo concerts and United States tour

Akanishi had a series of solo concerts, "Akanishi Jin Star Live You & Jin", comprising a total of 32 shows from February 7, 2010 to February 28, 2010. The song "A Page" featured at his concerts, was released as part of KAT-TUN's 11th single, "Love Yourself (Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki)," on the 2nd limited edition on February 10, 2010. He composed and arranged the song "A Page." He also co-wrote its lyrics. Announced on March 24, 2010, Akanishi's solo tour "You & Jin" had a 3 show tour in Los Angeles, California on June 19 and June 20. The solo tour tickets were sold out in the first hour when it began to sell on April 15.

In the last show of his You&Jin concert Akanishi announced a tour in the United States. In July 2010, Akanishi announced that he would leave the band KAT-TUN, becoming a solo artist of Johnny & Associates. On 16 September 2010 dates for Akanishi's fall tour were released and the cities included were: Chicago, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The tour has been named 'Yellow Gold Tour 3010' after the tour's title song "Yellow Gold" written by Jin Akanishi, Jovette Rivera, and Joey Carbone.

The tour featured was held entirely in English, including 14 English-language songs that are mostly written and produced by the singer himself. On December 9, 2010, it was announced that Jin will be joining the Warner Music family. Warner Music Group and Warner Music Japan will sign Jin on a global basis and we will become responsible for his recording career in both English and Japanese language.

After the Yellow Gold tour 3010 ended with success, Jin returned to Japan. To thank his fans for their support and love, Jin held in total 12 concerts in Osaka-jō Hall, World Memorial Hall, Nippon Budokan and Saitama Super Arena.

Jin's first solo single titled "Eternal", was released on March 2, 2011 under Warner Music Group Japan. His debut single in the U.S entitled "Test Drive" is a collaboration with singer-songwriter Jason Derulo and produced by J. R. Rotem. A DVD of his "Yellow Gold Tour 3011" concert tour was released on May 4, 2011. His first U.S. album will be released sometime in 2012.

2011-Present: Japonicana, The Beginning of U.S. Debut

In December 2010, Jin Akanishi signed a global deal with Warner Music Group. It was announced that Jin Akanishi will be releasing his first U.S. debut single titled "Test Drive" featuring Jason Derulo. The release will be released on November 8, 2011 at 7AM PST. In addition to his U.S. debut, Akanishi will hold a LIVE U-STREAM to answer questions from his fans.

Documenting his US debut journey, Akanishi released the first episode of his web series, The Takeover, on October 27.

After debuting on November 8, 2011, Jin Akanishi's U.S. debut single "Test Drive" featuring Jason Derülo reached the #1 spot on iTunes Dance Album Chart. In the single's Japanese release, it has peaked at number 14 on the Japan Hot 100, while the EP debuted at number 1.

Akanishi released his second single "Sun Burns Down" on January 26th which reached the #1 spot on ITunes Dance Album Chart again, this would be his second continues #1 spot on iTunes Dance Album Chart. He also plans to release his debut album titled "JAPONICANA" and to embark on another US tour in March.

Acting career

Akanishi made his debut as an actor in 1999 in a cameo appearance in the second episode of NTV's romance comedy, P.P.O.I., and also had small roles in TV Asahi's Best Friend, Omae no yukichi ga naiteiru and in NHK series, Haregi, Koko Ichiban. He also started appearing in musicals from 2000 taking on supporting roles in Millennium Shock (2000), Show Geki Shock (2001–2002), Dream Boy (2004) and Dream Boys (2006). Akanishi returned to the small screen in 2005 in the second season of the award-winning and popular NTV school drama, Gokusen, starring opposite Yukie Nakama and former bandmate Kazuya Kamenashi. The show won "Best Drama" at the 44th Television Drama Academy Awards and ended its run with an average viewership rating of 27.8%. He also had a supporting role in NTV's romance series, Anego, the same year.

In 2007, Akanishi starred in his first lead role in Yukan Club, a school comedy series, alongside bandmate Junnosuke Taguchi and was voted "Best Actor" at the 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix. He made his debut as a voice actor in 2008 for the Japanese dub of Speed Racer, providing the voice for protagonist Speed played by Emile Hirsch.

In 2009, Akanishi was cast as the lead actor in the movie, Bandage, directed by Takeshi Kobayashi and which was scheduled for release on January 16, 2010. This was his big screen debut.

It has recently been announced that Akanishi will star in the Hollywood film "47 Ronin" which also stars Keanu Reeves in the lead role. Akanishi will play the role of Chikara Oishi, a friend to Kai who is played by Reeves. The film's director, Carl Erik Rinsch, was apparently impressed by Akanishi's English abilities and motivation. In this case Akanishi Jin would be the second Johnny's Entertainment artist within the agency after Ninomiya Kazunari in Letters From Iwo Jima to star in a Hollywood movie and the third overal to work with an American director. Tegoshi Yuya from NEWS was the second in Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac but that movie is considered to be a Japanese production directed by Hans Canosa.

Discography

KAT-TUN

Main article: KAT-TUN discography

Solo Recordings

Singles

• "Bandage" (25 November 2009)
• "Eternal" (2 March 2011)
• "Test Drive" feat. Jason Derülo (8 November 2011)
• "Seasons" (26 December 2011)

Album

• Olympos (13 January 2010)
• Japonicana (7 March 2012)

DVD

• Yellow Gold Tour 3011 (4 May 2011)

Songs featured on CD releases by other artists

• Crystal Kay - Best of Crystal Kay - 2009 - "Helpless Night"

Filmography

Movies

• 47 Ronin as Chikara Oishi (2012)
• Bandage as Natsu Takasugi (2010)

Dramas

• Yukan Club (有閑倶楽部) as Shochikubai Miroku (NTV, 2007)
• Anego (アネゴ) as Kurosawa Akihiko (NTV, 2005)
• Gokusen 2 (ごくせん 2005) as Yabuki Hayato (NTV, 2005)
• Xmas Nante Daikirai as Kitagawa Sho (NTV, 2004)
• Omae no Yukichi ga Naiteiru (TV Asahi, 2001)
• Haregi, Koko Ichiban (NHK, 2000)
• Taiyō wa Shizumanai (Fuji TV, 2000)
• Best Friend (TV Asahi, 1999)
• Kowai Nichiyōbi (NTV, 1999)
• P.P.O.I. (NTV, 1999)

Voice acting

• Speed Racer as Speed Racer(2008)

Musicals

• Dream Boys (2006)
• Summary (2004)
• Dream Boy (2004)
• Shock Digest (2002)

Awards

Years	Awards
????	Gained a total of 16 Jr. Awards
2007	11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix : Best Actor - "Yukan Club" 17th TV LIFE Drama award: Best Actor - "Yukan Club"
2008	Anan Magazine 2008 Ranking: Most Favourite - #2 Anan Magazine 2008 Ranking: Most Wanted To Be Hugged By - #1 Anan Magazine 2008 Ranking: Most Wanted To Hug - #2 Anan Magazine 2008 Ranking: Most Wanted Lover - #1 Anan Magazine 2008 Ranking: Most Sexy - #1
2009	TBS TV Station Program Countdown 2009: Most Trendy Male Artist - #1