# Takaya Kamikawa

Takaya Kamikawa (Japanese: 上川 隆也, Hepburn: Kamikawa Takaya, born May 7, 1965) is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor.

## Biography

Kamikawa was born in Hachioji, Tokyo in 1965. He graduated from Hachioji-Kita high school in Tokyo. While studying economics in Chuo University, he acted in a minor theatrical group which was touring around Japan and performing at local schools. Kamikawa left Chuo University without a diploma, and joined the group Caramel Box to become a full-time actor.
In 1995, Kamikawa starred in a TV drama by NHK, Daichi no Ko, and played the leading role, Lu Yixin. The original author, Toyoko Yamasaki, initially wanted Masahiro Motoki to play the role. However, since most of the drama was filmed in China and required a lot of travel, Motoki was not able to meet the tight filming schedule. Then one of the staff found Kamikawa, who was still unknown, in a magazine. Toyoko Yamasaki later commented that Kamikawa had been the right choice.
In 2006, he played Yamauchi Kazutoyo, the leading role of the NHK Taiga drama Kōmyō ga Tsuji.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Daichi no Ko | Lu Yixin | Lead role |
| 1997 | Mōri Motonari | Mōri Takamoto | Taiga drama |
| 1999–2001 | Omizu no Hanamichi | Shuichi Ishizaki | 2 seasons |
| 2000 | Cinderella wa Nemuranai | Yoshinori | |
| 2000 | Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta Koto | Shinichi Sayama | |
| 2003 | The Great White Tower | Hitoshi Sekiguchi | |
| 2006 | Kōmyō ga Tsuji | Yamauchi Kazutoyo | Lead role; Taiga drama |
| 2010 | Ryōmaden | Nakaoka Shintarō | Taiga drama |
| 2012 | Taira no Kiyomori | Taira no Morikuni | Taiga drama |
| 2015 | Angel Heart | Ryo Saeba | Lead role |
| 2018 | BG Personal Bodyguard | Goro Murata | |
| 2019 | No Side Manager | Keiichiro Takigawa | |
| 2024 | Believe: A Bridge to You | Kazuo Hayashi | |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
| 1997 | Tokyo Lullaby | Sadaji Asakawa | | |
| 1999 | Owls' Castle | Gohei Kazama | | |

### Television animation

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2007 | Gurren Lagann | Anti-Spiral |
| 2017 | Kado: The Right Answer | Narrator |
| 2018 | Lupin the 3rd Part V: Misadventures in France | Enzo Bron |
| 2021 | Star Wars: Visions - The Village Bride | Vaan |

### Animated films

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2009 | Gurren Lagann the Movie | Anti-Spiral |
| 2011 | Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison | Maroi |
| 2013 | The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | Prince Ishitsukuri |
| 2025 | Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League | Kuraku Hagane |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
| 2008 | Professor Layton and the Unwound Future | Stun Gun, Allen Dimitri | DS | |

### Japanese dubbing

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
| 2016 | Finding Dory | Hank | | |

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | Work(s) | Result |
| 1997 | 21st Elan d'or Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 1998 | 21st Japan Academy Film Prize | Newcomer of the Year | Tokyo Lullaby | Won |
| 1999 | 2nd Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actor | Omizu no Hanamichi | Won |
| 2000 | 3rd Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actor | Cinderella wa Nemuranai | Won |
| 2000 | 23rd Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Supporting Actor | Owls' Castle | Nominated |
| 2001 | 4th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actor | Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta Koto | Won |
| 2002 | 5th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actor | Omizu no Hanamichi (S2) | Won |
| 2004 | 7th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actor | Shiroi Kyotō | Won |