# Takeshi Kaneshiro

Takeshi Kaneshiro (金城 武, Kaneshiro Takeshi, born October 11, 1973) is a Japanese actor and singer based in Taiwan. Beginning his career as a pop idol, he has since moved his focus from music to film. Kaneshiro has worked with renowned directors throughout East Asia, including Wong Kar-wai (Chungking Express and Fallen Angels), Peter Chan (Perhaps Love, The Warlords, and Dragon), Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers) and John Woo (Red Cliff and The Crossing I and II), resulting in collaborations that have achieved both commercial success and critical acclaim. Kaneshiro is also well known in the gaming industry for being the model and voice for the samurai character Samanosuke Akechi in Capcom's Onimusha video game series.

## Early life

Kaneshiro was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His mother is from Taiwan and his father is from Okinawa. He was born and raised in Taipei, but holds Japanese citizenship.
The son of a Japanese businessman and a Taiwanese homemaker, Kaneshiro has two elder half-brothers: one who is seven years his senior, and another who is just one year older. After graduating from Taipei Japanese Junior High School, he enrolled at an English-medium international school, Taipei American School, where he learned English. During his time at secondary school, Kaneshiro began working in television commercials, and he decided to leave school to pursue a full-time career in music and acting. Kaneshiro is multilingual, fluent in Mandarin, Hokkien, Japanese, and to lesser degrees in Cantonese and English. Taiwanese Hokkien was the first language he spoke while growing up in Taiwan.

### Name

Kaneshiro (金城) is a common Okinawan surname, albeit with an unusual pronunciation, as the usual reading is Kinjō, while the traditional Okinawan pronunciation is Kanagusuku or Kanegusuku. His given name is Takeshi (武). He appears as Kaneshiro Takeshi (金城 武) in Japanese media.
Since personal names are commonly written in Chinese characters in both Chinese and Japanese naming conventions, following the Eastern name order, and in this particular case the name, in its written form, appears native in both Japanese and Chinese, giving Kaneshiro the freedom to associate himself as a Japanese or Chinese when working in China by preserving or removing the space between his surname and given name.

## Career
### 1992 to 1999: Early years and career breakthrough

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. He no longer produces any commercial music, although certain notable roles, such as those in Peter Chan’s Perhaps Love (2005) and See You Tomorrow (2016) have required him to sing onscreen.
Kaneshiro made his film debut in Executioners (1993) and this was followed by Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express (1994), Fallen Angels (1995) and a string of other Hong Kong films, such as Lost and Found (1996), and Anna Magdalena (1998). It was through his collaboration with the auteur director Wong Kar Wai in Chungking Express that Kaneshiro first developed what would become his onscreen signature, namely quirky, character-driven performances that often played against type and ran counter to his idol image. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the Japanese Drama God, Please Give Me More Time (1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese films such as Returner (2002), as well as "K-20: Legend of the Mask" (2009) and Accuracy of Death (also titled "Sweet Rain"), (2010).

### 2000 to 2010: Mainstream success

Kaneshiro’s work, however, is more heavily concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 2005, he sang his way through Perhaps Love, the first modern musical to be produced in China. It was the first of many collaborations with Hong Kong-based director Peter Chan. In 2008 and 2009 he starred in Red Cliff, a high budget film by Hong Kong director John Woo. He has also played the romantic lead in Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers, and starred alongside Jet Li and Andy Lau in The Warlords. He expressed excitement when he received the news that he would have an opportunity to work with Director Zhang Yimou.
Kaneshiro has also become well known in the video game industry portraying the samurai warrior Samanosuke in Capcom's Onimusha. In a June 2007 article on the film site Ain't It Cool News, it was revealed that Kaneshiro was going to be in the Onimusha film, reprising his role as Samanosuke and for a 2011 release, but that project was derailed. The producer Samuel Hadida had to delay the filming of Onimusha, which has resulted in the film's Japanese cast working on other film projects during the delay, and being unavailable to start filming. These factors were enough that French director Christophe Gans will now direct an adaptation of Leo Perutz's novel The Swedish Cavalier first, taking over the reins from Gilles Mimouni. Satomi Ishihara and Tsuyoshi Ihara remain attached to the project.
In 2003, Kaneshiro was featured in Time magazine and was dubbed the Johnny Depp of the East Asian film industry. Moreover, Kaneshiro was interviewed by journalist Hugh Riminton for CNN in the network’s TalkAsia segment in 2006.

### 2011 to present: Selective films

In 2011, Kaneshiro appeared in the historical martial arts thriller Dragon, directed by Peter Chan. The film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings category.
In 2017, Kaneshiro was the winner of the Best Leading Actor award at the second annual Golden Screen Awards. He won for his starring role in the romantic comedy This Is Not What I Expected, which was directed by Derek Hui and produced by Peter Chan.
Kaneshiro became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018. In that same year, he completed filming for Juno Mak's Sons of the Neon Night, with an ensemble cast that includes Tony Leung Ka Fai, Louis Koo, and Sean Lau. It was reported in 2020 that the release of this film will be postponed to 2021. The reasons given involved production issues, including budgeting and tensions between the director and cast. Kaneshiro will act as the spokesperson for the new Paradise 2M mobile multiplayer game launched in March 2021.

## Personal life

Kaneshiro is a practicing Buddhist, having converted in 1997, and has said his mother is also a devout Buddhist. Throughout his career, Kaneshiro has been given titles such as "heartthrob," "dream guy," but he has maintained a steady sense of humility. Kaneshiro is also known for trying to avoid the media spotlight. He 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 house work and take care of the children."

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English title | Original title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Executioners | 現代豪俠傳 | Chong Hon | |
| 1994 | Mermaid Got Married | 人魚傳說 | Kenji | |
| 1994 | The Wrath of Silence | 沉默的姑娘 | Dr. Patrick Ko | |
| 1994 | Chungking Express | 重慶森林 | Ho Chi-wu, Cop 223 | |
| 1994 | No, Sir! | 報告班長3 | Chin Tieh-sheng | |
| 1995 | Don't Give a Damn | 冇面俾 / 摩登笑探 | Tang Chuen-shek | |
| 1995 | Young Policemen in Love | 新紮師兄追女仔 / 逃學戰警 | Chin Ying-chun | |
| 1995 | Fallen Angels | 墮落天使 | He Zhiwu | |
| 1995 | China Dragon | 中國龍 | Tom Hao | |
| 1995 | School Days | 學校霸王 / 校園敢死隊 | Eagle | |
| 1995 | Trouble Maker | 蠟筆小小生 / 臭屁王 | A Miu | |
| 1996 | The Feeling of Love | 重慶愛情感覺 / 泡妞專家 | Hing | |
| 1996 | Lost and Found | 天涯海角 | Worm | |
| 1996 | Forever Friends | 四個不平凡的少年 / 號角響起 | Li Ta-wei | |
| 1996 | Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words" | 冒險王 | Shing | |
| 1996 | First Love: The Litter on the Breeze | 初纏戀后的二人世界 | Lin Chia-tung | |
| 1997 | Downtown Torpedoes | 神偷諜影 | Jackal | |
| 1997 | Hero | 馬永貞 | Ma Wing-ching | |
| 1997 | The Odd One Dies | 兩個只能活一個 | Mo | |
| 1997 | Island of Fire 2 | 火燒島之橫行霸道 | Yang Chung | |
| 1997 | Misty | — | Takehiro | |
| 1998 | Too Tired to Die | — | Kenji | |
| 1998 | Fuyajo | 不夜城 | Kenichi Ryuu | Also titled Sleepless Town |
| 1998 | Anna Magdalena | 安娜瑪德蓮娜 | Chan Kar-fu | |
| 1999 | Tempting Heart | 心動 | Lin Ho-jun | |
| 1999 | Tarzan | — | Tarzan | Voice for Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese versions |
| 2000 | Lavender | 薰衣草 | Angel | |
| 2000 | Space Travelers | スペーストラベラーズ | Nishiyama | |
| 2002 | Returner | リターナー | Miyamoto | |
| 2003 | Turn Left, Turn Right | 向左走．向右走 | John Liu | |
| 2004 | House of Flying Daggers | 十面埋伏 | Jin | Titled Lovers for the Japanese release |
| 2005 | Perhaps Love | 如果愛 | Lin Jian-dong / Zhang Yang | Titled Winter Song for the Japanese release |
| 2006 | Confession of Pain | 傷城 | Yau Kin-bong | |
| 2007 | The Warlords | 投名狀 | Jiang Wuyang | |
| 2008 | Accuracy of Death | 死神の精度 | Chiba | |
| 2008 | K-20: Legend of the Mask | K-20 怪人二十面相・伝 | Heikichi Endo | |
| 2008 | Red Cliff Part I | 赤壁 | Zhuge Liang | |
| 2009 | Red Cliff Part II | 赤壁:決戰天下 | Zhuge Liang | |
| 2011 | Dragon | 武俠 | Xu Bai-jiu | |
| 2014 | The Crossing | 太平輪：亂世浮生 | Yan Zekun | |
| 2015 | The Crossing 2 | 太平輪：驚濤摯愛 | Yan Zekun | |
| 2016 | See You Tomorrow | 擺渡人 | Guan Chun | |
| 2017 | This Is Not What I Expected | 喜歡你 | Lu Jin | |
| | Sons of the Neon Night | 風林火山 | | Unreleased |

### Television

| Year | English title | Original title | Role |
| 1991 | Grass Scholar | 草地狀元 | Chen Nai-chien |
| 1995 | Colour Of Amour | 富士彩色顯人生 | |
| 1995 | The Miracle on a Christmas Night | 聖夜の奇跡 | Mr. Bell |
| 1998 | God, Please Give Me More Time | 神様、もう少しだけ | Keigo Ishikawa |
| 2000 | Love 2000 | 二千年の恋 | The Assassin / Yurij Maroev |
| 2002 | Golden Bowl | ゴールデンボウル | Shu Akutagawa |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Onimusha: Warlords | Samanosuke Akechi | Voice, Japanese version |
| 2004 | Onimusha 3: Demon Siege | Samanosuke Akechi | Voice, Japanese version |
| 2018 | Onimusha: Warlords | Samanosuke Akechi | Voice, Japanese version / Guest creator |

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Track listing |
| Heartbreaking Nights (分手的夜裡) | Released: September 1992 Language: Mandarin | Track listing A Summer Affair Heartbreaking Night The unlicensed youth Still Love You Classmate Comfortable life away Tokyo Blues 108 Call Me I do not Distant cherry rain |
| Just You And Me (只要你和我) | Released: June 1993 Language: Mandarin | Track listing Just You And Me Because love you Looking back at you I etc. Be My Girl ...... Be My Girl.... Love was not sure Kikuko girl Lying eyes Friends Good night to You |
| Tender Superman (溫柔超人) | Released: February 1994 Language: Mandarin | Track listing Tender Superman Let's Fall In Love Love Me Once Again It is not known You Sweetheart Valentine's Day gift of flowers A Thousand Temptations The gray sky You Heart Pain Inside |
| Ideal Lover (標準情人) | Released: December 1994 Language: Mandarin | Track listing Standard lover The trouble is you do not want to Let me say to you Blue smile Deciduous season Pure tears I really treasure Courageous say goodbye No love pm Tell Laura I Love Her (remake) |
| Missed Date (失約) | Released: December 1994 Language: Cantonese | Track listing Scam Will love return Lonely and others Paranoia You want to ever Loving Heart Love Me Once Again I see the paradise Love Cover Girl |
| Dear My Beloved (給我心愛的人) | Released: June 1995 Language: Cantonese | Track listing Who can The occasion Love me! Still love you like before Burning Passion Dear My Beloved Sunshine Lover I do not want to cry With your life Or are you lucky |
| Secretly Drunk (偷偷的醉) | Released: October 1995 Language: Mandarin | Track listing I cried to stop carrying Love You Deeply Don't want to leave And I miss not meet Road Of The Heart Secretly Drunk In the summer of love burning Lonely people fear most crying That love Love Rhapsody |
| No Matter How Hard (多苦都願意) | Released: October 1996 Language: Mandarin | Track listing No Matter How Hard I love her with your shadow Green space Capricorn Happier A love so much Because of your My tears New Day Of The City Taipei Aniki |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details | Track listing |
| Best Collection: Takeshi Kaneshiro's Best Songs (金城武的精選歌集) | Released: June 1998 Language: Mandarin | Track listing Ideal Lover No Matter How Hard Don't Gry Behind My Back Don't Wanna Be In Trouble Crazy Love Song Secretly Drunk Route To South Taipei Aniki Say Goodbye Love You Deeply Love Me Sunshine Lover Tender Superman Only You And Me Road Of The Heart Heartbreaking Night |

### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Who Are You?" (忘了我是誰) (with Zhou Xun) | 2005 | Perhaps Love OST |
| "A Beautiful Story" (美麗故事) (with Ji Jin-hee) | 2005 | Perhaps Love OST |
| "Crossroad" (十字街頭) (with Zhou Xun) | 2005 | Perhaps Love OST |
| "What If" (假如) | 2005 | Perhaps Love OST |

## Awards and nominations

Takeshi Kaneshiro is one of 10 recipients of the 2010 Green Planet Film Award for Ten Best International Actors of the Decade (Asia).
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1995 | 1st Golden Bauhinia Awards | Best Actor | Fallen Angels | Nominated |
| 1998 | 18th The Television Drama Academy Award | Best Actor | God, Please Give Me More Time | Won |
| 2002 | 33rd The Television Drama Academy Award | Best Actor | Golden Bowl | Nominated |
| 2006 | 43rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Film Song | Perhaps Love (as performer of song "Crossroad") | Won |
| 2006 | 7th Changchun Film Festival | Best Actor | Perhaps Love | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actor | See You Tomorrow | Nominated |
| 2017 | 2nd Golden Screen Awards | Best Actor | This Is Not What I Expected | Won |