# Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, born July 9, 1974 in Seiyo, Ehime, Japan) is a Japanese actor, singer, television host, and a former member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia.

## Early life

Kusanagi grew up in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan.

## Career
### Music

In 1987, at age 13, Kusanagi 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 from 1986 through 1987, 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. In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".
A year after the dissolution of SMAP, Kusanagi, alongside former members Shingo Katori, and Goro Inagaki formed the group, Atarashii Chizu.

### Acting

He had the lead role in the movie, Yomigaeri (黄泉がえり) (January 18, 2003; a Japan public presentation). Moreover, his Korean-language-Japanese-produced movie The Hotel Venus (ホテルビーナス, Hoteru Bīnasu) (March 6, 2004 Japan public presentation) was submitted to the Moscow International Film Festival on June 25, 2004.
In 2020, Kusanagi took on the role of Nagisa, a transgender nightclub worker in Eiji Uchida's Midnight Swan. The film won numerous awards, such as Picture of the Year, and he was subsequently awarded the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

### Television

As a member of the boyband SMAP, Kusanagi used to co-host the weekly variety show SMAP×SMAP alongside his bandmates for 20 years. In 2001, he hosted the variety show Chonangang on Fuji TV. Determined to debut in Korea, Kusanagi started learning the Korean language and appearing on Korean variety shows. This focus on Korean culture led to him adopting Chonangang as his Korean persona in various SMAP concerts, even releasing several singles. Originally, Chonangang was intended to focus on Kusanagi's journey in South Korea, however lasted eight years due to its popularity. Because of the show's success, the format shifted to feature interviews with popular Korean celebrities such as Lee Min-ho, and led to Kusanagi interviewing former South Korean Presidents Roh Moo-hyun, and Lee Myung-bak on TBS.

## Personal life

Kusanagi announced his marriage on December 30, 2020.

### Arrest

On April 23, 2009, at around 3 a.m., Kusanagi was arrested on suspicion of public indecency at Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. On April 24, 2009, he held a press conference accompanied by his attorney and apologized for his misbehavior. Prosecutors decided not to indict Kusanagi because of his apology. He took a one-month-long hiatus and returned to the taping of SMAPxSMAP on May 28, 2009.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Shoot! | Kamiya Atsushi | Lead role |
| 1995 | Anne no Nikki | Peter (voice) | |
| 1999 | Messengers | Hironori Suzuki | Lead role |
| 2000 | Séance | Fumio Hayasaka | Guest appearance |
| 2003 | Yomigaeri | Heita Kawada | Lead role |
| 2004 | The Hotel Venus | Chonan | Lead role |
| 2004 | The Taste of Tea | Projectionist | Cameo appearance |
| 2004 | Nin x Nin: Ninja Hattori-kun, the Movie | Man | Cameo appearance |
| 2006 | Sinking of Japan | Toshio Onodera | Lead role |
| 2006 | Like a Virgin | Japanese teacher | Cameo appearance |
| 2007 | The Adventures of Super Monkey | Sagosho | Cameo appearance |
| 2008 | My Darling of the Mountains | Tokuichi | Lead role |
| 2008 | I Want to Be a Shellfish | Saburo Onishi | Cameo appearance |
| 2009 | Ballad | Matabe Ijiri | Lead role |
| 2011 | 1,778 Stories of Me and My Wife | Sakutaro Makimura | Lead role |
| 2012 | A Ghost of a Chance | Teruo Hosho | |
| 2012 | Dearest | Yuji Tamiya | |
| 2012 | Ninkyo Helper | Hikoichi Tsubasa | Lead role |
| 2013 | Maruyama, the Middle Schooler | Tatsuo Shimoi | Lead role |
| 2015 | Attack on Titan | Grisha | Cameo appearance |
| 2015 | Attack on Titan End of the World | Grisha | Cameo appearance |
| 2018 | The Bastard and the Beautiful World | Osamu | Anthology film |
| 2019 | Makuko | Koichi Nagumo | |
| 2019 | The Stormy Family | Kotetsu Suzuki | Lead role |
| 2020 | Midnight Swan | Nagisa | Lead role |
| 2022 | Sabakan / Summer Days 1986 | | |
| 2024 | Bushido | Yanagida Kakunoshin | Lead role |
| 2024 | At the Bench | | Lead role; anthology film |
| 2025 | Bullet Train Explosion | Kazuya Takaichi | Lead role |

### Television (as actor)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988–1989 | Abunai Shonen III | Himself | Main role |
| 1989 | Jikan desuyo Heisei Gannen | Hattori | |
| 1990 | P.S. Oboetokeyo | Tsuyoshi | |
| 1991 | Furimukeba Kimi... | Takashi Kobayashi | |
| 1992 | Motto, Tokimeki wo | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 1992–1993 | Hime-chan's Ribbon | Koichi Shikura / Himself (voice) | |
| 1995 | Inochi Uruwashiku | Daisuke Tsugawa | |
| 1995 | Tsuki Uma-ya Oen Jikencho | Seinosuke Ikeda | |
| 1995 | Ienakiko 2 | Tsuyoshi Kuroiwa | |
| 1995 | Mada Koi wa Hajimaranai | Hiroshi Ochiai | |
| 1995 | Mokuyou no Kaidan | Shinichi Imamura | Main role |
| 1996 | Nagoya Yomeiri Monogatari 8 | Ichiro Hiraoka | |
| 1996 | Kekkon Shiyouyo | Jyunya Sugimura | |
| 1996 | Oishii Kankei | Kazuma Kimura | |
| 1997 | Boku ga Boku de Arutame ni | Etsuro Mizoguchi | Main role |
| 1997 | Sasho Taeko | Sadatsugu Yurioka | |
| 1997 | Ii Hito | Yuji Kitano | Main role |
| 1997 | Gift | Yuji Kitano | Guest appearance; episode 7 |
| 1997 | Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari | Ichiro Kawashima | Main role |
| 1997 | Narita Rikon | Ichiro Hoshino | Main role |
| 1998 | Sensei Shiranaino? | Yusaku Kinoshita | Main role |
| 1998 | Jinbē | Shin Teranishi | |
| 1999 | Furuhata Ninzaburo vs SMAP | Himself | Main role |
| 1999 | Bakayaro 1999 | Masato Yamaguchi | Main role |
| 1999 | Kourei | Fumio Hayasaka | Cameo appearance |
| 1999–2003 | Team | Yusuke Kazami | Main role |
| 2000 | Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari | Taro Tanaka | Main role |
| 2000–2001 | Food Fight | Mitsuru Ihara | Main role |
| 2001 | Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari | Kenichiro Honda | Main role |
| 2001 | Star no Koi | Sosuke Nakata | Main role |
| 2002 | Saranheyo | Chonan Kan | Main role |
| 2003 | Boku no Ikiru Michi | Hideo Nakamura | Main role |
| 2003 | Taikouki Saru to Yobareta Otoko | Hideyoshi Toyotomi | Main role |
| 2004 | Shinsengumi! | Enomoto Takeaki | Taiga drama |
| 2004 | Kaikyou wo Wataru Violin | Chanhyon Chin | Main role |
| 2004 | X’smap | Master | Main role |
| 2004 | Tokugawa Tsunayoshi Inu to Yobareta Otoko | Tsunayoshi Tokugawa | Main role |
| 2005 | Koi ni Ochitara | Shimao Suzuki | Main role |
| 2005 | Chiisana Untenshu | Yohei Takanashi | Guest appearance |
| 2005–present | PythagoraSwitch | Himself (voice) | |
| 2006 | Ai to Shi wo Mitsumete | Minoru Kono | Main role |
| 2006 | Boku no Aruku Michi | Teruaki Otake | Main role |
| 2008 | Suzuki Fusai no Jingi naki Tatakai | Lawyer | Cameo appearance; episode 1 and 2 |
| 2008 | Ryokiteki na Kanojo | Saburo Masaki | Main role |
| 2009 | Yume wo Kanaeru Zou | Fumio Fumiyama (voice) | Main role |
| 2009 | Crayon Shin-chan | Mataro (voice) | Guest appearance |
| 2009–2011 | Ninkyo Helper | Hikoichi Tsubasa | Main role |
| 2010 | 99 Years of Love: Japanese Americans | Nagayoshi / Ichiro Hiramatsu | Main role |
| 2010 | Dokutomato Satsujin Jiken | Himself | Main role |
| 2011 | Fuyu no Sakura | Tasuku Inaba | Main role |
| 2012 | 37sai de Isha ni natta Boku | Yuta Konno | Main role |
| 2012 | Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari | Makoto Saeki | Main role |
| 2013 | Aji Ichi Monme | Yoshito Takuma | Cameo appearance |
| 2013 | Kamisama no Belebou | Osamu Tezuka | Main role |
| 2013 | Dokushin Kizoku | Mamoru Hoshino | Main role |
| 2013 | Furuhata vs SMAP The Aftermath | Himself | Main role |
| 2013–2016 | Specialist | Yoshito Takuma | Main role |
| 2014 | Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi | Kenta Misawa | Main role |
| 2014 | Oretachi ni Asu wa aru | Himself | Main role |
| 2014 | Sazae-san | Himself (voice) | Guest appearance; episode 7148 |
| 2015 | Zeni no Sensou | Tomio Shiraishi | Main role |
| 2015 | Shin Naniwa Kinyudo | Tomio Shiraishi | Guest appearance |
| 2017 | Uso no Sensou | Koichi Ichinose | Main role |
| 2021 | Reach Beyond the Blue Sky | Tokugawa Yoshinobu | Taiga drama |
| 2022 | Lost Man Found | Takeshi | |
| 2023 | War of Traps | Washizu Toru | Main role |
| 2023–2024 | Boogie Woogie | Zen'ichi Hatori | Asadora |

### Television (as personality)

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994–2014 | Waratte Iitomo | Himself | |
| 1995–1996 | Tamori’s The World of Music | Himself | |
| 1996–1997 | Oh! El Club | Himself (host) | |
| 1996–2016 | SMAP×SMAP | Himself (host, chef, performer) | |
| 1997 | Scratch | Himself (host) | |
| 1997–2005 | Docchi no Ryori Show | Himself | |
| 1998 | Muchu Sengen Ganbarimasu | Himself (host) | |
| 1998–2018 | Pussma | Himself (host) | |
| 2001–2003 | Chikyu Fushigi Daishizen | Himself (narrator) | |
| 2001–2010 | Chonan Kan | Himself (host) | |
| 2003–2016 | Tsuyoshi Kusanagi’s Ganbatta Taishou | Himself (host) | |
| 2004–2014 | Bokura no Ongaku | Himself (host) | |
| 2005 | 24 Hour Television | Himself (host) | Telethon |
| 2005–2014 | FNS Music Festival | Himself (host) | TV special; 15 episodes |
| 2007–2016 | Baby Smap | Himself (host) | |
| 2012–2014 | FNS Music Fes. In Summer | Himself (host) | TV special; 3 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | SmaShip | Himself (host) | TV special; 2 episodes |
| 2015–present | Bura Tamori | Himself (narrator) | |
| 2022-present | Waruiko Atsumare | Himself (host, performer) | 2 episodes in 2021; 1 episode in 2022; become a regular show from April 2022 |
| 2022-present | Kusanagi Yasutomo no Usagi to Kame | Himself (host) | 4 episodes in 2021; become a regular show from May, 2022 |

### Web program

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 02-05/11/2017 | 72 Hour Honne TV | Host | |
| 01/01/2018 | 27 Hun Hon no chotto TV | Host | |
| 30-31/01/2018 | 72 Hun mou chotto TV - Shingo Katori Birthday Special | Himself | Appeared on phone |
| May, 2018-present | 7.2 Atarashii Betsu no Mado | Himself (host, performer) | |
| 16/09/2018 | Namie Amuro Densetsu's Live Video Revival: WE ▼ NAMIE FINAL Encore LIVE | Host | |
| 2019-2021 | Nagisuke! | Host | With Yusuke Santamaria |

### Japanese dub

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | Robots | Rodney |
| 2007 | Strings | Hal |
| 2018 | Mutafukaz | Angelino |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994–2016 | Ohayo SMAP | Himself | |
| 1995–present | SMAP POWER SPLASH → ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH | Himself | Changed to "ShinTsuyo POWER SPLASH" since 2017 |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Saint Seiya | Shiryu | Lead role |
| 1992 | Dragon Quest | Atlas | Lead role |
| 1993 | Another | Shunichi | Lead role |
| 1993 | Hime-chan's Ribbon | Daichi Kobayashi | Lead role |
| 1995 | Haisenkoku no Oji | Taketoshi Hanezawa | Lead role |
| 1999–2000 | Kamata Koshin-kyoku | Yasuji Muraoka | Lead role |
| 2002 | Tsubaki Hime | Himself | Lead role |
| 2006 | Chichi Kaeru | Kenichiro Kuroda | Lead role |
| 2008 | Mabuta no Haha | Chutaro | Lead role |
| 2010 | K2 | Taylor | Lead role |
| 2012–2013 | Boku ni Honou no Sensha wo | Naoki Yanagihara | Lead role |
| 2013 | Nito Monogatari | Sukune | Lead role |
| 2015 | burst! | Himself | Lead role |
| 2018 | Ballyturk | | |
| 2018 | Musical Drama: La Strada | Zampano | |
| 2019 | Family Story PART1 | Nakaji Nobuhiro | Lead role |
| 2021 | Family Story PART1 | Nakaji Nobuhiro | Replay |
| 2020 | Musical Drama: The rise of Arturo Ui | Arturo Ui | Lead role |
| 2021-2022 | Musical Drama: The rise of Arturo Ui | Arturo Ui | Replay |
| 2022 | burst! | Himself | Replay |

## Publications

* Kore ga Boku desu. (April 1997) ISBN 978-4847012792
* Okiraku (March 2007) ISBN 978-4048944892
* Kusanagiron (May 2008) ISBN 978-4087804942
* Okiraku 2 (March 2016) ISBN 978-4047317321
* Jeongmal Book (December 2002) ISBN 978-4838714254
* Jeongmal Book Hangul (December 2002) ISBN 978-4838714186
* Jeongmal Book 2 (November 2004) ISBN 978-4838715589
* Jeongmal Book 2.5 (November 2004) ISBN 978-4838715596
* Tsuki no Machi Yama no Machi (February 2011) ISBN 978-4847019647
* Document Kusanagi Tsuyoshi in Yomigaeri (2003) ISBN 978-4048535755
* The Hotel Venus Starring Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (2004) ISBN 978-4048537353
* Nippon Chinbotsu Photo Book featuring Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (2006) ISBN 978-4048539807
* Yama no Anata Tokushi no Koi (2008) ISBN 978-4087804959