Simplify the following text for a Grade 12 native English-speaking person.
Original: Masashi Tashiro ( ç '' ä '' # ã 3\/4 ã ã -- , born August 31 , 1956 in Saga Prefecture ) is a former Japanese television performer and member of Japanese musical group Rats & Star .
Simplified: Masashi Tashiro is a former Japanese television performer and the founding member of the band Rats & Star who was born on August 31 , 1956 in Karatsu , Saga Prefecture , Japan .