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This page uses content from the Takeshi Kaneshiro biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Takeshi Kaneshiro (金城武, Hepburn: Kaneshiro Takeshi, Pinyin: Jīnchéng Wŭ, born October 11, 1973) is a male actor and model.

With a Japanese father and a Taiwanese mother, Kaneshiro was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. He has two brothers. After being bullied at a regular Taiwanese high school over his mixed heritage, he enrolled at English-based Taipei American School, which enabled him to converse in English, making him effectively trilingual considering his fluency in Mandarin and Japanese. It was while he was studying there that he began doing TV commercials, and he decided to quit school in order to pursue a singing and acting career.

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 and he now no longer produces any commercial music.

His first movie was Executioners (1993) and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Wong Kar-Wai film Chungking Express (1994) and a string of other Hong Kong movies. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the highly successful Japanese TV mini-series God, Please Give Me More Time (1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese movies such as Returner (2002). He also became well known in the video game industry portraying the samurai warrior, Samanosuke, in the Capcom hit, Onimusha.

Outside of the entertainment business, Kaneshiro has acted as a spokesperson for Prada in Asia. His reluctance for publicity is legendary, so much to the extent that no one knows of his marital status or any other relationships.

As a result of his varied background, Kaneshiro can speak with varying degrees of fluency in English, Taiwanese, Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

Filmography

• Confession Of Pain (2006)
• Perhaps Love (2005) (Titled Winter Song for the Japanese release)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004) (Titled Lovers for the Japanese release)
• Turn Left, Turn Right (2003)
• Returner (2002)
• Lavender (2000)
• Space Travelers (2000)
• Tarzan (1999) as Tarzan (Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese version)
• Tempting Heart (1999)
• Misty (1998)
• Sleepless Town (1998)
• Anna Magdalena (1998)
• Too Tired to Die (1998)
• First Love: The Litter on the Breeze (1997)
• The Odd One Dies (1997)
• Downtown Torpedoes (1997)
• Hero - The Legend (1997)
• Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words (1996)
• Lost and Found (1996)
• The Jail In Burning Island (1996)
• The Feeling of Love (1996)
• Trouble Maker (1995)
• School Days (1995)
• China Dragon (1995)
• Forever Friends (1995)
• Fallen Angels (1995) - as He Zhiwu
• Young Policemen in Love (1995)
• No Sir (1994)
• The Worth of Silence (1994)
• Don't Give a Damn (1994)
• Mermaid Got Married (1994)
• Chungking Express (1994) - as He Zhiwu, Cop 223
• Heroic Trio 2: Executioners (1993)

Drama

Japan

• The Golden Bowl (2002)
• Love 2000 (2000)
• God, Please Give Me More Time (1998)
• The Miracle On A Christmas Night (1995)

Hong Kong

• Colour Of Armour (1995)

Taiwan

• Grass Scholar (1992)

Misc

• Onimusha (2001) (VG)
• Onimusha 3 (2004) (VG)
• Smap X Smap September (2002) TV Episode
• Smap X Smap October (2002) TV Episode

External links

• Takeshi Kaneshiro Pictures & Fan Site
• Takeshi Kaneshiro Brasil - Gallery (3200+ images)
• Takeshi Kaneshiro Photo Gallery (1100+ images)

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