<figure id="attachment_290934" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-290934" style="width: 1377px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ed409958"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/01/69e2cf80a725c0db990a297c849ecd28.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-290934" class="wp-caption-text">Horikita visited the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in September 2004 to see a play in which Yamamoto plays the lead role.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Koji Yamamoto (46) continues to make rapid progress.</p>
<p> Recently, Yamamoto has been the &#8220;first name&#8221; that producers of TV dramas and movies want to cast as an actor. It is obvious when you look at his exposure. It is no exaggeration to say that a day does not pass without seeing Yamamoto on TV. Just last year, he was in the NHK Taiga Drama &#8220;Inochi.</p>
<p><strong> In the NHK historical drama &#8220;Kamakuradono no 13-nin,&#8221; he played the role of the curmudgeon Miura Yoshimura and dominated social networking sites. He also appeared in &#8220;Anonymous&#8221; (TV Tokyo), &#8220;A Promise to Die&#8221; (Fuji TV), &#8220;The Competition Watchman&#8221; (Fuji), and &#8220;Kurosagi&#8221; (TBS). This year, too, there are a number of high-profile productions, including &#8220;O-oku&#8221; (NHK) and the stage play &#8220;Taiheiyo Overture&#8221; (Pacific Overtures),&#8221; said an employee at a private key station.</strong></p>
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<p> A freelance drama producer who has worked on numerous hit dramas describes Yamamoto as &#8220;a man who always lives up to expectations. Last year, Yamamoto appeared in seven productions, including serial dramas and specials, but surprisingly only one starring role. He often plays a key role supporting the main character or sometimes a heel. However, by the end of the drama series, Yamamoto has completely captivated the viewers. Moreover, many of the films in which he has appeared have achieved high ratings.</p>
<h2> Why Shun Oguri calls him &#8220;the chairman</h2>
<p><strong> Yamamoto&#8217;s acting never eats up the lead role, but adds a nice salty flavor to it,&#8221; says Oguri. When he appears in a supporting role, he knows his place. &#8230;&#8230; He must have his own rules, such as never going out of his way any more. Shun Oguri, who starred in &#8220;Kamakuradono no 13-nin,&#8221; called Yamamoto &#8216;Zacho&#8217; and trusted him.</strong></p>
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<p> We never hear anything bad about Yamamoto on set.</p>
<p><strong> He was punctual and delivered his lines perfectly. Before recording, he would present his prepared acting plan to the director. I prepare more than 10 plans each time. Even after the director gives the OK, he adds exquisite ad-libs during the actual performance. (Shinsengumi!) in 2004, as well as the line &#8220;I&#8217;ve kept you waiting&#8221; from Isamu Kondo (Shingo Katori) when Yamamoto plays Toshizo Hijikata in the drama &#8220;Kamakuradono no 13-nin,&#8221; and the way Miura touches his collar when he tells a lie in &#8220;Kamakuradono 13-nin.</strong></p>
<p> There are other reasons for the production team to keep offering Yamamoto.</p>
<p><strong> There are many actors of Yamamoto&#8217;s caliber who are reluctant to play anything other than the lead role, but not Yamamoto. But he is different. If his schedule allows, he will appear in a film for a reasonable fee. The fee for an actor of Yamamoto&#8217;s caliber starts at 2 million yen per film in the GP zone (7:00 to 11:00 p.m.), but I&#8217;ve heard that they will consult with us for a fee as low as 1.2 million yen,&#8221; said the production director.</strong></p>
<p> The reason is clear.</p>
<p><strong> Yamamoto is a private agency, and basically, he is the only actor. That&#8217;s why he accepts every job that comes his way. And because he is an individual, his fees are flexible, unlike the big companies.</strong></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" The Surprising Method that Turned His Wife, Maki Horikita, On His Side"></div>
<p>Yamamoto&#8217;s driving force is his wife, former actress Maki Horikita. Before his marriage, Yamamoto was known as one of the most popular men in the entertainment industry. Production companies with famous actresses called Yamamoto a &#8220;co-star killer&#8221; and regarded him as a &#8220;dangerous man.</p>
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<p><strong> Yamamoto was known as a &#8220;co-star killer.&#8221; He had affairs with actresses and celebrities such as Riho Makise, Takako Matsu, and Suzanne, all of whom were well known in the entertainment industry. Yamamoto&#8217;s heart was won by Horikita, with whom he co-starred in the drama &#8220;Atashi no chi no danshi&#8221; (Fuji TV), which aired in 2009. Yamamoto confessed his feelings for her, but was continually rejected. Once, he got a phone number and was happy to call, only to find that it was the office to which Horikita belonged.</strong></p>
<p><strong> Still undeterred, six years later, when they co-starred in a stage production of &#8220;Arashi ga Oka,&#8221; Yamamoto sent 40 love letters to Horikita and finally gained her trust. In fact, Horikita is a very fastidious person, and at first she thought Yamamoto, who changed partners one after another, was &#8216;suspicious.</strong></p>
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<p> At first, it was said in the entertainment world that Yamamoto&#8217;s past history with women meant that his marriage would not last long. However, &#8230;&#8230;.</p>
<p><strong> When Yamamoto had two children, he moved to Gunma Prefecture to protect Horikita&#8217;s privacy in consideration of their living environment. Yamamoto&#8217;s personal life is reportedly being closely monitored by a weekly magazine. When a weekly magazine interviewed Yamamoto, there was no sign of a woman in his life.</strong></p>
<p> Yamamoto&#8217;s sincerity to Horikita has made him very popular with sponsors. The former &#8220;co-star killer&#8221; is on his way to becoming a super star actor after his marriage.</p>


 Keisuke Nishi

 Actor Koji Yamamoto's reputation is on the rise. Last year alone, he appeared in seven dramas and specials. He is said to accept jobs even with low guarantees and propose unique ideas to the director. The former "co-star killer" Yamamoto is now a sought-after actor, and there is a good reason why.

Koshi Yamamoto, who willingly accepted a job at a discount and sent 40 love letters to Maki Horikita&#8230; Koshi Yamamoto, &#8220;Former &#8216;Co-star Killer&#8217; Gains Popularity in Drama Series

Koshi Yamamoto, who willingly accepted a job at a discount and sent 40 love letters to Maki Horikita… Koshi Yamamoto, “Former ‘Co-star Killer’ Gains Popularity in Drama Series

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