From Serious Roles to Comedy, Veteran Actor Koji Yamamoto Embraces Laughter in His 47-Year Career
Yamamoto Koji (47) is spreading new charm.
In the drama “Hayabusa Fire Brigade” (TV Asahi) broadcasted last year, he garnered attention for his portrayal of an eccentric editor, but in the previous season’s “What Did You Eat Yesterday?” (TV Tokyo), he played an entertainment production company employee who is manipulated by his lover. Currently airing in “Too Inappropriate!” (TBS), he portrays a television producer overly obsessed with compliance, showing that Yamamoto has been taking on more unique roles lately
The commercial for “Hinokiya Group” featuring Saito Takumi feels like a comedy sketch. Calling each other by their full names, Yamamoto, without changing his expression, lifts a barbell in a tank top or gazes at Saito through the glass shirtless. Seeing his transformation over the past few years, social media is buzzing with excitement.
“Yamamoto Koji-san was this funny? I’ve become an even bigger fan now.”
Despite being a bit perplexed, many voices are cheering for “Shin Yamamoto” (New Yamamoto).
“Yamamoto has been a baby model since infancy, and he became a topic of conversation even as a cute boy eating ‘Snow Brand Neosoft’ bread in a commercial at the age of 5. He made his acting debut in 1986 in the legendary program ‘Oyako Game’ (TBS), where TsuyoshiNagabuchi and Etsuko Shihomi co-starred.
The following year, he played the role of the young revolutionary Gavroche in the Japanese premiere of the stage production of ‘Les Misérables.’ He was considered a talented child actor on stage, rather than just a television actor,” (TV magazine writer).
With a career spanning 47 years, he became widely known to the public when he appeared in the Monday 9 p.m. drama “Hitotsu Yane no Shita” (Fuji TV) in 1993.
“At the age of 16, Yamamoto played the role of the fourth son who was confined to a wheelchair due to leg impairment. He portrayed a character who was quiet and withdrawn, but as he began living with his siblings, he gradually regained his brightness. He portrayed the role skillfully. With his sweet face, he quickly became popular among young women,” (same TV magazine writer).
