My Favourite Ken’ichi Matsuyama Roles… So Far!

Hello!  It was suggested to me in my recent blog survey to talk more about my recommendations for Japanese TV shows and anime.  I thought today I would share with you my favourite Ken’ichi Matsuyama roles in TV and film .  I used to be a huge fan of Ken’ichi Matsuyama after clocking my eyes on him in the live action of Death Note (which I am going to talk about below!) and I did what any sane person would do; trawled through his filmography on Wikipedia and challenged myself to watch as many as I could get my hands on.  When he got married to Koyuki Katō in April 2011, the obsession faded.   Ken’ichi was free.  

Death Note / Death Note: The Last Name / L: Change the World

“Weary Shinigami the Death dropped a notebook in the human world where a weary genius picked it up. “The human whose name is written in this note shall die” it said… It was the notebook of death that determined people’s death. Light Yagami, an extremely bright elite university student was the one to possess this ultimate tool that should remain only in the hands of God. Light decides to create an ideal world and begins to hold the scales to judge the criminals in his discretion.Meanwhile, ICPO (International Criminal Police Organization) has placed a mysterious detective called“L” in Japanese police force to investigate a series of the criminal cases. “L” in the status of a divinity for his capacity and skill in gathering information and in reasoning had solved unresolved cases in the world, and now tightens the investigative screws over these cases, but Light also cleverly manipulating the notebook of death, tosses and shakes the investigation. The future of mankind is at the mercy of crucial and fierce battles of the two brains.”

Ok, so this was a bit of a weird one to start with, but Death Note was the film that kicked off the obsession after all.  Ken’ichi plays L, a genius detective who specialises in the cases that cannot be solved.  When criminals all over Tokyo begin to drop dead, and the police have no idea what on earth to do, L appears and thus a battle of good vs. evil ensues.   I would recommend this film as it is honestly one of the best films I have seen.  Look out for Ryuk, the Shinigami (God of Death).

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac

“Naomi is an ordinary high school student who goes to an international school. One day, she loses her memory for the past 4 years. But gradually she begins to search for her identity, and even when her memory returns, she keeps on looking for her real self, and what she truly loves in life.”

I found this film through LoveFilm and I waited months and months for it to become available for rental – it never did! *shakes fist*  In this, Ken’ichi plays a bad boy who may possibly be a little bipolar and with some serious issues.    You know how it is, a bad boy that can’t be tamed/fixed but you want to try anyway.  It’s not a film you “must see” but more of a film to watch if you are wanting a Japanese film that doesn’t end in death.   I kinda want to rewatch this now…   What I’ve Watched , anyone?

Detroit Metal City

“Soichiro Negishi  is a music obsessed young teen, making the jump from his rural hometown to the big city of Tokyo. His goal is to become a successful musician, but not your typical J-pop star. Soichiro Negishi has a love for indie twee pop.  Unfortunately for Soichiro Negishi he fails miserably in gaining any type of following for his music. Then one day he spots a flier for a music agency looking to recruit musicians. With his home-burned CD in hand, he enters the music agency’s office.   Fast forward a few more months and Soichiro Negishi is now the front man for an up-and-coming band. Unfortunately for Soichiro, the band is an ultra-heavy death metal band that sings about Satanism, rape, & murder.  Meanwhile, Soichiro runs across old college sweatheart Yuri Aikawa . Yuri shares Soichiro’s love for twee pop and works for a hip magazine as a music columnist. Sochiro is too embarrassed to tell Yuri what type of music he now plays. Can Soichiro gain the affection of Yuri without Yuri discovering the truth behind his day time gig?”

Detroit Metal City is one of my favourite Japanese films, and very much on par with Death Note for being one of my favourite Ken’ichi roles.  He is an absolute delight in this.  He plays sweet natured Soichiro who leaves his small town to become a cheesy pop star in the big, bad city.  However, things do not go to plan.  He ends up being the frontman for a heavy metal band – the complete opposite of what he wants to do!  I would recommend that everyone watches this because it’s SUCH a good film.  It’s so funny and Ken’ichi is just absolutely adorable.

Norwegian Wood

“Set in the 1960’s, high school student Toru Watanabe  loses his only friend Kizuki after he commits suicide. Toru, now looking for a new life, enters a university in Tokyo. By chance, Toru meets Kizuki’s ex-girlfriend Naoko  in the university. They grow close because they both share the same loss.   As Toru and Naoko grow even closer, Naoko’s sense of loss also grows. After Naoko’s 20th birthday, she leaves for a sanitarium in Kyoto. Watanabe, devastated by the situation, meets pure-hearted Midori  during the spring semester.”

Probably one of the most serious roles that he has done, Ken’ichi plays Toru, a bit of a self-obsessed student who loses his best friend to suicide.  He falls in love with his friend’s girlfriend who is struggling with her own mental health and isn’t capable of loving Toru the way he wants to.  Throw in a pretty outsider called Midori, who adores Toru, and you have got yourself a love triangle!   This isn’t one of my favourite films ever but I think this film deserves an honorable mention – the sex scene in this definitely cemented the fact that I am straight.  That statement also works if I had of misspelt definitely – I am defiantly straight.   *laughs at own joke*

Sexy Voice and Robo

(No one wants to GIF Sexy Voice and Robo I’m afraid!)

“Hayashi Niko  is a mature middle school student with heightened hearing and the ability to mimic the voice of anyone she encounters. Sudo Ichiro is an immature Otaku who is obsessed with toy robots. Together they will form Sexy Voice and Robo; a spy team that solves various cases.”

To finish off this post, it’s Sexy Voice and Robo.  In this, Ken’ichi plays an otaku (geek/nerd) who is obsessed with the robot character “Max Power”.   He teams up with teenage schoolgirl Niko to solve mysterious cases.  I loved him in this and I thought he was adorable!  It was a weird friendship and I think it is one that would have only worked in a Japanese show.

I would love to hear of any of your own recommendations?

Danniella x