par Old_Anime_Lady, octobre 19, 2017
50

I first found Yamashita Tomohisa while trolling a streaming site for a new drama to watch after finishing everything I could find from Matsuda Shota. I found 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made because it was labeled as hot, and I figured I'd give it a shot.  I was immediately hooked and continued to start from the beginning of his career by watching Nobuta Wo Produce where I also met Kamenashi Kazuya.  Their chemistry in this drama is undeniable.

Now a few facts about Yamapi - by the way, do you know why he's called Yamapi?  When he was a Johnny's Junior, he was always trying to wear another color besides his assigned color pink.  His instructor would always yell at him "YAMASHITA, PINK! PINK!" which was shortened into Yamapi. Watch him tell the story here.


Basics

Native name: Yamashita Tomohisa (山下 智久/やました ともひさ)

Also known as: Yamapi, YamaP, Pi, Tomo-chan, TomoPi, P-Chan

  • Birth Name: Aoki Tomohisa
  • Birth Place: Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
  • School: Meiji University (Business Degree, 2008)
  • Height: 175cm
  • Blood Type: A
  • Star sign: Aries
  • Occupations: Singer-songwriter, actor, idol, radio host, TV presenter
  • Talent Agency: Johnny's Entertainment

History
 

Tomo and his sister Rina were raised mostly by their mother Naomi after their parents separated.  

Tomo and Jin

While in Johnny's, he practically lived with Akanishi Jin. He was there so much that whenever Jin came home, Yamapi would yell out "Welcome home!" like he lived there.  As far as I know, they are still friends (as much as Johnny's Entertainment will allow).

Here are few videos and interviews of them interacting:
 Music Station 2009 - Yamapi Interview - Music station full video

Entering Johnny's

Yamapi sent out several applications to many talent agencies but only Johnny's accepted him. He had decided to apply after watching a drama that Takizawa Hideaki was in, and from then on, wanted to act for a living.

He entered Johnny's at the age of 11 in 1996 as a Johnny's Junior (which is what they call trainees) and quickly became one of the most popular Juniors among his peers. Once Johnny's Junior's leader Takizawa Hideaki (Tackey) debuted as part of J-pop duo Tackey & Tsubasa, Yamapi was chosen to be the Johnny's Juniors' new leader.  At that time, he went to high school at Horikoshi Gakuen's Performing Arts course for high school students, which he graduated from in 2004.  Other celebrities he went to school with are Koki Tanaka, Koike Teppei, and Yu Shirota.

Kamenashi Kazuya stated in an interview that it was always Yamapi and "the rest" of the Juniors.  He always stood out.

For full acting credits, see Yamapi's MDL page here.


Awards
 


Music
 

NEWS

In 2003, Yamashita was selected to be in the band NEWS (which stands for North, East, West, South) along with:

  • Takahiro Moriuchi, who left the group before they held their first concert
  • Uchi Hiroki, who is also in Kanjani8 and was on temporary suspension for underage drinking from 2004 - 2006
  • Nishikido Ryo, who is also in Kanjani8. He left NEWS in 2011 but stayed with Kanjani8
  • Kusano Hionori, who was suspended indefinitely for underage drinking

Yamashita Tomohisa left NEWS in 2011. The remaining four members are Keiichiro Koyama, Takahisa Masuda, Shigeaki Kato, and Yuya Tegoshi.

Solo


Concerts
  • 2009 Short but Sweet
  • 2011 Asia Tour
  • 2011 Super Good Super Bad
  • 2012 Ero P national Arena tour
  • 2013 A Nude national Hall & Arena tour
  • 2016 Future Fantasy National Hall Tour
  • 2016 Future Fantasy in YOYOGI (Arena concert)
Albums
  • 26 January 2011 Supergood, Superbad (JE)
  • 25 July 2012 Ero (WMG Japan)
  • 11 September 2013 A Nude (WMG Japan)
  • 8 October 2014 You (WMG Japan)
  • 27 January 2016 Best Album "YAMA-P" (WMG Japan)


Composing

  • 2003 Love Song
    Composer/lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2004 Yubiwa
    Composer/lyricist
  • 2004 Time 
    Lyricist (Performed on Shonen Club, May 9, 2004)
  • 2004 Pain 
    Lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2005 Color
    Lyricist (Seishun Amigo/Shuuji to Akira)
  • 2005 Ashita E
    Composer/lyricist  (Performed on Shonen Club, December 11, 2005)
  • 2006 Houkago Blues
    Composer/lyricist (Fever to Future/GYM)
  • 2006 Let Me 
    Composer/lyricist (Performed on Shonen Club, March 5, 2006)
  • 2006 Co-Road
    Lyricist (Performed at NEWS Spring Concert, April 2006)
  • 2007 Gomen ne Juliet
    Composer/lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2007 Fight All Night
    Co-Lyricist (Cartoon KAT-TUN II You/KAT-TUN)
  • 2007 Snow Express 
    Lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2007 Kiss de Tsutaete
    Composer/lyricist (Performed on Shonen Club, February 4, 2007
  • 2009 Moonlight 
    Lyricist
  • 2009 Ginza Rhapsody 
    Co-Lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2010 World is Yours
    Composer, Lyricist
  • 2010 Share
    Co-Composer/lyricist (NEWS)
  • 2011 Ao
    Composer/lyricist
  • 2011 Friday Night
    Lyricist
  • 2011 Party Don't Stop
    Co-Lyricist 
  • 2011 Tomo
    Co-Lyricist
  • 2011 Dreamer
    Lyricist
  • 2012 Hit The Wall
    Co-Composer/lyricist/arranger
  • 2012 Odoru Yoru
    Co-Composer/lyricist/arranger
  • 2012 Kimi to Kaze to Mikazuki
    Composer/lyricist
  • 2012 Monsters
    Co-Composer/lyricist (The Monsters)
  • 2013 Natsu no Orion
    Composer/lyricist
  • 2013 PAri-PArA
    Co-Composer/lyricist
  • 2013 Ain't Enough
    Co-Composer/lyricist (#JUSTJIN/Jin Akanishi)
  • 2014 Moon Disco
    Lyricist
  • 2014 Brodiaea
    Lyricist









Other Groups


Anime Credits

"Love Chase" by Tomohisa Yamashita (ending credits in episodes 52 - 62) for Toriko anime.


Okay, let's take a breather because, damn, this man has done A LOT of stuff. I also keep getting distracted by his hotness in videos while linking them.  Especially Let Me.  I think I could watch that video on repeat all day. Watch this interview while I go get a drink:



Endorsements



Here are a few more pics I found:

Okay, so this last one gives me an inkling as to why guys love maid costumes so much.

There is a love rumor about this man that has been persistent for two years now but it has not been proven as true, nor will it ever be if they both want to keep their jobs. During the filming Boku, Unmei no Hito Desu, Yamapi was seen heading to the apartment of Ishihara Satomi and Japanese tabloids are all speculating about marriage now.

My favorite dramas with Yamapi (other than the ones listed in the first paragraph) are Buzzer Beat, Stand Up!!, and Kurosagi.


Hope you enjoyed this installment!

Previous episodes: Kamenashi Kazuya

Next episode: Oguri Shun


Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

yamashita tomohisa tomohisa yamashita yamapi