It seem like not so long ago when a 15 year old Tatsuya Fujiwara played his first role in Yukio Ninagawa’s production of Shintokumaru. Chosen among 40 applicants who audition for the role. Tatsuya brought in a raw approach to acting that even impressed Ninagawa with his accuracy and total focus when , something that is considered rare among people new to acting.
Not many Japanese actor share the same success as Mr. Fujiwara. Born in May 15, 1982 in Chichibu Saitama Prefecture, Japan, Tatsuya polish his theatrical acting as a boy who has an obsession for his step mother in Shintokumaru. The actor turned his attention into TV role right after turning 16 by appearing in TV Drama ‘That’s the Answer’. He then was cast in several more TV shows such as ‘Cyber Bishoujo Telomere’ (1998), ‘Feeling Relief is Easy’, ‘Frozen Summer’, ‘Change’ (1998), and ‘Kiss of Heaven’ (1999). Tatsuya played his first role in Takashi Komatsu’s Kamen Gakuen. In the film he plays as Akira Dojima, a mask maker whose masks possesses strange power that change the people who wears them. Not knowing anything, this results in rather unpleasant results.
The shabby, boisterous cut actor caught the attention of Director Kenji Fukasaku to be a part of his movie Battle Royale (based on a best selling novel). Given the nature of Japanese Hard action films popularity in Japan, Tatsuya Fujiwara played the perfect role of Shuya Nanahara, a young protagonist. The film is about a group of student who embark on a trip as part of their compulsory education. They were sent to an isolated island and were informed that they have been selected in a game called ‘Battle Royale’ and must kill each other until only one is left.
Despite being labeled as one of the most controversial film of 2000, The released of Battle Royale marked Tatsuya’s acting career which gain him more prominence. He then starred in several TV Series role as Jun Amemiya in ‘Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta Koto’ (The Things You Taught Me), as Murayama Satoshi in “Hijiri (Satoshi) no Seishun (Saintly springtime of life)” among others.
The Actor return to the big screen in 2002 alongside actor Satoshi Tsumabuki in Takeshi Miike’s film Sabu. Tatsuya played as Eiji, a young man framed for a crime he did not commit. While Eiji is in prison his friend Sabu (Tsumabuki) must find who is behind the incarceration before it is too late. He also reprise his role in Battle Royale sequel: Requiem in 2003. He also showcased his talent playing as a con artist named Goro in 008 action thriller Chameleon
While he spent most of his acting career during this time in both TV series ( ‘Shinsengumi!’, ‘Yatsuhakamura’, ‘Akai Giwaku’) and movies (‘Moonlight Jellyfish’, ‘Agent Master’, ‘Sea Ghost’), he also work closely with Yukio Ninagawa. He also acted in plays like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
Another big break came in for the young actor when he was cast as Light Yagami in live-adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s anime series Death Note. In the movie he played the role of a young man who feel bitter about the crimes and corruption of the world. When he discovers a mysterious notebook known as “Death Note”, his whole life radically change. With the power of the book he is now able to pass his judgment on the people who he deemed evil or in his way. Ken’ichi Matsuyama and Erika Toda also starred in the film. Just like the success of Battle Royale, the actor return for a Death Note sequel: The Last Name. He also played as a gambling artist in another anime turned live movie Kaiji, released in 2009.
His latest film Parade was premiered in the Pusan International film festival last October 2009, a drama thriller about a five roommates: a male student with no sense of direction, an out of work aspiring actress, an illustrator who is also a heavy drinker, a male prostitute, and a salary man. Although the characters are not involve romantically,they share a hint of affection among each other. In the end no one really knows what the other thinks.
Tatsuya confess that he is not all about work, He follows his favorite Japanese baseball team The Seibu Lions and spent his free time playing sports: soccer and snowboarding. Tatsuya Fujiwara has three siblings, an older brother and two sisters. He is also able to speak English and is currently represented by talent agency Horipro.
