Second Generation

2nd Generation of Seigaku Cast

As promised I am going to make a separate entry for these people. On that post, I was only able to mention nine people when in fact there are ten people in the group (as shown in the picture). My deepest apology for the fans of Yuya Endo. And to make up for it, I am going to start the roll call with him. But first, let me give a quick recap on what the musical is all about.

Musical Tennis no Ohjisama (The Prince of Tennis Musical/Tenimyu/TeniPuri Musical) is a series of live action stage musicals based on the manga series The Prince of Tennis. Each new show covers an arc of the manga storyline, though adaptations to the original story were made to fit the format. Female characters were removed, and irrelevant scenes or minor arcs were cut to move the plot forward.

The aim of the musical production is to provide young talents with a chance to develop themselves and make themselves known by the people. This doesn't mean though that each and every actor is forced to leave the series during such a show. Due to personal circumstances and different contracts it's possible to stay longer or return later in the production. Compared to the normal performances, the graduation show leaves space for all graduating actors to give their final greetings to the audience, before they leave the production. During the first season these graduation shows were held about every 1.5 years (after 4/5 musicals).

Now, the roll call.

Yuya Endo (March 20, 1987) is a Japanese actor/singer, known for his role as Ryoma Echizen in the Prince of Tennis musical series.

He was brought into the musical series as a replacement for fellow D-BOY member Kotaro Yanagi - who had been injured in a car accident - as the main protagonist. Endo made his debut during the Dream Live 1st concert and would play the role while Yanagi was recovering. He also shared the role with Yanagi after his recovery in two shows: Side Fudomine -Special Match- and Dream Live 2nd; Endo did all of the dance and tennis match choreography while Yanagi did stand still scenes due to his injuries.

On May 4, 2005, after the final performance for the Dream Live 2nd concert, Endo graduated from his role. During the last performance of Dream Live 3rd, Endo went to see Yanagi graduate from Tenimyu.

Kotaro Yanagi (December 21, 2985) is a Japanese actor born in Berlin, Germany and had lived outside Japan for quite some time, making him fluent in both English and Japanese.

His most famous role, however, was as the tennis prodigy and lead protagonist Ryoma Echizen in Tenimyu. During his run in the musicals, he was able to work with fellow members as well as former members of D-BOYS.

After leaving a rehearsal for Remarkable 1st Match: Fudomine, less than two weeks before it was due to open, Yanagi was hit by a car. He had extensive damage to his body and vocal cords and was in a coma for two weeks.

However, Yanagi was able to make a miraculous recovery and is currently strong enough to act again, although he has difficulty in his dancing and singing. He continued to play his role along with the second generation Seigaku cast. On March 29, 2006, Yanagi graduated from the role after his performance in Dream Live 3rd and has so far been the longest serving actor to play Echizen, as well the second longest serving actor in Tenimyu.

Yanagi reprised to his role as Echizen and reunited with the 1st generation Seigaku cast to perform in Tenimyu's Dream Live 7th.

Yu Shirota (December 26, 1985) is a Japanese-Spanish actor who lived in Barcelona, Spain from when he was three to about seven years.

Shirota is most known for his role as Kunimitsu Tezuka, the stoic captain of Seigaku Middle School's tennis club, in Tenimyu. From 2005-2006, he became the third actor to play Tezuka as a member of the second generation Seigaku cast.

He made his first debut as Tezuka on January 8, 2005 in the Side Yamabuki performance in Osaka. That same year, his role as Tezuka was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga and marked his first major film appearance. He also released a Best Actor's album in 2005, for his role as Tezuka. On March 29, 2006, in the Dream Live 3rd concert, he along with the majority of the second generation Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles.

Hiroki Suzuki (October 3, 1983) is a Japanese actor and singer from Kitakami city, Iwate Prefecture. He is known for his role as Shuichiro Oishi in both the Prince of Tennis musical series and live film adaptation.

From 2005 to 2006, he became the second actor to play Oishi as part of the second generation cast. He made his first debut as Oishi on January 8, 2005 in the Side Yamabuki performance in Osaka.

During his run in the musicals, he was able to work with fellow and former members of the stage acting troupe, D-BOYS.

On March 29, 2006, in the Dream Live 3rd concert, Suzuki, along with the majority of the Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles. Since his graduation, the role of Oishi has been played by Yukihiro Takiguchi, Yuya Toyoda, and Yuki Tsujimoto, and currently by actor Jin Hiramaki.

Osamu Adachi (December 22, 1987) is an actor and a member of the acting group D-BOYS. He is best known for his role as Eiji Kikumaru, the acrobatic player of Seigaku tennis club, in Tenimyu.

From 2005 to 2006, he became the third actor to play Kikumaru as a member of the second generation Seigaku cast. He made his debut on January 8, 2005 and on the same year, his role was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga.

During the tennis boot camp arranged in preparation for the filming of the movie, Adachi admitted that he was not very athletic, and became very emotional when he could not keep up with the others.

Like the majority of the Seigaku cast, Adachi graduated from his role on March 29, 2006.

Yoshikazu Kotani (March 25, 1982) is an actor and singer from Tokyo.

Kotani won the role of Takashi Kawamura, the soft-spoken, dual-personality 3rd year regular of Seigaku tennis club in Tenimyu. He became the fourth actor to play Kawamura as a member of the second generation cast from 2005 to 2006. He debuted as Kawamura on 2005 in the Side Yamabuki performance, and on the same year the role was carried into the live adaptation film of the manga.

He graduated from his role on March 29, 2006.

Kotani is a member of +Plus, a J-Pop band that usually does opening and ending songs for anime.

Hirofumi Araki (June 14, 1983) is a Japanese actor and singer notabky known for his role as Sadaharu Inui, the "data-tennis" regular of Seigaku tennis club in Tenimyu. He was the second actor to take over the role and debuted on January 8, 2005 along with the second generation Seigaku cast.

He was able to work with fellow D-BOYS members Yuya Endo, Kotaro Yanagi, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Osamu Adachi, Masato Wada, and former member Yu Shirota.

At the end of the final Dream Live 3rd show, he graduated from the role of Inui along with the majority of the Seigaku cast.

Araki was able to carry on his role from the musicals to the live-adaptation film of the manga. He, along with most of the principal cast members for the Seigaku regulars, were able to reprise their roles in the movie that was released on May 13, 2006.

Hiroki Aiba (October 1, 1987) is a Japanese actor, dancer and singer. He is best known for his role as Shusuke Fuji in Tenimyu and the live film adaptation. He was also part of a young men's 3-member streetdancing group called Brights, which was disbanded in 2004.

He was the third actor to play Fuji, the prodigy of Seigaku tennis club, as a member of the second generation cast. He debuted on 2005 and carried the role on the same year for the live adaptation film of the manga.

Aiba did not graduate alongside with the rest of his fellow second generation Seigaku cast; instead, he decided to continue performing in the musicals and acted as a guide for the new third generation Seigaku cast members from 2006 to 2007. After the Absolute King Rikkaidai feat. Rokkaku - Second Service musical, Aiba graduated along with the majority of third Seigaku cast. He has been the longest serving actor to play Fuji, as well as the longest serving actor in Tenimyu.

Aiba made a brief return to reprise his role as Fuji with the fifth Seigaku cast in the Imperial Presence Hyotei Gakuen musical as there was no time to find an actor to play Fuji. He also released a Best Actor's album in 2006, for his role in the musicals as Fuji, called The Prince of Tennis Musicals Best Actor's Series 003 - Hiroki Aiba as Syusuke Fuji.

Masaki Kaji (January 29, 1988) is a Japanese actor and singer known for his role as the friendly 2nd year regular of Seigaku tennis club, Takeshi Momoshiro in Tenimyu.

He was the second actor to play the role, and made his debut on January 2005. His role was carried out from the musicals to the live-adaptation film of the manga series which was released on May 2006.

On March 29, 2006, during the Dream Live 3rd concert, he graduated from his role together with the majority of the second generation of the Seigaku cast.

Kaji along with Hiroki Suzuki, attended the second performance showing in Tokyo for the Advancement Side Rokkaku feat. Hyotei Gakuen to support Kousuke Kujirai and Hiroki Aiba.

Kousuke Kujirai (July 20, 1987) is a Japanese actor and singer who played the role of Kaoru Kaidoh in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, as well as the live adaptation film of the manga.

He debuted as the viper-like 2nd year regular of Seigaku tennis club on 2005, and continued playing the role until his graduation on March 29, 2006.

However, Kujirai returned to play Kaidoh for the slated August 2006 Advancement Match Rokkaku musical, because actor Takahiro Tasaki, who was originally slated to play Kaidoh in the Rokkaku musical, left the production to pursue other opportunities; Kujirai was brought back as Tasaki's substitute. Kujirai along with Tomo Yanagishita, have played Kaidoh the longest.

Kujirai primarily works in stage productions, but has appeared in a few movies and television series and has lent his voice to a few anime series.

Whew! I'm finally done with their profiles. Yes, they share most information but I can't do anything about it because I could barely find stuff about them (or maybe I just lack the will to do so).

In case you're wondering who played Ryoma's role for the live adaptation film (which I highly doubt), it was played by Kanata Hongo. Go make your own research about him. LOL.

Next goal: DD-BOYS entry!

Sources: Crunchyroll; Wikipedia; Yahoo!

PS. It's funny how I had to consult Google just to know how to break this entry (just so it wouldn't take too much space on the blog's main page).

PPS. Veoh is definitely my new best friend. LOL.