Takayuki Yamada

Takayuki Yamada is a Japanese actor, singer, and producer born on October 20, 1983. Recognized for his wide acting spectrum, Japanese media outlets frequently describe him as a chameleon actor. He achieved widespread fame playing Sakutaro Matsumoto in the television drama Socrates in Love, the title character in the 2005 feature film Densha Otoko, and Tamao Serizawa in the Crows Zero movie series, which brought him international popularity.

Yamada was born in Naha, Okinawa, as the youngest of three siblings, and was raised in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, until age fifteen. His parents owned a coffee shop, and his two older sisters, Kaori and Sayuki, modeled for teen magazines in the late 1990s. While shopping with his sisters outside Laforet Harajuku, Yamada was scouted during his third year of middle school. He subsequently moved from Kagoshima to Tokyo, graduating middle school there before choosing not to attend high school so he could concentrate on acting.

Yamada made his acting debut in 1999 on the television series Psychometrer Eiji 2, followed by a notable role in the 2001 NHK Asadora drama Churasan. His career breakthrough came in 2003 when he was selected from hundreds of auditioning actors to play lead character Kankuro Shindo in the synchronized swimming drama series Water Boys. He continued his television success the following year by starring in Socrates in Love, a performance that earned him a Newcomer Award at the 2004 Elan d'or Awards.

In 2004, Yamada was appointed as the first image character for Tokyo Metro, remaining its sole male image character through at least 2017. He transitioned to lead feature film roles with the 2005 release Densha Otoko, which became Japan's fourteenth highest-selling movie of that year. He later expanded into production, serving as a producer for the live-action web series Saint Young Men.

Yamada has also pursued musical activities. In 2002, he released a CD containing songs and backing tracks, alongside a DVD featuring a music video. He briefly formed the musical unit Jintaka with Jin Akanishi in August 2016 before disbanding two months later. In 2018, he became the lead vocalist of the group The XXXXXX alongside guitarist Go Ayano and synthesizer player Asahi Uchida.

In 2004, Yamada dated actress and model Chiho Oyama, with whom he had a child reported in 2006. After deciding he could not balance early parenting with his work in entertainment, they agreed Oyama would raise their son while Yamada paid support. Yamada later married a non-celebrity woman on January 1, 2012, and their son was born in March 2013. On social media, Yamada once closed his Instagram account after feeling overwhelmed by his follower count, assuring fans on Twitter that he remained in good health.