Tetsuo Kurata

Kurata Tetsuo

  • Name: Kurata Tetsuo
  • Native name: 倉田てつを
  • Given name: Takayama Tetsuo
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: September 11, 1968
  • Age: 55
Tetsuo Kurata is a Japanese television, stage and film actor and administrator, best known for portraying Kotaro Minami, the main character in the tokusatsu television series Kamen Rider Black and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX.

Kurata auditioned for the role of Kotaro Minami in January 1987, when he had just graduated from high school. In a 2006 interview, Kurata had stated that, during the audition, he hadn't been able to portray the character appropriately, and did not think he would get the role. To his surprise, he was chosen by Shōtarō Ishinomori himself to play the lead role, beating some 8,000 other contestants. During this period, Kurata underwent intense training that included stage combat techniques, physical exercise sessions and acting and singing lessons.

On October 4, 1987, Kamen Rider Black premiered on TBS to public and critical acclaim. The success of the series, which ran for 51 episodes, generated enough interest from Toei Company executives to persuade them to produce a sequel, something unprecedented in the Kamen Rider Series franchise. After finishing his work on Black, Kurata was approached by Toei and renewed his contract for one more year in exchange for a salary raise to work on Black's sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. This second series was less successful than its predecessor due to its witty and comical style, which differed deeply from the shadowy, darker tone of the original. In a 1989 magazine interview, Kurata said he preferred Black over Black RX, quoting the comedy from the latter as "excessive". It is rumored that Kurata declined later invitations to reprise his role as Kotaro in fear of being typecasted, but such rumors were never confirmed.

Following the end of Black RX, Kurata has appeared in various television series and doramas as supporting characters. He has apparently been out of the public spotlight after taking a hiatus from the entertainment industry, but came back to voice Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black in Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu, as well as appearing in Battle of the Cooking Iron (Ore Gohan), pitting himself against Takayuki Tsubaki, known for his role as the title character of Kamen Rider Blade.

In 2009, Kurata returned as Kotaro Minami in the movie Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker and also made a cameo
appearance in Kamen Rider Decade, reprising his role as Kotaro Minami.

Away from the world of entertainment, Kurata owns a steakhouse called Billy the Kid in Kōtō, Tokyo. He also acts from time to time in TV dramas and stage plays in his spare time.

(Source: Kamen Rider Wiki) Edit Biography
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2009 Kamen Rider Decade
Japanese Drama, 2009, 31 eps
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX) (Ep. 26-27) (Guest Role)
31
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX) (Ep. 26-27)
Guest Role
7.3
2006 Nogaremono Orin
Japanese Drama, 2006, 21 eps
Tayasu Munetake (Support Role)
21
Tayasu Munetake
Support Role
6.5
2005 Meibugyo! Ooka Echizen
Japanese Drama, 2005, 10 eps
Yoshitaro (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)
10
Yoshitaro (Ep. 10)
Guest Role
10.0
2004 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 7
Japanese Drama, 2004, 51 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
51
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
6.0
2002 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 6
Japanese Drama, 2002, 51 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
51
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
0.0
2000 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 5
Japanese Drama, 2000, 50 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
50
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
0.0
2000 The Beauty Salon
Japanese Drama, 2000, 64 eps
Sawaki Nobuhiko (Support Role)
64
Sawaki Nobuhiko
Support Role
0.0
1999 Kyoto Shimatsu-ya Jiken Fairu
Japanese Drama, 1999, 10 eps
Ichimura Masayuki (Ep.6) (Guest Role)
10
Ichimura Masayuki (Ep.6)
Guest Role
0.0
1998 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 4
Japanese Drama, 1998, 51 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
51
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
0.0
1997 Kaseifu wa Mita!
Japanese Drama, 1997, 11 eps
Shirahama Ikuo (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)
11
Shirahama Ikuo (Ep. 7)
Guest Role
0.0
1996 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 3
Japanese Drama, 1996, 50 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
50
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
8.0
1994 Journey to the West
Japanese Drama, 1994, 17 eps
Chorai (Ep. 9) (Guest Role)
17
Chorai (Ep. 9)
Guest Role
4.5
1994 Edo o Kiru 8
Japanese Drama, 1994, 26 eps
Ozu Yasuma (Ep. 26) (Guest Role)
26
Ozu Yasuma (Ep. 26)
Guest Role
8.0
1993 Akai Meikyu
Japanese Drama, 1993, 45 eps
Sakai Shiro (Main Role)
45
Sakai Shiro
Main Role
0.0
1992 Abare Hasshu Goyotabi Season 3
Japanese Drama, 1992, 12 eps
Hanawa Hyogo (Support Role)
12
Hanawa Hyogo
Support Role
0.0
1991 Kimi no Na wa
Japanese Drama, 1991, 312 eps
Gomiya Haruki (Main Role)
312
Gomiya Haruki
Main Role
6.0
1990 Zoku Zoku Sanbiki ga Kiru!
Japanese Drama, 1990, 15 eps
Hatsutaro (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)
15
Hatsutaro (Ep. 16)
Guest Role
0.0
1989 Kattenishiyagare Hei! Buraza
Japanese Drama, 1989, 22 eps
Hajime (Support Role)
22
Hajime
Support Role
0.0
1988 Kamen Rider Black RX
Japanese Drama, 1988, 47 eps
Minami Kotaro (Main Role)
47
Minami Kotaro
Main Role
7.5
1987 Kamen Rider Black
Japanese Drama, 1987, 51 eps
Kotaro Minami (Main Role)
51
Kotaro Minami
Main Role
7.8
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
2021 Ghost Diaries
Japanese Movie, 2021,
(Main Role)
Main Role
10.0
2015 Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3
Japanese Movie, 2015,
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX) (Support Role)
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX)
Support Role
7.3
2009 Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker
Japanese Movie, 2009,
Minami Kotaro (Support Role)
Minami Kotaro
Support Role
7.3
1998 Diary of Early Winter Shower
Japanese Movie, 1998,
Toshiyuki Mibu (Support Role)
Toshiyuki Mibu
Support Role
0.0
1996 Lady Ninja: Reflections of Darkness
Japanese Movie, 1996,
(Unknown)
Unknown
6.0
1989 Kamen Rider Black RX: Run All Over The World
Japanese Movie, 1989,
Minami Kotaro (Main Role)
Minami Kotaro
Main Role
7.0
1988 Kamen Rider Black: Terrifying! The Phantom House of Devil Pass
Japanese Movie, 1988,
Kotaro Minami (Main Role)
Kotaro Minami
Main Role
7.1
1988 Kamen Rider Black: Hurry to Onigashima
Japanese Movie, 1988,
Kotaro Minami (Main Role)
Kotaro Minami
Main Role
7.2
Special
Year Title # Role Rating
2016 Kyoto Minami-sho Kanshiki File 10: Nerawareta Shacho Reijo Yukai-han ga Korosareta!
Japanese Special, 2016, 1 eps
Tabata Kazuhiko (Guest Role)
1
Tabata Kazuhiko
Guest Role
0.0
2014 Shugoshin Bodyguard Shindo Teru 3
Japanese Special, 2014, 1 eps
Kukita Kozo (Guest Role)
1
Kukita Kozo
Guest Role
0.0
2012 Sakka Tantei Yamamura Misa 2
Japanese Special, 2012, 1 eps
Katsuragi Shinichi (Guest Role)
1
Katsuragi Shinichi
Guest Role
0.0
2012 Nishimura Kyotaro Travel Mystery 58: Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa 129-Go no Onna
Japanese Special, 2012, 1 eps
Kurata Isao [Music program producer] (Guest Role)
1
Kurata Isao [Music program producer]
Guest Role
0.0
2012 Hokkaido Kei Jiken File: Keibuho Gojo Seiko 1
Japanese Special, 2012, 1 eps
Tsukuda Keita (Guest Role)
1
Tsukuda Keita
Guest Role
0.0
2012 Tetsudo Sosakan 13: Satsui no Misshitsu Shanai Party! Masukoyaki no Sato wo Hashiru SL Tokubetsu Dai
Japanese Special, 2012, 1 eps
Shimazaki [Moka Central Police Station assistant inspector] (Guest Role)
1
Shimazaki [Moka Central Police Station assistant inspector]
Guest Role
0.0
2008 Travel Writer: Sakaki Yuko no Satsujin Kiko
Japanese Special, 2008, 1 eps
Enokida Shunichi (Support Role)
1
Enokida Shunichi
Support Role
0.0
2006 Kamijo Reiko no Jiken Suiri 5
Japanese Special, 2006, 1 eps
Okada Shiro (Guest Role)
1
Okada Shiro
Guest Role
0.0
2005 Club Mama Tachibana Sayoko: The High Class Ginza Club Mama VS The Atami Traditional Inn Proprietress
Japanese Special, 2005, 1 eps
Kawasaki Mamoru (Support Role)
1
Kawasaki Mamoru
Support Role
10.0
2005 Kunitori Monogatari
Japanese Special, 2005, 4 eps
Saito Yoshiryu (Support Role)
4
Saito Yoshiryu
Support Role
0.0
2003 Yamamura Misa Suspense: Red Hearse 17 - Monthly Blackmailer
Japanese Special, 2003, 1 eps
Ishida Youichi (Guest Role)
1
Ishida Youichi
Guest Role
2.0
2001 Shinpen Keigo 8: Hanayome no Chichi ga 22 Kokei no Ju de Sogekisareta
Japanese Special, 2001, 1 eps
Kuramochi Takaaki (Guest Role)
1
Kuramochi Takaaki
Guest Role
0.0
2000 Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari: Two-hour Spring Special
Japanese Special, 2000, 1 eps
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband] (Support Role)
1
Akiba Kazuo [Akari's ex-husband]
Support Role
0.0
1999 Edokko Tantei Satsujin Annai 2
Japanese Special, 1999, 1 eps
Igarashi Shigehiro (Guest Role)
1
Igarashi Shigehiro
Guest Role
0.0
1997 Kaseifu wa Mita! 16
Japanese Special, 1997, 1 eps
Ohara Tetsuya [Kazuo and Ayano's son, Kazuo Ohara brand vice president] (Guest Role)
1
Ohara Tetsuya [Kazuo and Ayano's son, Kazuo Ohara brand vice president]
Guest Role
0.0
1993 Saiyuki
Japanese Special, 1993, 1 eps
(Support Role)
1
Support Role
6.0
1993 Fight! Our Kamen Rider!: The Strongest Rider, ZO Is Born!
Japanese Special, 1993, 1 eps
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX) (Guest Role)
1
Minami Kotaro / Kamen Rider Black (RX)
Guest Role
0.0
1991 Takeda Shingen
Japanese Special, 1991, 1 eps
Takeda Nobuhige (Support Role)
1
Takeda Nobuhige
Support Role
7.0
1988 Kamen Raider 1-go - RX
Japanese Special, 1988, 1 eps
Kotaro Minami (Main Role)
1
Main Role
6.3
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Kurata Tetsuo

Tetsuo Kurata
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Details

  • First Name: Tetsuo
  • Family Name: Kurata
  • Native name: 倉田てつを
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: September 11, 1968
  • Age: 55

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