Takashi Nagayama

Takashi Nagayama (永山たかし) is a Japanese actor.

He is probably best known for his roles as Eiji Kikumaru in The Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya in "Rock Musical Bleach".

During his run in Tenimyu, he garnered the nickname "Nagayan", which he is still referred to by fans and friends.

He made his television debut in 1998 with the drama Change.

Nagayama's major stage debut was from 2003 to the beginning of 2005 for the role of the acrobatic Eiji Kikumaru in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, as part of the first generation Seigaku cast.

When the series came out in 2003, former D-BOYS member Yamazaki Ichitaro played the role during the spring run of the first show, and Nagayama played the role during the summer run.

Afterwards, Nagayama was set to carry on playing the role with the first cast, understudying the role of Shusuke Fuji as well, when Ichitaro left the series.

The end of 2003 brought tragedy to Tenimyu.

Less than two weeks before the second show, Remarkable 1st Match Fudomine, Kotaro Yanagi - who was playing the lead role of Ryoma Echizen at the time - was hospitalized after being accidentally hit by a car.

Because the musical's rehearsals were well underway and performance dates already set, several changes were made in the cast for the show: Nagayama was shifted over to Fuji due to J-pop singer Kimeru, who was playing the role of Fuji, having to step up as Echizen, and Ichitaro was brought back as Kikumaru.

After Yuya Endo was brought in as the new Echizen, Nagayama and Kimeru went back to their roles as Kikumaru and Fuji respectively.

Nagayama graduated from the series with his fellow castmates after the Side Fudomine musical; along with several graduated Tenimyu members, he got a cameo role in the Prince of Tennis live film adaptation.

Since Nagayama's graduation, the role of Kikumaru has been played by Osamu Adachi, Koji Seto, Kyousuke Hamao, Shouta Takasaki, and Yuta Koseki.

Nagayama has released several idol DVDs - Blossam in 2004, and two DVD/Photobook sets in 2007, entitled On and Off - as well as a single and two full-length albums.

Since its formation in 2004, he has been very active with his Japanese fan club, and holds several members-only events each year.

He maintains an active and popular blog, which he updates several times each week with photos.

In his spare time, he enjoys sports, especially baseball, swimming, and karate, and remaking/designing clothing.

Above all, Nagayama is earnest and serious about his work and his fans, and this has helped him build and maintain a loyal base of support worldwide.

TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Eiji Kikumaru, Fuji u/s)

Rock Musical BLEACH (as Tōshirō Hitsugaya)

Other musicals

1. 心が… (My Heart...)

2. おくるうた (A Song for You)

3. 雨音 (The Sound of the Rain)

4. 心が…(Toscana version) (My Heart...)

1.春に思い出し想う (I'll Be Thinking Of You In the Spring)

2.おくるうた (A Song for You)

3.言葉～ (One Word)

4.Sample

5.おもいでにデキなくて (I Can't Make You Into a Memory)

6.南口 (Southern Exit)

7.心が…(Romano version) (My Heart...)

8.雨音 (The Sound of the Rain)

9.Slow Jam

10.終着駅 (Terminal Station)

Nagayama, along with Kimeru and Endo, went to see Yanagi graduate from Tenimyu at the final performance of Dream Live 3rd in 2006.

He enjoyed his first starring role in a theatrical production with Switch wo Osu Toki, in July 2006.

His line of designer clothing, Blossam, can be found at the Gain shop in Tokyo.

Nagayama returned to his role as Kikumaru and reunited with the 1st generation Seigaku cast to perform in Tenimyu's Dream Live 7th in 2010 to celebrate the end of the Tenimyu's first season.

After his graduation, Nagayama also starred as Tōshirō Hitsugaya in the Rock Musical Bleach series, which also stars some of his old Tenimyu cast mates.