Taichi Saotome
Taichi Nishimura, also known as Taichi Saotome, is a Japanese actor and singer. He played young men and onnagata roles of women.
Biography
His father is the head of the theatre troupe Gekidan Sujaku. Saotome performed in taishū engeki. A "female impersonator", he has performed onstage. In Zatoichi, he played the child disguising himself as a geisha. Though in a different troupe from Tachibana, they frequently practiced and performed together. In Takeshis', Saotome played a young female impersonator and dancer. He played a bishōnen aesthetic, i.e. graceful, beautiful young men. He played Mori Ranmaru in a National Museum event called "Sengoku Fantasy", and played a young Horibe Yasubee in the NHK New Year's jidaigeki play. He created his official fan club in 2006. He said that he misunderstand his appeal, but is happy about his role. He appeared in the variety show D no Gekijō in January 2007. It was arranged he reprised a role, a dance in a flower-decorated kimono at the Taishōkan. The performance ended the next day. Saotome has expressed a desire to play men's roles and to perform in more mainstream or traditional theatre, saying he has less care for female roles. He starred in the stage production of the otome game, Hakuouki in October 2010. He played vice commander, Hijikata Toshizo of Shinsengumi.
Filmography
Film
Zatoichi, Young O-SeiTakeshis', Unnamed young manShabake, Suzuhiko-himeAnmitsu Hime, Sandayu MomoyamaCrows Explode, Ryohei KagamiRoad To High&Low, Ryu TatsuhitoHigh&Low The Movie, Ryu TatsuhitoHigh&Low The Red Rain, Ryu TatsuhitoMemoirs of a Murderer, TodaBleach, Renji AbaraiShottan, The Miracle, Daisuke KatōIwane: Sword of Serenity, KuniemonPromare, Lio Fotia Last of the Wolves, Masaru HanadaBaian the Assassin, M.D., Ishikawa TomogorōDangerous Cops: Home Coming, Takumi KaidōMaru, TsuchiyaParis ni Saku Étoile, Ruslan
Television
Fūrin Kazan – Hōjō UjimasaShinzanmono – Kazuhiro UesugiMiss Double Faced Teacher – Tatsuya SudoNobunaga Concerto – DanzoFutagashira – SojiHigh＆Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. – Ryu TatsuhitoNobunaga Moyu – Nobutada OdaCold Case 2 Boukyaku no Sachiko: A Meal Makes Her Forget – ShungoTokyo Bachelors – Ritsuki ItoiCome Come Everybody – TommyLast Samurai Standing – Adashino Shikura