Takashi Fujii


Takashi Fujii, born March 10, 1972) is a Japanese entertainment personality who has performed as comedian, actor, singer, presenter, and music producer affiliated with the Japanese entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo and was the popular host of Matthew's Best Hit TV (as the character Matthew Minami, and various other related shows on TV Asahi. He was born in Toyonaka, Osaka.
On May 7, 2005, he officially announced his intention to marry Otoha, a Japanese idol. They married on July 30, 2005, at the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo, with an audience of 340 guests including many famous Japanese personalities and celebrities. They have one daughter.
In 2022, he was the co-host of Love Is Blind: Japan, and host of the Audible podcast Matthew's Matthew: Matthew in Matthew's Room.

Acting career

Takashi Fujii is most active as an actor and a comedic host.
In the western world, and particularly the United States, he is perhaps best known for his appearance as Matthew Minami, hosting his own show, with Bill Murray's character Bob Harris in the 2003 movie Lost in Translation. As Matthew, his trademark blonde wig and garish suits complement his effeminate but wacky personality.
Although Bill Murray has never been a guest, Fujii actually hosted such a program, now called Matthew's Best Hit UV, largely consisting of musicians and popular Japanese celebrities, the show's guests are often subject to fierce competition by Matthew Minami himself. The character Matthew Minami also appears in a handful of programs and shorts related to Best Hit TV.
Takashi Fujii is also a popular talent himself and appears frequently on many Japanese variety shows. He is considerably less flamboyant while appearing as himself, but his frequent seemingly random comments and odd gestures are all part of his signature performances. He has even made appearances in the US and China showing off both his comedy and music. Takashi Fujii is currently featured on the following programs :
  • 発見!仰天!!プレミアもん!!! 土曜はダメよ! on YTV
  • 新婚さんいらっしゃい! on Asahi TV

Past appearances

Takashi Fujii has also made numerous other minor appearances, as well as contributing his voice talent on various animated movies, including 2004's Mind Game and has been in the Japanese dub versions of 2017's Beauty and the Beast remake and 2021's ''Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go - Race for the Sodor Cup.''

Music career

Fujii is also active as an artist and producer focusing on dance music and J-pop. His single, "Oh My Juliet!", was produced by popular J-pop artist Tommy february6. The song was subsequently featured in the soundtrack to the film Babel.
Along with Tomoko Kawase, he has also worked with well-known artists such as Daisuke Asakura, Tetsuya Komuro, Seiko Matsuda, and Fayray.
In 2004, he did a "World Tour" with concerts in Los Angeles, U.S. and Shanghai, China.
In 2014, he started his own record label: Slenderie Record.

Discography

Singles

SIGN by Pasocom Music Club feat. Takashi Fujii Memory Flora with Moe Shop We Should be Dancing by KAKKO and TAKASHI Headphone Girl-Tsubasa ga Nakutemo Dramatic Pink Bikini by sooogood! feat. Takashi Fujii Mammottemitai Plastic Star Dining Tarot under Like a Record round! round! round! kappo! under Like a Record round! round! round! Now Romantic under Like a Record round! round! round! Disco no Kamisama by tofubeats feat. Takashi Fujii Selfish Girl by SMALL BOYS feat. Takashi Fujii She is my new town/I just want to hold you Yabe~ Nabe~na Atsuryoku by THE PosshuBō with Oto no Moto Manatsu no Yo no Yume Watashi no Aoi Sora Mikakunin Hikoutai Zetsubō Good Bye Ai mo Kawarazu Nanda Kanda
EPsRE:WIND DJ MIX "Delicacy" mixed by DJ DC BRAND'S Daisougen no Chiisana Matthew as Matthew Minami
  • ''OH MY JULIET!''

Albums

Music Restaurant Royal Host Light Showers Coffee Bar Cowboy Shanghai Taiwan II Shanghai Taiwan All by Myself Romeo Michiyuki
As Producer and/or SongwriterMakarova by Terumoto Gōto Slenderie Ideal by Various Artists IVKI by Oniyakko Tsubaki Delicacy of Love by Yu Hayami
Tour DVDsTakashi Fujii World Tour Watashi no Aoi Sora 2004 Takashi Fujii World Tour 2005 Takashi Fujii Romeo no Michiyuki 2002
  • * Re-released in 2020