Toma Ikuta (Japanese Actor)

You might know Toma Ikuta for his breakthrough role as Shuichi Nakatsu on the Hana Kimi Jdrama but did you know that he once belonged to a J-pop group called 4Tops? Did you also know that ever since the book cover for Dazai Osamu's novel Ningen Shikkaku was revised to carry Ikuta's image it had sold over 100,000 copies (and counting)?

With a string of movies and Japanese dramas in the works, there's no stopping his career from soaring. If you want to see Ikuta Toma photos, TV commercials and musical performances and learn more about the handsome Japanese actor, please read on.

Photo from Ikuta Toma FB page

The hard facts about this young and talented Japanese drama actor.

Name Toma Ikuta

Nicknames: Tomasu, Toma-chan

Profession: Actor and Singer

Birthdate: October 7, 1984

Birthplace: Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan

Height: 173cm.

Star Sign: Libra

Blood Type: A

Talent Agency: Johnny's Entertainment

Filmography

The Tale of Genji | Genji Monogatari (2011) as Genji Hikaru

Hanamizuki (Dogwood) (2010) as Kohei

Seaside Motel (2010) as Masayuki Kameda

Ningen Shikkaku / No Longer Human (2010) as Oba Yozo

TV Dramas

Unubore Deka (Conceited Detective/ Lovesick Detective) (2010) as Honjo Sadame

Yonimo Kimyo na Monogatari 2009 Fall SP -The Law of Recycling Suicides (2009) as R 8427

Majo Saiban (Witch Trial) (2009) as Toru Yoshioka

VOICE: Inochi Naki Mono no Koe (2009) as Ryosuke Ishimatsu

Mao (2008) as Naoto Serizawa

Hanazakari No Kimitachi E Ikemen Paradise SP (2008) as Shuichi Nakatsu

Honey & Clover (2008) as Yuta Takemoto

Hanazakari No Kimitachi E Ikemen Paradise (2007) as Shuichi Nakatsu

Hana Yori Dango II (Returns) (2007) as Junpei Oribe (Episode 1)

Akihabara@Deep (2006) as Box

Dekabeya, Police Story

Gekidan Engimono (Otoko no Yume) (2006)

Asuka E, Soshite Mada Minu Ko E (October 2005)

Kino Wa Tomo Kyo no Teki (2004)

Hito Ni Yasashiku (Be Nice to People) (2002) (Episode 5)

Boken Kazoku

Engimono - America (2002)

Neverland (2001)

Kowai Nichiyobi

Shijo Saiyaku no Date (Worst Date) - Episode Chocolate Valentine

Nekketsu Renaido

Kinyo Jidai Geki

Gekidan Engimono - Nemureru Mori No Shitai

Psycho-meter EIJI2 (Episode 5) (1999)

J-Ke No Hanran

Tuesday Suspense Drama

Gozen 3Ji no Rooster

Love & Peace

Aguri (1997)

Information from AsianMediaWiki and Wikipedia / Photo from Ikuta Toma FB page

Toma Ikuta (Ikuta Toma) started out in a variety show for kids called Tensai Terebi kun and was a member of a then all-children band called Strawberry Parfait. He then proceeded to join talent agency Johnny's Entertainment in February 1996.

Along with other Johnny's Entertainment talents, Toma Ikuta was recruited to form a boyband group called M.A.I.N. with each letter standing for the members' family names' initials: Jun Matsumoto, Masaki Aiba, Toma Ikuta, and Kazunari Ninomiya. Toma was also grouped with a Jr. unit named B.I.G. (Bad Image Generation) along with ten other popular Juniors at that time

In 2002, Ikuta was among the top Tokyo juniors and so the group 4TOPS was formed as the leaders of the juniors. The group consisted of 4 former B.I.G members: Ikuta Toma, Yamashita Tomohisa, Jun Hasegawa and Shunsuke Kazama. They became the leaders of Johnny's Jrs. whose job was to host the variety show The Shonen Club.

In September 2003, with one member short, the group started being called 3TOPS who continued hosting the show with Jimmy Mackey and KAT-TUN. Toma hosted his own segment, Meitantei Tomasu in Shonen Club. Not long after, he and the two remaining members of 3TOPS started working on solo projects, such as dramas and stage plays, and gradually stopped appearing in the variety show.

Until then, Toma had appeared in dramas such as Kinyo Wa Tomo Kyo no Teki (NHK, 2004), Gekidan Engimono: Otoko no Yume (Fuji TV, 2005), and Dekabeya (TBS, 2005). In 2006, Toma played the role of Box in the manga-turned drama Akihabara@Deep (TBS, 2006) and he also appeared as Oribe Junpe in the sequel of the Jdrama Hana Yori Dango.

Toma also participated in numerous musical stage plays produced by Johnny's Entertainment, such as Playzone, SHOCK and West Side Story as well as non-Johnny's Entertainment stage plays (Azumi, Azumi Returns, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona). One of his breakthrough roles on stage was his first leading role in the Shinkansen*NEXUS volume 2 stage play Cat in the Red Boots as TOMA-sama. The premise of the play was based loosely on his life.

The 2007 Fuji TV summer drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e was perhaps Toma's biggest break in Japanese entertainment. His portrayal of Shuichi Nakatsu won him Best Supporting Actor awards from three award-giving bodies. It also opened more opportunities for him as he started to become one of the most in-demand young actors.

Due to Hana Kimi's popularity, Fuji TV aired a special two-hour episode in 2008. Toma reprised his role as Shuichi Nakatsu. Toma's rise to fame brought about another project - Mao, the Japanese adaptation of the Korean drama Mawang. In October 2008, Toma was back on stage again, playing the role of Danny in the Japanese version of the musical Grease. In January 2009, Tom was cast in the serial drama Voice and a lead role in the jury drama Majo Saiban: The Witch Trial.

Toma finally made his silver screen debut in 2010 in Ningen Shikkaku, a spring movie adaptation of Dazai Osamu's masterpiece. His other movies include Hanamizuki and Seaside Motel. Toma also began playing the role of Honjo Sadame in the drama Unubore Deka along with Johnny senior, TOKIO's Nagase Tomoya.

Toma has his own mobile diary on J-web named Tomagoto (Toma's words). Aside from the J-web, he also has his own corner on Wink Up Magazine entitled Ikuta Toma no Ikita Kotoba (Toma Ikuta's Words to Live By).

Information from Wikipedia / Photo from Japanator

Musical productions Toma Ikuta was in and a list of accolades awarded to the talented actor.

Musicals

Grease - 2008

The Two Gentlemen of Verona - October 2007

SHOCK - ENDLESS SHOCK 2007

Cat in the Red Boots (Shinkansen*NEXUS volume 2) (2006)

AZUMI RETURNS (Azumi 2) (2006)

AZUMI on STAGE (2005)

West Side Story 2005 (Arashi version)

West Side Story 2004 (Shonentai version)

Mama Loves Mambo III

Edogah-san Yukuefumei

Vacation (Shonentai Playzone 2003)

SHOCK is Real Shock

Another (Kansai Jr.2002 version)

Susanoh

SHOCK is Millennium SHOCK

KYO-TO-KYO

Stand By Me

Awards and Recognition

54th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e)

Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix, Winter 2007: Best Supporting Actor (Honey & Clover)

11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix, April 2007-March 2008: Best Supporting Actor (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e)

Information from Wikipedia / Photo from Ikuta Toma FB page

Toma Ikuta won Best Supporting Actor for his role as the funny and charming Shuichi Nakatsu in the Hana Kimi Jdrama. Watch the clip below for a taste of what he can do.

Toma Ikuta plays a 26-year-old actor Honjo Sadame n the 2010 J-drama series Unubore Deka. He's good looking but lacks a sense of humor and is frequently dumped by women because of it. Honjo then prepares for a role as a detective by following Detective Unubore around. Watch him dance with the detective (Tomoya Nagase) in this funny clip.

Browse through a wide selection of English-subtitled Japanese dramas on DVD

with Ikuta Toma and special edition box sets at Yesasia

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