Hanoi [Vietnam], July 31: Once a "national heartthrob" who captivated many Asian audiences, Tomohisa Yamashita became embroiled in personal scandals that forced him into years of seclusion. After a period that seemed to have destroyed everything, he rewrote his career through years of iron discipline and relentless effort.
The idol who captivated all of Asia.
Tomohisa Yamashita was born in 1985 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Thanks to his striking looks, the actor joined Johnny's Entertainment at the young age of 11 and quickly became a star of the entertainment company. Along with the group NEWS (2003-2011) and a series of hit films such as Nobuta wo Produce, Proposal Daisakusen, and Code Blue , he became a youth icon for a generation of Asian audiences.
In 2020, at the peak of his career, Tomohisa Yamashita became embroiled in a personal scandal involving a meeting with a minor model. The incident quickly became a focal point in Japanese media, severely damaging the actor's image.
He was suspended indefinitely by his management company, Johnny's Entertainment, and many of his artistic plans were also interrupted. Not long after, Tomohisa Yamashita decided to leave Johnny's after nearly 25 years. For many Japanese artists, this usually marks the end of a once brilliant career. Instead of withdrawing from the entertainment industry, he chose to start over in the international market, opening a new chapter in his acting career.
No longer relying on the influence of the Japanese idol system, the actor proactively learned foreign languages, expanded his activities to Europe and America, and continuously challenged himself with international projects.
According to Variety , the actor joined the cast of the international series The Head , marking a transition from a domestic star to a globally active actor. Following that, he appeared in Drops of God , a French, American, and Japanese co-production released on Apple TV+. The series received critical acclaim internationally and helped Tomohisa Yamashita's name appear frequently in European and American media.
His return in Alice in Borderland 2 on Netflix further brought the actor closer to a global audience. Despite only appearing for a short time, Yamashita's portrayal of the Dragonfly King (Kyuma) became one of the most talked-about characters after the film's release.
It's worth noting that he didn't try to erase the past or avoid the incident. He dedicated the years following the scandal to self-improvement, from language skills and acting to his lifestyle. Perhaps that's why, when appearing at major fashion events or international film festivals, Tomohisa Yamashita is no longer seen solely for his handsome looks, but as a mature, professional, and resilient artist.
While in his early days, Yamashita was known more for his handsome face than his physique, currently, Tomohisa Yamashita is frequently mentioned by Japanese media in rankings of male actors with the best physiques. Scenes showcasing his muscles in Alice in Borderland 2 went viral on social media, surprising many viewers as the once handsome, boyish actor transformed into a muscular, athletic-looking man.
Returning to the screen with Moment of Life and Death
Blue Moment marks a memorable milestone for Tomohisa Yamashita seven years after Code Blue . It is also one of three prominent Japanese films introduced to Vietnamese audiences by FPT Play in July, along with A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You and Billion x School .
Upon its release in Japan, Moment of Life achieved an 8.6% rating in its first episode, boosting Fuji TV's broadcast time slot by more than four times compared to the previous drama. In the series, Yamashita plays Haruhara Kankuro, a renowned meteorologist nicknamed "Cloud Prince," and the commander of the SDM special forces team that rushes into the most dangerous areas whenever natural disasters occur.
For Tomohisa Yamashita, "The Moment of Life and Death" is not only a comeback in a television lead role after many years, but also a clear testament to his journey of growth.
At over 40 years old, Tomohisa Yamashita may no longer be the "flower boy" of his early career. But he possesses something far more valuable: the resilience of an artist who knows how to rise after failure, using discipline to transform himself and prove that, with talent and perseverance, a career can be completely rewritten from the ashes.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper