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Tetsuo Kurata (born September 11, 1968) is a Japanese actor and restaurateur, recognized primarily for his role as Minami Kotaro, the protagonist in the tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Black and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. He debuted at 19 in Black and has since appeared in numerous TV series and Japanese dramas. His birth name is Tetsuo Kakimoto.
Kurata auditioned for Kotaro Minami in January 1987, shortly after graduating high school. In a 2006 interview, he revealed he felt he didn’t portray the character well during the audition and doubted he would be cast. Unexpectedly, Shotaro Ishinomori personally selected him for the lead, out of some 8,000 applicants. During this time, Kurata underwent rigorous training in stage combat, physical fitness, acting, and singing.
Kamen Rider Black premiered on TBS on October 4, 1987, receiving critical and public praise. Its 51-episode run led Toei Company to produce a sequel—an unprecedented move in the Kamen Rider franchise. After Black, Kurata renewed his contract with Toei for another year, earning a raise to star in Kamen Rider Black RX. However, the sequel’s lighter, comedic tone contrasted with the original’s darker atmosphere and was less successful. In a 1989 interview, Kurata expressed his preference for Black over Black RX, describing the latter’s humor as "excessive," but was pleased the character experienced a more positive outcome after Black’s somber ending. Rumors suggest Kurata declined later offers to reprise the role, fearing typecasting due to his strong association with the character—comparable to Hiroshi Fujioka’s Takeshi Hongo—but these remain unconfirmed.
After Black RX, Kurata took on supporting roles in various TV series and dramas. He stepped back from the public eye for a period but returned to voice Kotaro Minami/Kamen Rider Black in Kamen Rider: Seigi No Keifu and appeared in Battle of the Cooking Iron (Ore Gohan), competing against Takayuki Tsubaki, known for Kamen Rider Blade.
In 2009, Kurata reprised Kotaro Minami in the film Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker and made a cameo in Kamen Rider Decade. He returned once more in 2015 for Super Hero Taisen GP.
Outside entertainment, Kurata owns Billy the Kid, a steakhouse in Koto, Tokyo. He occasionally performs in TV dramas and stage plays during his free time.
His son, Kotaro Kakimoto, is also an actor.
