Biography
Yu Shirota is a Japanese actor and singer best known for portraying Kunimitsu Tezuka in The Prince of Tennis movie and Tenimyu musicals, as well as Tuxedo Kamen in the Sailor Moon Musicals. He is also a member of the young men's stage acting troupe D-Boys, which performs various skit-like acts.
Born on December 26, 1985, to a Japanese father and Spanish mother, Shirota spent his early childhood in Barcelona until around age two. Upon returning to Japan for elementary school, he retained conversational Spanish skills. Growing up in a musically inclined family, he often borrowed his older sister’s keyboard while his mother taught him piano, sparking his passion for composing. He composed his first piece, titled "The Tear," in fourth grade.
On November 16, 2005, he released an Idol DVD called With U. Shirota has appeared in numerous commercials, TV shows, musicals, movies, and MISIA’s music video for "In My Soul." He also featured in commercial videos for the games Shadow Hearts: From the New World and Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side.
In 2005, he starred in the Watanabe net drama Hice Cool alongside fellow D-Boys members Kotaro Yanagi, Yuya Endo, and Osamu Adachi.
As one of the original members of Watanabe Entertainment’s D-BOYS, he maintains an occasionally updated blog that includes personal video greetings. His involvement with the group has offered him many opportunities, including performances and expanding his skills as a performer. The D-Boys have released two photobooks: the first, titled D-Boys, on April 27, 2005, and the second, Start, on March 15, 2006. Shirota also co-hosted the radio show Marvelous Radio Vibration with Kotaro Yanagi until it ended on April 1, 2006.
Between 2003 and 2004, he became the seventh actor to portray Tuxedo Kamen (Tuxedo Mask) in the Sailor Moon Musicals. He then took on the role of Kunimitsu Tezuka, the stoic captain of Seigaku Middle School’s tennis club. From 2005 to 2006, he was the third actor to play Tezuka in The Prince of Tennis Musicals, a role he continued in the live-action film adaptation. On March 29, 2006, he and most of the Seigaku cast graduated from their roles during the Dream Live 3rd concert.
Shirota reprised his role as Kunimitsu Tezuka from the musicals in the live-action film adaptation of The Prince of Tennis manga and anime, alongside most of the principal cast members.
His next film, June Bride, was released on May 27, 2006, where he played the lead character Natsumi. The movie also co-starred fellow D-Boys members Hiroki Suzuki and Hirofumi Araki.
