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Fukuyama Masaharu 福山雅治

Born in Nagasaki on Feb. 6, 1969, Fukuyama Masaharu is very popular as a singer, songwriter and actor. He debuted in 1990 as a singer and among his beloved songs are Sakurazaka and Niji (theme song for Waterboys). His TV credits include Hitotsu no Yane no Shita, Perfect Love and Bijo ka Yajuu (where he played the male lead role opposite Matsushima Nanako)

An avid photographer, he went to Sydney, Australia in 2000 to cover the Olympics for TV Asahi as a photographer. To the delight of his thousands of fans, the former chainsmoker Masha (as he is well known) has already quit smoking. The effect of quitting smoking had a remarkable improvement in the quality of his voice.

Here is a YouTube link to a live performance of Sakurazaka. Enjoy!!

Official website:
Fukuyama Masaharu

Thanks to Drama Wiki and Wikipedia for the additional information.

Actor-singer Fukuyama Masaharu (38) is set to return to TV in a new Fuji TV drama starting on October. This will be his first series in 4 years. Actress Shibasaki Kou will co-star with Fukuyama.

The series will be based on the Naoki Prize-winning story 'Tantei Galileo' by Higashino Keigo; Fukuyama will portray a genius physicist who solves difficult cases with the help of a young detective (Shibasaki Kou).

Fuji TV producer Suzuki Yoshihiro says that there is no other actor who is more fit to portraying the role than Fukuyama because of his charm. He added that it is the first for the two protagonists to be playing such characters and is positive that the chemistry of the two will add much charm to the story. - Translated for and by www.Japinoy.com. Please credit/link back when reposting elsewhere. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Translated from Daily Sports Online

Si Masha pala ang gumawa nung song nila sa Galileo, tapos si Shibasaki Kou ang kumanta. Nabasa ko lang somewhere. Cool tandem talaga! 

Getting re-acquianted with Masha's old songs. Ang galing talaga ^_^  

He won best actor dito sa role nya in Galileo! Ang galing galing nya nmn tlga! Gwapo pa! Wah!

Ang ganda nga nung song ng Galileo. Ahh.. si Shibasaki Kou pla ung singer. Ang astig nmn ng tandem! Nakakatuwa!

Well, kahit medyo matanda na sya, di pa rin nawawala ang boyish charm ^_^ Yung song, si Masha ang nagcompose tapos si Kou ang kumanta. Cute no, pati sa OST magkatrabaho pa rin sila.  I was excited by his role in Galileo, kasi di na sya lover boy type. At least naiiba naman ang roles nya  

wahh! nag lover boy type na role sha? Ack. I can't imagine. Pero gwapo nmn tlga sha kaya lng bagay tlga sha ung mga ganun kaseryoso! hehe

^ Nung nag-uumpisa sya, na-typecast sya sa role na ganun. Yung pogi na lover boy. Buti na lang medyo nalihis na sya sa ganun. Siguro nakatulong din yung naging singer sya. Maybe because of that, people took him more seriously. Kaya buti naman! Also, he stopped smoking kaya naging maganda lalo ang boses nya. Dati smooth lang. After quitting smoking, swabe na! Basta ganun. Nakikinig ka ba ng songs nya, moeru-san? ^_^ Favorite ko  yung Sakurazaka.

He will be the lead actor of NHK' next Taiga Drama in 2010 which is entitled, "Ryomaden."

Ang aga nilang mag-prepare para sa taiga na yun a. Pero galing, makikita na sya sa TV ulit! Sakamoto Ryoma pa!