Yūji Oda

is a Japanese actor and singer. He is one of Japan's 11 most popular male entertainers, according to an NHK survey taken in 2004. In one survey, he was the second most popular actor after Takuya Kimura in Japan during the Heisei era (1989-2019).

Biography Oda was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. In the late 1980s, he launched his career with the release of two singles on records.

In 1989, he appeared in the television drama Mama Haha Boogie, from which point he started to gain popularity as an actor, which also brought attention to his singing aspirations.

In 1991, he appeared in the enormously popular television drama Tokyo Love Story, a breakout role. He then became a leading man in Japanese film and television, generally playing the role of a sympathetic character.

His most famous role is Shunsaku Aoshima, a police detective in the Bayside Shakedown film and television drama series.

Personal life On August 16, 2010, Oda married a non-celebrity woman 12 years younger than him. His wife gave birth to their son in October 2014. After the birth, Oda took a break from work for two years to help focus on child rearing.

Filmography Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1989 Mama Haha Bugi Makoto Mizutani 1991 Tokyo Love Story Kanji "Kanchi" Nagao Lead role 1997 Bayside Shakedown Shunsaku Aoshima Lead role 2001 Rocket Boy Shinpei Kobayashi Lead role 2002 Midnight Rain Takashi Tokura Lead role 2004 Last Christmas Kenji Haruki Lead role 2008 Homeroom on the Beachside Sakutarō Sakurai Lead role 2010 The Diplomat Kosaku Kuroda Kosaku Kuroda Lead role 2016 IQ246 Sharaku Hōmonji Lead role 2018 Nozaki Shuhei Auditor of Bank Shuhei Nozaki Lead role 2018–20 Suits Shōgo Kai Lead role; 2 seasons Legal Enforcement with Dogs Itsuki Obara 2026 Water Margin Song Jiang Lead role

Discography Albums Title Release date Notes Label On the Road 1990-03-20 Toshiba EMI 1991-07-12 Toshiba EMI 1991-10-30 Toshiba EMI Songs 1991-12-10 WEA Japan 1992-02-19 Toshiba EMI 1993-09-22 Toshiba EMI Screen Play 1994-09-07 Toshiba EMI The Best 1995-09-27 Toshiba EMI River 1995-12-06 Mercury Music Entertainment Stay Here 1996-11-11 Mercury Stay Here+2 1997-03-26 Mercury Shake!! 1998-06-17 Mercury The Best Tracks 1998-11-26 Mercury My Pocket 1999-09-29 Mercury Secret Rendez-vous 2000-07-05 Mercury Hot & Sweet-Sour Soup: Best of Love Song 2001-03-23 Kitty MME 11 Colors 2003-08-20 Universal J 2007-09-26

Singles Title Release date Notes Label "Boom Boom Boom / Hold You Tight" 1987-04-25 WEA Japan 1989-07-25 WEA Japan 1991-02-06 Toshiba EMI 1991-06-07 Toshiba EMI "Happy Birthday" 1991-11-06 Toshiba EMI "Kodo" 1992-01-29 Toshiba EMI 1992-05-27 Toshiba EMI 1993-07-19 Toshiba EMI "Over the Trouble" 1994-07-08 Toshiba EMI "Never Rain" 1994-10-05 Toshiba EMI 1995-11-08 Mercury Music Entertainment "Mirage" 1996-10-28 Mercury "Love Somebody" 1997-01-29 with Maxi Priest Mercury "Over and Over Again" 1997-07-16 Mercury "Freedom" 1998-02-04 Mercury "Shake it Up" 1998-05-13 Mercury "Love Somebody" 1998-10-28 with Maxi Priest Mercury "Something to Say" 1999-03-17 Mercury "Together" 1999-08-25 Mercury 2001-02-28 Kitty MME 2002-11-13 Universal J "We can be Heroes" 2003-01-01 Universal J "Love Somebody" 2003-06-25 with Maxi Priest Universal J "Love Somebody (Cinema Version II)" 2003-07-16 with Mýa Universal J "Last Christmas"/"Wake Me Up Go! Go!" 2004-11-03 with Butch Walker Epic Japan "Hug, Hug" 2007-04-25 Universal J "All my Treasures" 2007-07-25 2007 World Championships in Athletics Osaka Games Theme Song Universal Sigma "Feel Live" 2007-12-05 "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" 2008-08-12 as "UZ"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work(s) Result 2000 43rd Blue Ribbon Awards Best ActorWhiteout 25th Hochi Film Awards Best Actor 2001 24th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Actor