Shingo Katori
| Shingo Katori | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 香取 慎吾 |
| Born |
January 31, 1977 Yokohama, Japan |
| Occupation | Singer, actor, television host |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Website | www |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1988-present |
| Labels | Victor Entertainment |
| Associated acts | SMAP |
Shingo Katori (香取 慎吾 Katori Shingo?, born 31 January 1977) is a Japanese actor, singer, television host, radio personality, and the youngest member of SMAP, the best-selling boy band in Asia.
Katori was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa and moved to Tokyo to pursue his career. He has one younger brother.
In 1987, at age 10, Katori auditioned to enter Johnny & Associates, a Japanese talent agency that recruits and trains young boys, preteens to teens, to become singers and members of boy bands. After five of the other band members auditioning individually from 1986 through 1987, in autumn 1987, twenty boys, from ages ten to seventeen, were put together into a group called The Skate Boys, which was initially created as backup dancers for a famous boy band, Hikaru Genji. In April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa chose six out of the twenty boys to create a new boy band and named them "SMAP".
In 1988, he made his acting debut in a television series, Abunai Shonen III, along with his band members. After several supporting roles, in 1996, he landed his first major role in a drama television series, Tomei Ningen, which became a massive success. He has also starred in many high-rated television series, such as Hito ni Yasashiku (2002), Saiyuki (2006), and Bara no nai Hanaya (2008). In 2004, he starred in NHK's Taiga drama, Shinsengumi!. He is also a member of the Mitani Crew, a core group of actors that Japanese playwright Kōki Mitani tends to use in his work.
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