A Familiar Name... The Actor Kotaro Koizumi, Whose Father and Brother Are Politicians, Stands Alone in His Career [Japan Insider]

Actor Kotaro Koizumi
The Only One to Pursue Acting in a Political Family
Appearing in Both Dramas and Variety Shows
Broadcast Industry Relieved: "If His Brother Became Prime Minister, He Couldn't Have Continued His TV Career"

Kotaro Koizumi, who appeared in the Morinaga Milk Industry commercial. Morinaga Milk Industry.

If we were to name the person who benefited most from this Japanese prime ministerial election, it would undoubtedly be Shinjiro Koizumi, the Minister of Defense, who became widely known as "Punkulseokjwa." Although he failed to win the prime ministership, he demonstrated his potential by recording a rather high approval rating and was even appointed as Minister of Defense, the equivalent of South Korea's Minister of National Defense.

Another figure who has drawn attention from the Japanese media and broadcasting industry in light of this news is none other than actor Kotaro Koizumi, the older brother of the Minister of Defense. While his father is former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his younger brother is the Minister of Defense, Kotaro himself is active as an actor. He is well-liked for not relying on the prestige of his political family background. The Japanese broadcasting industry was reportedly relieved at the news of his brother's defeat, fearing that if the younger brother became prime minister, the older brother might shy away from appearing on television. Today, we share the story of Kotaro Koizumi.

Kotaro Koizumi's younger brother, Shinjiro Koizumi, who was then the Minister of the Environment, is announcing his intention to run for the presidency. Photo by Yonhap News

Bearing the Title of 'Prime Minister's Son'... The Burden of Public Attention

Kotaro Koizumi was born in 1978 into a distinguished political family. In Japan, it is common for politicians to pass down their constituencies to their children, creating political dynasties. In Kotaro's family, his great-grandfather was the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, his grandfather was the Minister of Defense, and his father was a former prime minister. As a result, influential political figures frequently visited their home, and there was widespread expectation that both sons would inherit the family constituency. However, his father reportedly did not show much interest in his sons becoming politicians. As the eldest son, Kotaro played baseball during his school years, aspiring to be a baseball player rather than a politician, but he grew up constantly hearing from those around him, "You're next to enter politics."

His dream of becoming a baseball player ended when he developed a herniated disc, and afterward, he set his sights on becoming an actor instead of a politician. He had always admired celebrities since he was young. In interviews, Kotaro is frequently asked, "Why didn't you become a politician?" He responds, "There is no right answer in politics. If there is one person who thanks you for saving their life, there are several times more people who oppose you," adding, "I simply didn't have the confidence to push forward, insisting that this is happiness for everyone or that this is the way to protect the people." He also shared that he always wanted to be called by his own name, Kotaro Koizumi, rather than being known as the 'prime minister's son.'

Kotaro Koizumi, who appeared in the 2016 drama "God of Exams Cinderella." NHK.

It must not have been easy to voice such feelings in a political family. After much deliberation, he first confided in his closest friend during high school, saying, "Actually, I want to become an actor." That friend would later also enter the entertainment industry. Eventually, after much thought, Kotaro told his family that he would quit university and pursue acting. Surprisingly, his father readily gave his permission, on the condition that Kotaro would do everything on his own and take full responsibility for whatever happened, whether he succeeded or failed.

At first, Kotaro used a stage name when going to auditions to hide his family background. He passed the first round of an audition and was preparing for the next stage when, in the meantime, his father was elected prime minister. The families of prime ministers also become subject to media scrutiny. Not long after, a weekly magazine reported, "The prime minister's son is going to auditions at entertainment agencies." As a result, agencies that took an interest in him sent offers, and he made his debut in the entertainment industry.

Starting with Awkward Acting... Now Playing Mature Roles

He made his debut in a Fuji TV drama in 2002, but his performance in his first role was reportedly a disaster. However, Kotaro enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of the entertainment industry too much to leave because of criticism over his poor acting, so he dedicated himself to improving his craft.

There was a mentor who helped Kotaro hone his acting skills: Chosuke Ikariya, who played "Uncle Waku" in the popular Japanese drama "Bayside Shakedown," which was also well-received in South Korea. Ikariya would take Kotaro to his own filming locations, teaching him various lessons, saying, "Aren't you the youngest here?" He would discuss scripts with Kotaro, saying, "This is how I think it should be interpreted. What do you think?"

Thanks to such mentorship and his dedication to acting, Kotaro has now become a household name in Japan. Drama producers especially praise him as having "the perfect look for a uniform." He has taken on many dignified and serious roles, such as police officers in detective dramas and doctors in medical dramas.

Kotaro Koizumi, who appeared in the TBS medical drama "Black Peang." TBS.

Hosting Seven Regular TV Shows... A Popular National MC

He is now a highly sought-after figure in the broadcasting industry. Despite his political family background, he is humble and courteous to everyone, earning the favor of television professionals. For middle-aged and older viewers, the main demographic for TV, the fact that he is the son of former Prime Minister Koizumi boosts their trust in him.

When his younger brother began to gain attention as "Punkulseokjwa," Kotaro was once asked on a variety show if there was any English word he thought sounded cool, to which he replied "sexy," and then burst out laughing himself. Currently, he is the main host of seven regular programs, ranging from variety shows to talk shows.

Japanese online entertainment media have reported that people in the broadcasting industry are actually relieved that his younger brother did not become prime minister. If his brother were the sitting prime minister, Kotaro would have to be more careful about what he says and it would be more difficult for him to continue his activities. Thanks to his brother not becoming prime minister, Kotaro can continue his broadcasting career freely, much to the relief of those in the industry.

In a recent interview with Japanese publisher Futabasha, Kotaro said that the role he would most like to play someday is that of a politician. Although he always avoided playing politicians, the job he least wanted to do while growing up, he now thinks that as he gets older, he might be able to truly embrace such a role.

He has become a rare figure in a political family, someone who is not polarizing and is liked by many, even though politicians tend to have both passionate supporters and detractors. His willingness to forgo the advantages of his background and pursue the life he truly wants seems to have won the hearts of viewers.