Yōsuke Kubozuka (窪塚 洋介), born May 7, 1979, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, is a Japanese actor and musician known for his versatility and edgy on-screen presence. Before entering acting, Kubozuka began his career as a model, appearing in numerous magazines and television commercials. He made his acting debut in the 1995 TV crime drama Kindaichi Case Files and gained popularity for his portrayal of the intelligent honors student Yoshito Kikuchi in the hit series GTO (1998). His breakthrough role came in Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2000), where he played Takashi Ando, the charismatic leader of the G-Boys gang, sharing the screen with Tomoya Nagase, Ken Watanabe, and Tomohisa Yamashita.
Kubozuka’s acting prowess was further solidified in Strawberry on the Shortcake (2001), where he played the romantic interest of Kyoko Fukada’s character. That same year, his performance in Go, a film about the struggles of a Zainichi Korean youth, earned him major accolades, including the Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and Newcomer of the Year. Kubozuka also featured in the acclaimed music video for Mr. Children’s “Kimi ga Suki,” which won Video of the Year at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Japan. In addition to acting, he is active in music under the stage name “Manji Line,” pursuing reggae and dub music as both a performer and producer.
