Koki Tanaka


Koki Tanaka is a Japanese singer–songwriter, actor and former Japanese idol. He was a member of Jpop idol boy band KAT-TUN from their debut until September 30, 2013 when his contract with Johnny & Associates was terminated.
When he was a member of KAT-TUN, he was recognized as the rapper in the group and has a hip-hop-influenced style. Out of the other members, Tanaka was most often paired up with Yuichi Nakamaru and they even formed a comedy duo 'TaNaka'. After leaving Johnny & Associates, Tanaka formed a new rock band called INKT.

Biography

History

On September 30, 2013 Tanaka's contract with Johnny & Associates was officially terminated due to several contract violations. In November of the same year, he formed his own Indie rock band called INKT and was the lead vocalist in the band, and they finally released their debut album on November 8, 2014. On September 1, 2017 it was announced on the band's website that INKT has now officially disbanded. After the band's disbandment, Tanaka still continues to perform in live shows as a solo artist.
On May 24, 2017 Tanaka was arrested for marijuana possession during a traffic stop, despite claiming the cannabis in his car were not his he was tested positive to the drug and was detained for 2 weeks while investigations were ongoing. He was eventually released from jail on June 7, on June 30 it was reported that Tanaka will not be prosecuted for marijuana possession charges as the police were not able to obtain enough evidence to prosecute him.
Tanaka can play several instruments. His main instrument is the guitar; he can also play the piano and the shamisen. He wrote most of the rap lyrics for KAT-TUN's songs and his solos, going by the pen-name of "JOKER". While in INKT, he wrote all the band's songs under his name 'KOKI'.
As an actor, Tanaka has appeared in a string of Japanese TV series and movies and has won 2 awards for his acting work in My Boss My Hero.
Tanaka loves to design things and is very artistic. He has a talent for sewing and he designs his own apparel. Since April 2018, Tanaka has been collaborating with the Japanese clothing brand 'Black by VANQUISH' to produce his own clothing line.

Early life

Born in Chiba, Chiba prefecture; Japan on November 5, 1985, Tanaka is the second oldest of 5 siblings, all brothers and raised by their single mother. His younger brother Juri is also an actor and signed with Johnny & Associates. Juri along with Tanaka's youngest brother Subaru even appeared alongside Tanaka in the first episode of the TV series Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go in which Tanaka played the lead role. His younger brother Hyouga is also an actor, and Tanaka's older brother is named Kazunaru.
Before Tanaka was born, his mother thought he would be a girl, so she thought of the name Maria. But he turned out to be a boy instead, so the Kanji letter of his name '聖' was kept, but its pronunciation was changed to “Kōki”. Furthermore, when he was little his face was so cute and feminine that he was often mistaken for a girl.
Tanaka joined Johnny & Associates in 1998. He once stated the reason why he applied was “My mother sent the application form behind my back. So I went to the audition without knowing anything at all. She told me it was because my cousin applied too. Therefore, we went to the audition together. But in the end, my cousin failed, while I passed.”
Tanaka graduated from Horikoshi High School, and eventually went to study at Josai International University, but he quit halfway. He loves animals so much that he originally wanted to become a veterinarian.

Discography

INKT

Studio albums

Live performances

Concerts

This is a list of all the live concerts that Tanaka has performed at and will perform in either solo or with his rock band INKT.
YearConcert titleRoleVenues and dates
2014INKT Fan Meeting Vol.1Lead performerShinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball; Tokyo
2015INKT 1st Live ~ The Birth of INKTLead performerTSUTAYA O-WEST; Tokyo & BIGCAT live house; Osaka
2015INKT one-man Live ~ Painting with INKTLead performerEX Theater Roppongi; Tokyo
2015サイサリス Tour 2015Lead performertouring 7 different cities in Japan at various venues, from July 19 to August 7
2015Muscle King PartyGuest performerTSUTAYA O-WEST
2015AOMORI ROCK FESTIVAL'15 ~ summer of demonGuest performerNight Koshiyama; Aomori
2015Saitama Super Arena 15th Anniversary presents "Meat Rock Festival 2015"Guest performerSaitama Super Arena; Saitama
2015GoneR Presents "Day of the Dead Vol.6"Guest performerFushimi JAMMIN; Aichi
2015Gacharic Spin 6th Anniversary 2-Man Tour"Guest performerNishikawaguchi LIVE HOUSE Hearts; Saitama, LIVE HOUSE J; Nagano
2015Piano Zombie vs INKT 2-Man LiveLead performerKashiwa PALOOZA; Kashiwa, Chiba
2015 - 2016Re:birth of INKT Tour 2015-2016Lead performer8 different venues in various cities in Japan, from December 5, 2015 to January 4, 2016
2016INKT / Gacharic Spin / Kamen Joshi 3-Man LiveLead performerElectric Lady Land; Nagoya
2016PALOOZA presents CIRCUIT SEX MACHINEGUNS VS INKTLead performerKashiwa PALOOZA
2016Summer Demon Phenomenon 2016 "ROAD TO 10th ANNIVERSARY series" INKT VS Summer DemonLead performerShinjuku ACB Hall; Tokyo
2016INKT 2-Man Live TourLead performer7 different venues in various cities in Japan, from April 2 - May 1, 2016
2016LOKA ~ THE ORIGINS TOUR 2016Lead performerYokohama Club Lizard; Yokohama, Shinsaibashi Club DROP & Nagoya HOLIDAY NEXT
2016INKT FC Members-only Live 2016Lead performerGakugeidaigaku Maple House; Tokyo
2016Louder!!!!!Lead performerShibuya THE GAME; Tokyo
2016North Kanto Overheat FireLead performerNagoya Fushimi JAMMIN; Aichi & Esaka MUSE; Osaka
2016INSOLENCE JAPAN TOUR 2016Lead performerShibuya THE GAME, Nagoya RAD HALL; Aichi & Harbor Studio; Kobe
2016PALOOZA Thanksgiving THE45th.~P Seitansai~Lead performerKashiwa PALOOZA
2016INKT SUMMER CIRCUIT Live 2016Lead performer5 shows in Gakugeidaigaku Maple House from July 3–31
2016JUNGLE LIFE×CLUB251 presents “Whiteboard Jungle”Lead performerShimokitazawa CLUB251; Tokyo
2016UZMK presents "Effected ☆ fuck ups" vs America-mura DROP 13th Anniversary liveGuest performerAmerica-mura DROP; Osaka
2016Muscle King Party Vol.3Lead performerTSUTAYA O-WEST
2016"King Chimera" liveGuest performerShibuya Clubasia; Tokyo
2016BIG BOMBER CAMP 2016 - TOKYO 7Lead performerShibuya REX; Shibuya
2016INKT Live House tour 2016Lead performertotal of 16 shows in various venues across Japan from October 1 - November 19, with a special additional "Xmas night" show at Kashiwa PALOOZA in Chiba on December 14
2016Heart Town Festival 2016Guest performerTaichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium; Taichung, Taiwan
2016UCHUSENTAI: NOIZ presents "BIG BOMBER CAMP 2016Guest performerNagoya ell.FITS ALL; Nagoya
2016Beach Walker 2016Guest performerHarbor Studio; Kobe
2016Pulse Factory presents "Life with a mortality rate of 100%" liveGuest performerUmeda Zeela; Osaka
2016Tokyo Lalara vol. 6Guest performerHatsudai DOORS; Tokyo
2016Gacharic Spin × INKT liveLead performerNagoya ell.FITS ALL
2016TONEAYU Presents "watered down PARTY! ~ Lack of oxygen speeding the old year SPECIAL ~"Lead performerShibuya GUILTY; Shibuya
2016PALOOZA presents "Brand New Vibe Road to Zepp Divercity Special Countdown Party to 2017"Guest performerKashiwa PALOOZA
2017KING presents "KING OF ROCK SHOW New Year SpecialGuest performerKashiwa PALOOZA
2017L & P Attractive presents "All Happiness !! Extra edition" Guest performerOsu RAD HALL; Nagoya
2017Nagoya Large Circuit Festival RAD CREATION presents "Tora Rock Festival 2017"Guest performerthis festival had several shows at various different venues in Aichi Prefecture, but INKT only guest performed at 1 show on February 4
2017Muscle King Party ~ MTR Birthday Festival ~Guest performerTSUTAYA O-WEST
2017"Wicked!!!" liveGuest performerDaikanyama LOOP; Tokyo
2017Palooza presents "Bakugan Festival"Lead performerKashiwa PALOOZA
2017HateItOrLoveIt & Club Lizard Yokohama Presents "Rabbit's Revenge Vol.4" Club Lizard 15th Anniversary & Closure liveGuest performerClub Lizard; Yokohama
2017INKT Live house tour 2017Lead performercurrently there are almost 50 shows scheduled to be held at many different venues across Japan from March 4 - July 23
2017PALOOZA meets WHITE SHADOW "SHADOW NET" liveLead performerKashiwa PALOOZA

Stage shows

Filmography

Film

Television

Other works

Books