, also known as , is a Japanese actor and singer. He played young men and onnagata roles of women.
Biography
His father is the head of the theatre troupe Gekidan Sujaku. Saotome performed in taishū engeki. A "female impersonator", he has performed onstage. In Zatoichi, he played the child disguising himself as a geisha (Daigoro Tachibana). Though in a different troupe from Tachibana, they frequently practiced and performed together. In Takeshis', Saotome played a young female impersonator and dancer. He played a bishōnen aesthetic, i.e. graceful, beautiful young men. He played Mori Ranmaru in a National Museum event called "Sengoku Fantasy", and played a young Horibe Yasubee in the NHK New Year's jidaigeki play. He created his official fan club in 2006. He said that he misunderstand his appeal, but is happy about his role. He appeared in the variety show D no Gekijō in January 2007. It was arranged he reprised a role, a dance in a flower-decorated kimono at the Taishōkan. The performance ended the next day. Saotome has expressed a desire to play men's roles and to perform in more mainstream or traditional theatre, saying he has less care for female roles. He starred in the stage production of the otome game, Hakuouki in October 2010. He played vice commander, Hijikata Toshizo of Shinsengumi.
Filmography
Film
Zatoichi (2003), Young O-Sei
Takeshis' (2005), Unnamed young man
Shabake (2007), Suzuhiko-hime
Anmitsu Hime (2008), Sandayu Momoyama
Crows Explode (2014), Ryohei Kagami
Road To High&Low (2016), Ryu Tatsuhito
High&Low The Movie (2016), Ryu Tatsuhito
High&Low The Red Rain (2016), Ryu Tatsuhito
Memoirs of a Murderer (2017), Toda
Bleach (2018), Renji Abarai
Shottan, The Miracle (2018), Daisuke Katō
Iwane: Sword of Serenity (2019), Kuniemon
Promare (2019), Lio Fotia (voice) Last of the Wolves (2021), Masaru Hanada Shikake-nin Fujieda Baian (2023)
Television
Fūrin Kazan (2007) – Hōjō Ujimasa
Shinzanmono (2010) – Kazuhiro Uesugi
Miss Double Faced Teacher (2012) – Tatsuya Sudo
Nobunaga Concerto (2014) – Danzo
Futagashira (2015–2016) – Soji
High＆Low: The Story of S.W.O.R.D. (2015–2016) – Ryu Tatsuhito
Nobunaga Moyu (2016) – Nobutada Oda
Cold Case 2 (2018) Boukyaku no Sachiko: A Meal Makes Her Forget (2018) – Shungo Tokyo Bachelors (2019) – Ritsuki Itoi Come Come Everybody (2021–22) – Tommy
References
This content is derived largely from the corresponding article on the Japanese Wikipedia and on Saotome's official website (Accessed 2 March 2007).