Shingo Katori

Shingo Katori (香取 慎吾) is the youngest member of SMAP, a very popular idol group from the agency Johnny & Associates, and he is from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Shingo Katori has acted in several dramas such as Three Peace, and has appeared as a seiyū, or Japanese language voice actor, in such anime series as Akazukin Chacha, where he played the werewolf boy Riiya.

Katori was cast as one of the main characters of Shinsengumi!, 2004's Taiga drama, a historical drama aired on NHK. He plays Kondō Isami, the leader of the Shinsengumi.

Katori was once known for cross-dressing as the character "Shingo Mama" (慎吾ママ) on the variety show Sata Suma; he even released a top-selling CD single "Shingo Mama no Oha Rock" (慎吾ママのおはロック), done in character. Shingo Mama's trademark phrase is "Ohhā!" (morning!). From 2000-2001, Shingo Mama promoted the use of ohha as part of a Ministry of Education campaign to encourage family communication. 

He went on to host his own English-oriented show "SmaSTATION!!" that featured mostly journalists discussing world news, as well as translation and vocabulary quizzes, where Shingo faced off against other celebrities in a battle of English comprehension. He also released a series of books under the title English PeraPera (fluently). He was also quite critical of George W. Bush.

Katori regularly co-hosts the semi-annual Kasou Taishou show alongside Kinichi Hagimoto.

Recently, he has gained internet popularity as the main antagonist in a Super Sentai parody.

In 2005, Japan Airlines introduced a Boeing 777 jet with Katori's picture on it.

In 2005/2006, he starred in the Japanese remake of Saiyūki as Son Goku. He appeared as a bellboy in the popular 2006 comedy film The Uchōten Hotel. In 2009 he leads in a live adaptation of the police manga Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo.

Shingo Katori can also be seen conversing with Quentin Tarantino in the beginning of Sukiyaki Western Django.

He will be playing the blind swordsman, Zatoichi in the 2010 film, "Zatoichi: The Last".