NEWS Crash course: Koyama Keiichiro 2/2

Career&Hobbies

Koyama has always been talkative and it was natural for him to assume the role of MC soon after he entered the agency. After just two years he was co-hosting the children’s show Ya-Ya-yah (2003–2007) and later he co-hosted the Shounen Club along with Nakamaru from KAT-TUN (NHK, 2006–2011) and Hi! Hey! Say! (2007–2009). In Summer 2009 Koyama began to learn sign language and spent two months preparing his project for 24 Hour TV marathon. Because of his passion and dedication he was invited to try himself as an announcer. 

Since April 2010 Koyama has been working as a newscaster for ‘news every’. It was challenging but he really enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing new things. His speciality is working on locations and after the 2011 earthquake he regularly visits the affected areas and delivers reports on the recovery progress there. Sometimes he also uses his ability to communicate via sign language. In 2014 he was promoted to main caster so now he can be seen there every evening Monday to Thursday.

Since 2005 Koyama had a weekly radio show, “K-chan news”. He is the host while other members visit him in a rotation system. The show survived all of the band’s crises and is still going strong.

Early in his career Koyama received a lot of letters from overseas fans and realized he didn’t know that much about other Asian countries so he decided to devote himself to studying Asian history and culture. Thankfully he was able to enter Meiji University and though it was hard he really enjoyed learning. He graduated in 2007. Koyama takes particular interest in Korea and learns Korean language.

Koyama didn’t have many roles in films and dramas but he did have some notable plays. He was in the Japanese version of 'High School Musical’ (2007) and in 2009 he played the main role in stage play called 'Call’ which was very challenging since he had to spend the entire play in a telephone box talking non-stop.

Koyama and Kato are known as Johnny’s “intellijohnnys”. In 2012 became hosts of a show called Mirai Theatre. Every week they invited guests to the studio and show 2 inspiring stories about interesting people who can be considered 'revolutionists’. Since 2016 they became regular hosts of a show “NEWS na Futari” (the two from NEWS) where they discuss all sorts of social issues giving a platform for Japan’s youth to bring up important issues. They covered many difficult and important topics, including single mothers, eating disorders, LGBT, people of mixed race, and social media.

Koyama spends a lot of time working out though he has yet to catch up with Masuda. He started doing karate in 2009 and he’s seems to be a good student. Koyama doesn’t have many hobbies but there is one thing he really loves. He has a sweet tooth and can’t live without sweet things. He’s especially fond of eclairs. He also has a section in magazine where he introduces recipes of various cakes and pastry and tries to make them. Too bad none of the other members like sweets. He also adores cats. He had a cat called Nyanta and when he died in 2017, Koyama dedicated his solo song to him. Later that year he brought a female cat Milk. 

The first thing anyone would say about Koyama is that he’s nice. Probably too nice for his own good. Because of his nurturing caring personality Koyama has always been looking after the other members, especially the younger ones. So much that fans began to call him “Koyamama”. When Tegoshi came along all awkward and cute and a little lost Koyama 'adopted’ him and has been taking care of him ever since. But basically Koyama loves all of his band members and often complains that he’s forever living an unrequited love. He is also considered to be the one to come up with the term “Member Ai” which is the name of his jweb blog.

Koyama says he is often used by people, but no one more than Tegoshi. The youngest often asks him to recommend him restaurants, make appointments for him and treat him to dinners. Koyama says he’s helpless against him and would do anything he asks. Even if he gets frustrated by Tegoshi’s antics a simple “Kei-chan, thank you!” will appease him in a moment. By the way, it was Tegoshi who began to call him “Kei-chan”.

Koyamama and his two kids

Koyama is best friends with Shige. They were paired up as soon as Koyama entered the agency and have been very close ever since. They hang out a lot and often go on trips together. They’re actually so close that they often joke they’re a lot like a married couple. Koyama is also Shige’s biggest fan and supporter. When Shige’s first book came out Koyama read it 3 times and praised him a lot.

Kei-chan is very friendly and gets along with people well. He is very agreeable and is always ready to help those in need. However, his bandmates say that sometimes it almost seems like he doesn’t have his own opinion as he always supports everyone else’s ideas and is easily swayed. Members even used to call him “Yes Man” since he can’t say “No” to anything. 

Koyama is somewhat naive and never really gets angry and that is probably the reason why the members prank him so often. Though earlier it was Shige who got bullied the most after NEWS became 4 this role went to Koyama. Tegoshi and Shige often play pranks on him and make fun of him in every way. The most popular topics are his naivety, his meekness and his single eyelids. But of course it’s all out of love.

Koyama might not be the image of a perfect leader. Members say he’s air-headed, clumsy and often messes up words. But he’s also hard-working, caring and dedicated. He’s the one who fought hard to keep NEWS alive, the one who looks over the members and brings them together. 

He’s also simply fabulous~