Юя Утида

Yūya Uchida is a Japanese actor and singer, who is regarded as a major figure in Japanese popular music. He began his music career in 1957, and became one of Japan's pivotal rock and roll figures. He became good friends with John Lennon after touring with The Beatles in 1966. In addition to his solo career, he produced the Flower Travellin Band and has worked with a large variety of musicians both domestic and international, and recorded with The Ventures and Frank Zappa in the mid-1970s. In 1975 he produced an international music festival titled "World Rock Festival" which featured artists from around the world performing together. He has appeared in numerous Japanese films, such as the Nagisa Ōshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, and won two best acting awards. He also starred in the American film Black Rain. He is married to the actress Kirin Kiki. He unsuccessfully ran for the 1991 Tokyo gubernatorial election.