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Koki Tanaka (田中 聖, Tanaka Kōki) is a Japanese singer–songwriter and actor. He was a member of Jpop idol boy band KAT-TUN from their debut until September 30, 2013, when his contract with Johnny & Associates (the company that manages KAT-TUN) 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 his own indie rock band called INKT.^[1]

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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 (Saint). 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” (“Kōki” also means “Saint” in Japanese). Furthermore, when he was little his face was so cute and feminine that he was often mistaken for a girl.

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.

Tanaka joined Johnny & Associates in 1998 when he was only 13 years old, 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.”

He became a member of Jpop idol boy band KAT-TUN from their debut in 2001 until September 30, 2013, when his contract with Johnny & Associates was terminated due to several contract violations and he left the company.^[2] In November the same year he formed his own Indie rock band called INKT and was the lead vocalist in the band,^[3] and they finally released their debut album on November 8, 2014.^[4] On September 1, 2017, it was announced on the band's website that INKT has now officially disbanded.^[5] After the band's disbandment, Tanaka still continues to release music and perform in live shows as a solo artist.

On January 23, 2019, Tanaka released his first solo album Easter under his own record label 'Project KOKI', followed by a solo national tour in Japan from February 2 to April 6, 2019.^[6] On July 31, 2019, Tanaka released his solo single Round and Round / end of begin and held a one-man solo live tour in August and a band tour in October.^[7] He then released a mini album LOUDER on October 2, 2019.^[8]

On January 5, 2020, Tanaka started his own official YouTube channel where he uploads original content often featuring him with his younger brother Hyouga.^[9]

In 2020 Tanaka announced that he would write, direct and star in his own stage show called OLD Maid-JOKER, the shows were originally scheduled to begin in June 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shows have since been rescheduled to play from April 21–25, 2021.^[10][11]

Since February 22, 2021 Tanaka has started a radio podcast show with his brother Hyouga called Tanaka Family Raaaaadio which broadcasts shows weekly every Sundays in Japan.^[12]

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 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'.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[13] 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.^[14][15][16]

On February 24, 2022, Tanaka was arrested by police in Nagoya for alleged possession of methamphetamine. Tanaka has denied the allegations, and was quoted as saying that he did not know anything about the drugs.^[17]

On September 12, 2023, Tanaka was sentenced to 12 months in prison for possession and use of methamphetamines by a Chiba court. The prosecution alleged that Tanaka ingested illicit drugs at home on June 28, 2022. The following day he was arrested near Kashiwa station with 0.062 grams of methamphetamines found on his person. It occurred just nine days after his 20 month sentence by a Nagoya court on separate drug charges.^[18][19]

Studio albums

Singles

Studio albums

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.

• 田中聖 10845: Released on July 15, 2015.^[87]

• 50th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for My Boss My Hero (2006).^[88]
• 2006 TVNavi Awards: Best Newcomer for My Boss My Hero (2006).^[89]

• Koki Tanaka official website (in Japanese)
• Koki Tanaka's official Youtube channel
• Koki Tanaka's official Twitter
• INKT official website (in Japanese)
• Koki Tanaka at IMDb
• Koki Tanaka at JDorama.com