Ken’ichi Matsuyama (松山 ケンイチ, Matsuyama Ken’ichi, born March 5, 1985 in Aomori, Japan) is a well known Japanese actor.

He is known for his affinity for strange character roles. He is best known for playing L in the 2006 film Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name as well as voicing Jealous in the Death Note anime adaptation.

Movies

Bright Future (2003)
Guuzen nimo saiaku na shounen (2003)
The Locker 2 (2004)
Kamachi (2004)
The Taste of Tea (2004)
Linda Linda Linda (2005)
Nana (2005)
Furyo shonen no yume (2005)
Kasutamu-meido 10.30 (2005)
Otoko-tachi no Yamato (2005)
Oyayubi sagashi (2006)
Death Note (2006)
Death Note: The Last Name (2006)
The Blue Wolf: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea (2007)
Ten Nights of Dream (2007)
Shindo (2007)
Dolphin Blue: Fuji, mou ichido sora e (2007)
L: Change the World (200

TV Series

Gokusen (2002)
Kids War 5 (2003)
1 Litre of Tears (2005)
Tsubasa No Oreta Tenshitachi (2006)
Sexy Voice and Robo (2007)

I
n L Change the World, Matsuyama, 22, reprises his role as the mysterious and taciturn L who has a sweet tooth and other quirks, such as having a slight stoop, and a tendency to go barefoot and to squat on chairs. This time, instead of fighting Kira, L has to battle time as his death approaches.

In an earlier interview, the actor answers some questions about his role in the Japanese movie:

If you can, what will you do to change the current world?

I like this world as it is now. I like now the best.

Is it tough being the only male lead for the new movie, especially since the burden of box office will be on your shoulders alone?

There was pressure on me, but because of that, I think we could make it great.

When you first learnt of the spin-off on the character L, what was your reaction?

I was simply glad for the fact that I got another job. (Laughs)

As the movie’s plot is not based on the manga series, do you worry that hardcore Death Note manga fans will not be able to accept changes that they feel do not fall in line with the character in the book?

No, I think I could introduce new aspects of L.

Do you hope to create a new L or just continue with the old L?

I enjoyed L riding bicycles and trains, running around and being outside. Everything was new to me as L.

What is your biggest challenge about acting in this movie?

It was difficult for me to express L’s feelings. L does not often show his feelings, and I still needed to show how he feels and what kind of person he is. I needed to think how he would express his feelings and how to show his personality.

Are you disappointed with the fact that the scriptwriter fails to write in any romantic scenes for you in this spin-off?

Not at all. I prefer not to touch on the romantic part.

Is venturing into Hollywood on your agenda for the near future? Do you hope to accept Hollywood acting roles like Ken Watanabe?

Yes, I am interested in working with foreign filmmakers outside Japan.

You are well-known for playing weird characters. Is it your personal obsession to accept strange, and not necessarily popular, roles?

I am always attracted to characters who are very different from me and who have something I do not have.

Do you always enjoy being the odd one out in school or in the entertainment industry in Japan? Are you always the popular student in school or the ignored nerdy student?

I am often told that I am assertive. (Laughs)

Your most recent characters, L and Robo (in the TV drama series Sexy Voice and Robo), are obsessed with analysing crime cases and robots. What’s your personal obsession?

I am now addicted to heavy metal music.

You have listed pole vault and wheelchair basketball as your favourite sports.

I’ve not had time to play those sports lately. Wheelchair basketball is recognised as a sport for people with disabilities, but it is actually a hard and wild sport and very exciting when the wheelchairs clash with one another.

If, like L, you knew that you have a limited time on Earth – exactly 23 days – how will you spend your last days?

I would sign up for a life insurance policy (laughs), and be with my parents and do something nice for them.

Source:http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/23/movies/20699252&sec=movies

Trailer of the most awaited sequel of Deathnote movie, starring Kennichi Matsuyama:

 
KENNICHI DAISUKI!!!

Watanuki met this girl who can see spirits under a sakura tree. The girl, Kohane is supposed to exorcise the lady in the sakura tree but she can’t seem to do it because the spirit meant no harm and the sakuras in the tree will wither. Watanuki suggested that the spirit could live in a sakura tree in Doumeki’s place. He also found out that whenever there’s something that can affect his emotions, Doumeki-kun can see it too.

Watanuki had a weird dream of some kind of monster going after him and then, Doumeki - actually, Doumeki’s grandfather rescued him from that monster. He weoke up and found out that Yuko-chan was sitting on him. He thought it was a dream but then an arrow was found beside him. Yuko-chan suggested that he should sell if to the Dream Buyer. The Dream Buyer usually buys dreams and exchanges it for dream balloons. Well, what really happened was Himawari’s dream became his since he gave Madelaine’s in exchange for Himawari sharing her dreams to him. Watanuki then dreamt again of Doemeki’s grandfather and this time, he showed him Doumeki wearing a girl’s kimono. Too bad though since Watanuki did not take itso he does not have a proof.

Bonus!
Watanuki no kawaii shots

Watanuki along with the pipe fox and Karasu tengu group went to rescue thw Zashiki Warashi. He seemed to be losing his conciousness first because of the miasma but was able to overcome it. His oponent was strong but he was able to rescue the Zashiki Warshi, thanks to the pipe fox. But in the end, he still lost his eye. It was eaten by the spider girl. Later, Yuko chan offered him half of Doumeki-kun’s eye. Doumeki kun talked to Yuko chan and told her to give him the half of his eye if ever Watanuki can’t get his eye back.

Conan though of a way to get the criminal. He asked Meguri-keibun to get  4 chairs and he said “shiranpuri”. To foreigners, it sounded like “seat down please”. It seemed like the criminal did not know how to read in English and when he saw the president writing something, he thought that it was something that can be used against him. The criminal was Toby Keynes. His motive was because his gf died due to overwork. Meanwhile, on the FBI side, it seems like Shuiichi is ready to die.

Yuko-san found out that Doumeki has been skipping school to clean the temple of his grandfather. She told Watanuki that he is probably looking for something so that Watanuki could get his eye back. Watanuki went to the temple to see what Doumeki is doing and brought him some leftovers. They accidentally found about this book that could get his eye back but some kind of a spirit who eats important words attacked them. Thanks to Yuko (who was “accidentally” passing by to see how are they doing since Watanuki made some special dinner for Doumeki), they were able to eliminate the spirit but the book lost all the important words. The next day, Watanuki was able to meet a neko onna and she told him that there was a scarmble for his eye in their world. And also on the next day, he met the Karasu tengu group who told him that they wanted to see his Mistress and found out that the Zashiki Warashi was caught. They asked to get into the barrier and had the Tengu fan as compensation. Yuko san said that it’s too much for compensation and let Watanuki to be with them.

XXXholic’s back! Oh, how I missed Watanuki and Doumeki-kun! It started about a spider’s grudge - when Watanuki was helping to clean the temple, his hand got stucked on a spider’s web. Doumeki-kun helped him and he got the web destroyed. Since that day, his eye seems to be unwell, and after school he can’t get his eye open and a spider web-like thread grew out of it. Watanuki was somewhat alarmed and worried and he aasked Yuko-psan for help. The next day, Doemeki-kun’s eye got well but the grudge of the spider was shifted to Watanuki. Doumeki got angry and demanded to see Yuko-san asap. But his effort was futile for Yuko-san did not grant his wish. He then went to seek for the answer on his own by looking at the books on his grandfather’s temple.

The suspects for the murder of a Talent Production President in the New Beika Hotel are

still being investigated. Jodie-sensi came by to help Camel-san and posed as his gf. They

eventually found a clue written in the memo pad that says “Bring My Tux”. Meanwhile, in

the Black Oraganization, Kir was instructed to eliminate Akai Shuiichi.

Bonus:
Gin