Nozawa Toru

Nozawa Toru (​野沢トオル) is a Japanese stage actor, writer, and director. He also teaches theater at Japan Newart College.

He began his entertainment career in 1985 as a member of the dance team RA$H. Afterwards, he worked as a back-up dancer and chorus singer for musician. He also began performing with different theater companies over the years, starting with the formation of GEKIDAN! Gee-Hoizu (currently known as Gee-Hoi) in 2000 and Engeki Shuudan Gyan-buy in 2008. From 2008 to 2017, he was also a member of Gekidan Benibara Usagi Dan.

In addition to working in theater, he has worked as an MC director and planner for several Hello! Project idol concerts and events since 2002. In 2018, he became in charge of BEYOOOOONDS' overall performance direction.

Biography
Nozawa Toru was born on November 25, 1966 in Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan.

He got his first grasp of show business at age 8, when he saw a Sakurada Keiko recital at Amakusa City Center. At age 15, he moved by himself to Tokyo, where he attended Horikoshi Gakuen while he joined Act Aoyama Dramatic School to study under actor Atsumi Kuniyasu.

In 1985, Nozawa started street dancing in Harajuku's pedestrian heaven after watching the movie Flashdance. There he was scouted by M2 Planning to debut as a member of the dance group RA$H. The group disbanded in 1993.

From 1994 to 1999, he was a back-up dancer and chorus singer in all of 's concerts, except for his live house tours. Nozawa played an important role in KAN's stage direction, which included friendly characters and various acting styles.

In 2000, he formed GEKIDAN! Gee-Hoizu, which he decided to make as a new type of theater company using elements of what he learned as a member of RA$H. The company name was shortened to Gee-Hoi the following year.

In 2002, Nozawa began working as MC director and planner for Hello! Project idol concerts and events.

In 2008, Nozawa formed the theater company Engeki Shuudan Gyan-buy with actor Takito Kenichi. That same year, he also joined Gekidan Benibara Usagi Dan, who are led by IZAM. He has written and directed almost all of the Gekidan Benibara Usagi Dan productions he has appeared in.

After retiring from Gekidan Benibara Usagi Dan in early 2017, Nozawa wrote and directed the biographical musical minako -Taiyou ni Natta Utahime-. He cast former ANGERME member Tamura Meimi in the starring role.

In 2017, he also began teaching an acting course and theater workshop at Japan Newart College.

In 2018, he became in charge of the overall performance direction of the Hello! Project idol group BEYOOOOONDS. Although Nozawa has written musical lyrics in the past, "Nippon no D・N・A!" for BEYOOOOONDS' debut single are the first lyrics he has written for an artist.

Profile

 * Name: Nozawa Toru (​野沢トオル)
 * Birthdate: November 25, 1966
 * Birthplace: Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan
 * Bloodtype: O
 * Zodiac:
 * Influences: The Drifters
 * Hobby: Golf

Ame no Mori Kawa Umi

 * GIRL ZONE (direction)

BEYOOOOONDS

 * Megane no Otoko no Ko (direction)
 * Nippon no D・N・A! (lyrics, direction)
 * Bunkasai Jikkou Iinchou no Koi (direction)
 * Atsui! (direction)

ANGERME
Credited for stage direction.
 * ANGERME Starting Live Tour 2015 Spring
 * ANGERME First Concert Tour 2015 Aki "Hyakka Ryouran" (and organization)
 * ANGERME First Concert Tour 2015 Aki "Hyakka Ryouran" ~Fukuda Kanon Sotsugyou Special~ (and video direction)
 * ANGERME Concert Tour 2016 Haru "Kyuui Ittai" (and organization, video direction)
 * ANGERME Concert Tour 2016 Haru "Kyuui Ittai" ~Tamura Meimi Sotsugyou Special~ (and organization, video direction)

Hello! Project
Credited for MC direction and planning.
 * Hello! Project 2002 ~Kotoshi mo Sugoi zo!~
 * Hello! Project 2002 ~ONE HAPPY SUMMER DAY~
 * Hello! Project 2003 Winter ~Tanoshin Jattemasu!~
 * Hello! Project 2003 Natsu ~Yossha! Bikkuri Summer!!~
 * Hello! Project 2004 Winter ~C'MON! Dance World~
 * Hello! Project 2004 summer ~Natsu no Doon!~
 * Hello! Project 2005 Winter ~A HAPPY NEW POWER!~
 * Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayou Show -'05 Selection! Collection!-
 * Hello! Project 2006 Winter
 * Hello! Project 2006 Summer ~Wonderful Hearts Land~
 * Hello! Project 2007 Winter
 * Hello! Project 2007 Summer 10th Anniversary Dai Kanshasai ~Hello☆Pro Natsu Matsuri~
 * Hello! Project 2008 Winter
 * Hello! Project 2008 Summer Wonderful Hearts Kouen ~Hishochi de Date Itashima SHOW~
 * Hello! Project 2009 Winter
 * Hello! Project 2009 SUMMER Kakumei Gannen ~Hello! Chanpuru~
 * Hello! Project 2010 WINTER Kachou Fuugetsu
 * Hello! Project 2010 SUMMER ~Fankora!~
 * Hello! Project 2011 WINTER ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~
 * Hello! Project 2011 SUMMER
 * Hello! Project 2012 WINTER Hello☆Pro Tengoku
 * Hello! Project Tanjou 15 Shuunen Kinen Live 2012 Natsu
 * Hello! Project Tanjou 15 Shuunen Kinen Live 2013 Fuyu
 * Hello! Project 2013 SUMMER COOL HELLO!
 * Hello! Project 2014 WINTER
 * Hello! Project 2014 SUMMER
 * Hello! Project 2015 WINTER
 * Hello! Project 2015 SUMMER
 * Hello! Project 2016 WINTER ~DANCING! SINGING! EXCITING!~
 * Hello! Project 2016 SUMMER

Morning Musume
Credited for MC direction.
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2002 Haru "LOVE IS ALIVE!"
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2002 Natsu "LOVE IS ALIVE!"
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2002 Aki "LOVE IS ALIVE!"
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2003 Haru "NON STOP!"
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2003 15nin de NON STOP!
 * Morning Musume CONCERT TOUR 2004 Haru The BEST of Japan
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour "The BEST of Japan Natsu ~ Aki '04"
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Haru ~Dai 6kan Hit Mankai!~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Natsu Aki "Baribari Kyoushitsu ~Koharu-chan Irasshai!~"
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2006 Haru ~Rainbow Seven~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2006 Aki ~Odore! Morning Curry~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Haru ~SEXY 8 Beat~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2007 Aki ~Bon Kyu! Bon Kyu! BOMB~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Single Daizenshuu!!~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Aki ~Resonant LIVE~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2009 Haru ~Platinum 9 DISCO~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2009 Aki ~Nine Smile~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2010 Haru ~Pikappika!~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2010 Aki ~Rival Survival~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2011 Haru Shin Souseiki Fantasy DX ~9ki Mem wo Mukaete~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2011 Aki Ai BELIEVE ~Takahashi Ai Sotsugyou Kinen Special~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~ Niigaki Risa Mitsui Aika Sotsugyou Special
 * Morning Musume Tanjou 15 Shuunen Kinen Concert Tour 2012 Aki ~Colorful Character~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2013 Haru Michishige☆Eleven SOUL ~Tanaka Reina Sotsugyou Kinen Special~
 * Morning Musume Concert Tour 2013 Aki ~CHANCE!~
 * Morning Musume '14 Concert Tour Haru ~Evolution~
 * Morning Musume '14 Concert Tour Aki GIVE ME MORE LOVE ~Michishige Sayumi Sotsugyou Kinen Special~

Theater

 * [2002] Morning Town (Act 2; actor as Bank Clerk Toru-chan)
 * [2003] Ken & Mary no Merikenko on Stage! (actor as Yoshioka Shotaro)

Music Videos

 * [2019] Nippon no D・N・A! - BEYOOOOONDS (cameo)

Trivia

 * Choreographers SHU-110 and Mitsubachi Maki of Furitsukeya Kabuki-mon are former members of Nozama's theater company Gee-Hoi.
 * He taught Kiyono Momohime how to recite her storyteller lines in "Megane no Otoko no Ko" in traditional kodan style. Kiyono wrote on her blog that she is imitating Nozawa when she says "3nin gumi".