Dio Kobayashi
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Dio Kobayashi (小林 睦史 Kobayashi Atsushi?, born August 28, 1972) is a Japanese circus performer. He is the first Japanese circus performer to got member of the World of Top Entertainer tour. He currently works as a circus performer on world wide. Kinosuke Otowa ,Clown Joker are his stage name too.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Personal life
Dio Kobayashi was born in Shiga-chou, Ishikawa prefecture in 1972. After graduating from designing-arts (design class) at Hakui-industrial high school, he became a T.V. camera man only later to change careers to become a stage performer for a production company (event co.). He enrolled at Kinjou University in March 1997, and graduated in Japanese Traditional Art in the Department of Art in 1999. At this time, Dio was also participating in World of Top Entertainer tour.
He transferred from Kinjou University to Columbia College. After completing his graduation examinations at Kinjou University, he moved the activity base to the United States. Dio currently performs for Disney World, The Bolijoy circus, The Taiwan circus, and many other internationally acknowledged names.
He joined the World of Top Entertainer tour as the first Japanese performer. He got the title of Japanese circus performer of the only world class.
[edit] Early career
A new car presentation was being held , and Dio was asked to perform a flying trapeze act above the new automobiles so that it could be filmed and used in their advertisements. Problems had occurred before the job even started. The sponsor did not offer any safety nets. If the performer was to make a mistake, he would fall on the rear view mirrors of the cars. The ropes were set 6 meters high off the ground. Not even the veteran performers were willing to take the offer because they knew this job was too dangerous, even for them. Kobayashi was the only man to raise his hand and take the job. He refuses to say that it was a gamble with his life. “I was confident because I trained with or without safety nets. I had to do it.” Everything went without a hitch, and because of his triumph, he was named ‘Dio’-- the one who accomplished the flying trapeze mission for his life.
[edit] Senior career
Many Americans were impressed with Dio’s somersault acrobatics while holding 2 torches blinded on a rope. Now he plays the part of a bandit on a horse in the Disney series, ‘Mulan‘. Dio participates in the Bolijoy Circus, the Taiwan Circus, and Cirque Du Soleil in Canada as a free entertainer. Recently, he advises T.V. programs for his own shows. “I was most impressed by the powerful performances of the American performers. Magicians, Dancers, Singers, and acrobatic performers all coming together. I want to become a creative entertainer. I do not want to die being just an actor. For me to popularize the creativity of an entertainer in Japan, it would take awhile.” The Hakugin show that took place in June of 2001 was a proud accomplishment for Dio. He showed the people of Japan his talent and it lifted his spirits. He was aiming for the world. “Next time I stage a big event like Hakugin, I hope to perform it with the same group that I inspired. By that time they would be professionals and we would be able to perform the event.” The flares in his eyes seemed to roar as he talked about the true entertainers of the world. He participated in a charity tour, 'Wa', with Musician TOSHI (vocal of X-Japan) in 2001. Dio participated in the production of the animated cartoon ‘Kaleido Star’ as a special adviser in 2002. Junichi Sato ( supervisor of ‘Sailor Moon’ and ‘Ojamajo Doremi’ ) wrote a letter to Dio asking him to participate in ‘Kaleido Star‘. Dio moved to every country in the world while working in the circus. Dio agreed, and production was approved, making the TV animation possible. Moreover, Dio took charge of being a special adviser to the animated cartoon for the first time in this work. Dio said, “I am more of an Introducer than an adviser“. Dio appears as an animated cartoon character in ‘Kaleido Star‘.
In 2003 Dio married Yu-ko, a model of fashion. He stopped the circus player's activities when his daughter was born. During Dio's marriage, he worked a variety of odd jobs. Dio's first major role was in the 2004 musical film Princess Raccoon (2005 Japanese film directed by Seijun Suzuki), playing an itinerant entertainer. He joined the CD work for Japanese musician ‘Ketsumeishi’, a popular musician among young Japanese people. He was in charge of the cast of the CD jacket.In 2005, Dio and Yu-ko divorced.
[edit] Returning to the circus performer
A new livelihood came to pass after the divorce; however, this new life for him and his daughter still posed many problems. The life of being a single father to a 3 year old greatly restricted his life. Though he could not perform, he lives in his daughter as she learns the way of the circus player. There came a time when Dio reclaimed the title of circus player, though it was not physically easy being a man over 30 years old.
[edit] Controversy
In July 1995, during one of Dio’s shows, he had asked a guest to hold a small, cigarette-like roll of paper in his mouth, and Dio would use his whip to remove it out of his mouth. He made a slight mistake, hitting and injuring the man’s nose. It was not a serious accident, and the guest forgave him, but damage had occurred deep in his heart. Since then, the young whip master gave up his whips. Giving up his fame, Dio returned to Ishikawa prefecture to attend Kinjou College for a teachers license.
[edit] Awards and other notables
[edit] PERFORMANCE
'00 Join the DisneyWorld Show
'00 Join The LasVegas Circus Show
'00 Join the Haha Chinese Circus in Taiwan
'00 Join the Circus in Russia
'98 Judge of amateur street performance contest
Volunteer group pierrot factory establishment
'98 Hokkoku Asunaro Beneficence prize winning
'97 International the top Entartenar tour ('97 Japanese representative The world performance tour performer is elected and organized with one excellent person each country of the world)
'97 An excellent prize of the balloon contest was won.
'96 An excellent prize of the balloon contest was won.
Chief lecturer at Kanazawa city citizens art village acrobatics school 1998.
Chief Judge of performance Contest in Sky festa 2002.
etc.
[edit] ART
'97 Dio’s picture was nominated in The 29th ShinInten Japanese Art section.
'97 Dio’s picture was nominated in The 21th Nisouten Japanese Art section.
'98 Dio’s picture was nominated in The 22th Nisouten Japanese Art section.
etc.
[edit] PRODUCE
He designed the display of Christmas of Hokuriku Electric Power Company Alice pavilion.
He did a live performance with Toshi (X-Japan).
He coordinated the model of Japanese singer ‘Ketumeishi’ CD jacket ‘Namida’.
etc.
[edit] BOOKS
Textbook of Circus
Overseas Travel Connected on Road
[edit] MOVIES
Fighter in the Shadow [short film] (2001 USA)
Princess Raccoon (2005 JAPAN)
My Girlfriend is a Cyborg (2008 JAPAN)
