Team Singapore at SEA Games 2009 - 5 minute walk to breakfast in the Village
Early life
Taenaka was born in Fort Ord, California and raised in Monterey, California. His parents had immigrated from Osaka, Japan. He attended Monterey High School in Monterey, California. Taenaka was a USA Junior National Judo Champion, and represented California at USA Junior National Wrestling Championships.
Career
Taenaka appears on television and film both in Asia and the United States. In Singapore, he starred in the epic World War II television drama, A War Diary about the Japanese occupation of Singapore, where he also received a nomination at the Asian Television Awards in 2002 for Best Drama Performance by an Actor.
Personal life
Taenaka is married to Lim Li Li.
Hosting
Get Drunk In China (2007) Channel News Asia TV Series
Filmography
Actor
2022
The Girl He Never Noticed (TV Mini Series) as
Mr. Takashi
- Do Your Damn Job - Mr. Takashi
2021
Glória (TV Series) as
Bill
- Homem Novo (2021) - Bill (credit only)
- A Toupeira (2021) - Bill
- Virtudes Públicas (2021) - Bill
- A Fuga- (2021) - Bill
- O Infortúnio (2021) - Bill
- Olhar a Lua de Baixo (2021) - Bill
- A Morte Nunca é Natural (2021) - Bill
- A Pátria Não Se Discute (2021) - Bill
- A Confissão Absolve-nos da Culpa (2021) - Bill
- Rumo à Vitória (2021) - Bill
2018
Grisse (TV Series) as
Tanaka
- Episode #1.1 (2018) - Tanaka
- Episode #1.3 - Tanaka
- Episode #1.6 - Tanaka
2018
The Fifth Floor (TV Series) as
Cypress
- Episode #1.12 (2018) - Cypress
- Episode #1.11 (2018) - Cypress
- Episode #1.10 (2018) - Cypress
2017
BRA (TV Mini Series) as
Adrian Tan
2017
Silo (Short) as
Colonel Colin Pang
2017
Halfworlds (TV Mini Series) as
Dr. David
- Episode #2.5 (2017) - Dr. David
2016
Rojak (TV Series) as
Raymond
- Episode #1.7 (2016) - Raymond
- Episode #1.5 (2016) - Raymond
- Episode #1.3 (2016) - Raymond
2014
Banting as
Harry Kosugi (as James Taenaka)
2014
Grace (TV Mini Series) as
Michael
- Episode 3 (2014) - Michael (as James Taenaka)
- Episode 1 (2014) - Michael (as James Taenaka)
2014
Filial Party as
Patrick
2013
Final Defect (Short)(as James Taenaka)
2012
Dead Mine as
Ryuichi
2010
The Pupil (TV Series) as
Terence Goh
- Staying Abreast of the Game (2011) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
- Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender- (2011) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
- The Silent Client (2011) - Terence Goh (as Jimmy T.)
- Maid in Singapore (2011) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
- Security Deposit (2011) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
- The Truth Out There (2011) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
- Pilot - A Matter of Service (2010) - Terence Goh (as James Taenaka)
2011
The Man from Beijing (TV Movie) as
Ya Ru
2010
Tiger Team: The Mountain of the 1000 Dragons as
Herr Bai
2009
Everything Is as It Should Be (Short) as
Ken (as James Taenaka)
2008
Ovunque tu sia (TV Movie) as
Harum Lomar (as James Taenaka)
2008
Kung Fu Killer (TV Movie) as
Bingo
2005
L'empire du tigre (TV Series) as
Tranh (as James Katsuyuki Taenaka)
2004
The Second Singapore Short Story Project (TV Mini Series)(as James Taenaka)
2003
Tequila: The Movie (Video) as
Jason (as James Taenaka)
2001
A War Diary (TV Series) as
Lt. Kenji Kinoshita (as James Taenaka)
2000
Gedo (Video) as
Kursawa (as Jimmy T.)
1999
Martial Law (TV Series) as
Chang
- End Game (1999) - Chang (as Jimmy T)
1998
Main Street as
Boxer (as Jimmy T)
1998
Brooklyn South (TV Series) as
First Hoodlum
- Exposing Johnson (1998) - First Hoodlum
1997
Psycho Sushi as
Nakamura
1997
JAG (TV Series) as
Dick Namakura
- Against All Enemies (1997) - Dick Namakura
1995
Cop Files (TV Movie)(as James Katsuyuki Taenaka)
1995
The Low Life as
Wineshop Clerk (as Jimmy T)
1994
The Shadow as
Cranston Guard (as James Katsuyuki Taenaka)
1994
Lookin' Italian as
Hiro (as Jimmy T)
1993
American Yakuza as
Taka (as James Katsuyuki Taenaka)
1991
Showdown in Little Tokyo as
Hardboy (uncredited)
Stunts
1993
RoboCop 3 (stunts - as James Taenaka)
1991
Showdown in Little Tokyo (stunts - as James Taenaka)