Real name: 仲本 興喜 (Nakamoto Kōki)

Japanese comedian, actor and guitarist. Born on July 5, 1941 in Shibuya, Tokyo. While he was a student at Gakushuin University, he was a member of a jazz band led by singer Jerry Fujio. In 1965, he joined the comedy band "The Drifters" where he attracted attention when he sang "Long Tall Sally" as the lead singer at the front of the Beatles' concert in Japan.

An popular commercial variety show "Hachiji Dayo, Zen'inshugo" (8時だョ!全員集合) which begin in 1969 featuring the Drifters members and others performing numerous skits that become a hit. Kōji Nakamoto also famous for his skits on gymnastics, which he had started and originally going to pursue a career while Gakushuin University but went for music instead due to the University lacking any clubs for gymnastics.

He got involved in a traffic accident on a city street in Yokohama on October 18, 2022 and later passed away of an acute subdural hematoma at the hospital on the next day. He was 81 year old.