Ryohei Suzuki's body has been put to the test over the past 12 months.

Last spring, the Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture-born entertainer shed 20 kilograms to prepare for the role of a tuberculosis patient in the TBS drama "Tenno no Ryoriban"("The Emperor's Cook"). Shortly afterward, he gained 30 kg to play overweight high school student Takeo Goda in the live-action film adaption of manga "Ore Monogatari!!" ("My Love Story!!"). The 32-year-old now lives at the gym in preparation for his role as the muscular King Jayavarman VII in the Amon Miyamoto stage production of "Raio no Terasu" ("The Terrace of the Leper King"), the final play by iconic author Yukio Mishima.

"It has been pretty tough," Suzuki tells The Japan Times. "Losing so much weight for 'Tenno no Ryoriban' was the hardest as it went on for about six months. I would wake up at 2 a.m. every day, constantly hungry. Eating the same kind of food and no more than 800 calories daily was mentally draining, whereas gaining weight for 'Ore Monogatari' took its toll physically, particularly on my stomach. I put on around the same amount as Christian Bale did between 'The Machinist' and 'Batman.' Except he had a few months to prepare, I had just 40 days (laughs)."