Tetsuo Kurata is a Japanese actor, vocalist, and model born Tetsuo Kakimoto on September 11, 1968, in Tokyo, Japan. He is best known for his work in live-action tokusatsu productions, most famously originating the role of Kotaro Minami, the protagonist of Kamen Rider Black and its sequel Kamen Rider Black RX.

Kurata made his acting debut at the age of 19 when he was cast as Kotaro Minami. He was chosen for the role by Kamen Rider creator Shotaro Ishinomori after winning an open audition that reportedly had over eight thousand contestants. To prepare for the physically demanding role, Kurata underwent intensive training in stage combat, physical exercise, and acting and singing lessons. Kamen Rider Black premiered in October 1987 and ran for fifty one episodes, achieving public and critical acclaim. The success of the series led Toei Company to produce a direct sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX, marking the first time in the franchise that a single actor starred in two consecutive series as the same character.

Beyond the two Black series, Kurata has reprised his role as Kotaro Minami in numerous subsequent Kamen Rider projects. In 2009, he returned to the role in Kamen Rider Decade, appearing as both the original Kotaro Minami and an alternate version of the character, and also made a cameo appearance in the film Kamen Rider Decade: All Riders vs. Dai-Shocker. He later appeared in the 2015 film Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3. His voice work includes providing dialogue for the character in video games such as Kamen Rider: Battride War, Kamen Rider: Climax, and Kamen Rider Climax Fighters. He also voiced Kamen Rider Black RX in the 2020 film Kamen Rider Den-O: Pretty Den-O Appears!. Additionally, Kurata performed theme songs for Kamen Rider Black and related productions.

Outside of the Kamen Rider franchise, Kurata has appeared in various Japanese television dramas and films. Notable roles include Haruki Ushiromiya in the 1991 serial television novel Kimi no Na Wa, Kazuo Akiba in the long-running series Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari, and Tokugawa Munetake in Nogaremono Orin. He also appeared in the Indonesian tokusatsu series Satria Garuda BIMA-X. In 2022, he made an appearance as himself, alongside his Kamen Rider Black character, in the film Kamen Rider Revice: Battle Familia.

Alongside his acting career, Kurata is a restaurateur who owns a steakhouse called Billy the Kid in Tokyo.