[citation needed] In 1989, he appeared in the television drama Mama Haha Boogie, from which point he started to gain popularity as an actor, which also brought attention to his singing aspirations.
In 1991, he appeared in the enormously popular television drama Tokyo Love Story, a breakout role.
He then became a leading man in Japanese film and television, generally playing the role of a sympathetic character.
His most famous role is Shunsaku Aoshima, a police detective in the Bayside Shakedown film and television drama series.
After the birth, Oda took a break from work for two years to help focus on child rearing.