chibarashi: Introduce Storm

Origin : Tokyo, Japan
Genres : Pop, rock, R&B
Years active : 1999 (1999)–present
Labels: Pony Canyon, J Storm
Website : j-storm.co.jp/arashi

Arashi (嵐) which means Storm is a Japanese idol group formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates ( Johnny's Entertainment/ JE ), which announced the formation of the group on September 15, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The group was initially signed to Pony Canyon and released one studio album, one greatest hits album and six singles, beginning with their 1999 eponymous debut single, before moving to the Johnny's subsidiary label J Storm in 2001, which was initially set up for their succeeding releases until now.

Kaleidoskop

1999 – 2001 : Debut and departure from Pony Canyon Labels
2002 – present : J Storm and decline in sales
2006 : International activities in Asia ( Arashi Around Asia )
2007 : Returning to the Japanese market
2008 : Growing popularity in Japan
2009 : 10th anniversary
2010 : Arashi JAL ( Boku no Miteiru Fuukei Japan Airline )
2011 : Discovery Japan
2012 : 24 Hour Television ( the 3rd time )

Member

Ohno Satoshi/ 大野智 ( leader / lead vocal )

Sakurai Sho/ 櫻井翔 ( rapper )

Aiba Masaki/ 相葉雅紀

Ninomiya Kazunari/ 二宮和也

Matsumoto Jun/ 松本潤

Single

1. A Ra Shi ( 1999.11.03 )

2. Sunrise NIPPON ( 2000.04.05 )

3. Typhoon Generation ( 2000.07.17 )

4. Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi ( 2000.11.08 )

5. Kimi no Tameni Boku ga Iru ( 2001.04.28 )

6. Jidai ( 2001.08.01 )

7. A Day in Our Life ( 2002.02.06 )

8. NICE na Kokoroiki ( 2002.04.17 )

9. Pika NCHI ( 2002.10.17 )

10.Tomadoinagara ( 2003.02.13 )

11.Hadashi no Mirai/ Kotoba Yori Taisetsu na Mono ( 2003.09.03 )

12.Pika NCHI Double ( 2004. 02.18 )

13.Hitomi wo Naka no GALAXY/ Hero ( 2004.08.18 )

14.Sakura Sake ( 2005.03.23 )

15.Wish ( 2006.11.16 )

16.Kitto Daijoubu ( 2006.05.17 )

17.Aozora Pedal ( 2006.08.02 )

18.Love So Sweet ( 2007.02.21 )

19.We Can Make It ( 2007.02.05)

20.Happiness ( 2007.09.05 )

21.Step And Go ( 2008.02.20 )

22.One Love ( 2008.06.25 )

23.Truth/ Kaze no Mukou e ( 2008.08.20 )

24.Beautiful Days ( 2008.11.05 )

25.Believe/ Kumori Nochi, Kaisei ( 2009.03.04 )

26.Ashita no Kioku/ Crazy Moon~Kimi wa Muteki ( 2009.05.27 )

27.Everything ( 2009.07.01 )

28.My Girl ( 2009.11.11 )

29.Troublemaker ( 2010.03.03 )

30.Monster ( 2010.05.19 )

31.To Be Free ( 2010.07.07 )

32.Love Rainbow ( 2010.09.08 )

33.Dear Snow ( 2010.10.06 )

34.Hatenai Sora ( 2010.11.10 )

35.Lotus (2011.02.23 )

36.Meikyuu Love Song ( 2011.11.02 )

37.Wild at Heart ( 2012.03.07 )

38.Face Down ( 2012.05.09 )

39.Your Eyes ( 2012.06.06 )
40.Calling/ Breathless (2013.03.06)

Album

1. Arashi No.1 Ichigou: Arashi wa Arashi o Yobu! ( 2001.01.24 )

2. Here We Go! ( 2002.07.17 )

3. How's It Going? ( 2003.07.09 )

4. Iza, Now! ( 2004.07.21 )

5. One ( 2005.08.03 )

6. Arashic ( 2006.07.05 )

7. Time ( 2007.07.11 )

8. Dream "A" Live ( 2008.04.23 )

9. Boku no Miteiru Fūkei ( 2010.08.04 )

10.Beautiful World ( 2011.06.15 ) & 7net shopping edition ( 2011.11.28 )
11.Popcorn (2012.10.31)

Compilation Album

1. Arashi Single Collection 1999–2001 ( 2002.05.16 )

2. 5x5 The Best Selection of 2002–2004 ( 2004.11.10 )

3. All the Best! 1999–2009 ( 2009.08.19 )
4. Ura-Ara-Mania (2012.09.20)

Soundtrack Album

1. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack : Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy ( 2002.10.30 )

2. Kiroii Namida Original Soundtrack (2007.04.04 )

Concert

1. Suppin' Arashi

2. All or Nothing

3. How's It Going? Summer Concert 2003

4. 2004 Arashi! Iza, Now Tour!!

5. Arashi Around Asia Thailand-Taiwan-Korea

6. Arashi Around Asia+ in Dome+

7. Summer Tour 2007 Final Time – Kotoba no Chikara

8. Arashi Around Asia 2008 in Tokyo

9. Arashi Anniversary Tour 5x10

10.Arashi 10–11 Tour "Scene": Kimi to Boku no Miteiru Fūkei – Stadium

11.Arashi 10–11 Tour "Scene": Kimi to Boku no Miteiru Fūkei – DOME+

12.Arashi Tour 2011-2012 Beautiful World
13.AraFes - National Stadium 2012
14.Popcorn Tour Concert 2012-2013

Drama

1. V no Arashi

2. Saigo no Yakusoku

Movie

1. Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy

2. Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy

3. Kiroii Namida

Variety shows

Nippon Television

1. Mayonaka no Arashi ( October 3, 2001 to June 26, 2002 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 38

2. C no Arashi ( July 3, 2002 to June 18, 2003 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 51

3. D no Arashi ( uly 2, 2003 to September 28, 2005 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 116

4. G no Arashi ( October 5, 2005 to September 27, 2006 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 51

5. Arashi no Shukudai-kun ( October 2, 2006 to March 22, 2010 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 178

6. Arashi ni Shiyagare ( April 2010 )

Ep. 1 – airing

Fuji Television

1. Nama Arashi: Live Storm ( October 5, 2002 to March 27, 2004 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 76

2. Arashi no Waza-Ari ( April 3, 2004 to March 26, 2005 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 50

3. Mago Mago Arashi ( April 9, 2005 to October 6, 2007 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 125

4. GRA ( Golden Rush Arashi ) ( October 20, 2007 to March 29, 2008 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 23

5. VS Arashi ( April 12, 2008 and, until September 19, 2009 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 73

6. Golden VS Arashi ( October 22, 2009 )

Ep. 1 – airing

Tokyo Broadcasting System ( TBS )

1. USO!? Japan ( April 14, 2001 to September 13, 2003 )

Ep. 1 – Ep. 94

2. Himitsu no Arashi-chan ( April 10, 2008 )

Ep. 1 – airing

Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai ( NHK )

1. Arashi no Ashita ni Kakeru Tabi ( November 23, 2011 )

Ep. 1 – airing

Television specials

Nippon Television

1. Nishikiori & Arashi! Hajimete no N.Y. Gōka Yume no Hi Tour (New York) ( November 26, 2000 )

2. Asa na no ni D no Arashi ( April 3, 2004 )

3. Australia Tairiku Jūdan! Gekitō 3000 Kilo Ultra Strong Game (Australia) ( March 30, 2005 )

4. Odoroki no Arashi! Seiki no Jikken Gakusha Mo Yosoku Fukanō SP ( September 26, 2006 )

5. Odoroki no Arashi! Seiki no Jikken Gakusha Mo Yosoku Fukanō SP2 ( March 23, 2007 )

6. Odoroki no Arashi! Seiki no Jikken Gakusha Mo Yosoku Fukanō SP3 ( October 11, 2007 )

7. Odoroki no Arashi! Seiki no Jikken Gakusha Mo Yosoku Fukanō SP4 ( April 6, 2008 )

8. Odoroki no Arashi! Seiki no Jikken Gakusha Mo Yosoku Fukanō SP5 ( December 28, 2008 )

9. Arashi no Jikken & Shukudai-kun ( December 28, 2008 )

10.Arashi Challenge Week ( October 25, 2009 - November 1, 2009 )

Fuji Television

1. Arashi no Narikiri Baraetei: Inu no Kimochi ni Natte Mimashita Wan! ( January 4, 2002 )

2. Arashi no Inu no Kimochi ni Natte Mimashita Wan Wan　( July 21, 2002 )

3. Asu he no Tobira ( March 31, 2007 )

Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)

1. 2007 Shijō Saidai Sports Dai Kansha Festival ( December 25, 2007 )

2. Hana Yori Dango Special ( June 27, 2008 )

Radio Show

1. Arashi no Kinyōbi - JOLF ( November 5, 1999 - November 26, 1999 )

2. Arashi Oto - FM Tokyo ( April 3, 2000 - September 30, 2002 )

3. Sunday Special Arashi How's It Going? - JFN ( July 6, 2003, July 13, 2003, July 20, 2003 )

4. Shitteru? 24-Jikan - JOLF ( July 28, 2003 - August 1, 2003 )

Name : 相葉雅紀

Name (romaji) : Aiba Masaki

Profession : Actor and singer

Birthdate : 1982-Dec-24

Birthplace : Hanamigawa, Chiba, Japan

Height : 176cm

Weight : 56kg

Star sign : Capricorn

Blood type : AB

Family : Younger brother

Talent agency : Johnny’s Entertainment

Genre : Pop

Occupations : Singer, Actor, TV Personality, Radio Host

Instruments : Harmonica, Saxophone, Guitar

Existence : 1996 – present

Trivia

Only member in Arashi to currently be a regular guest on a variety show other than the ones Arashi hosts themselves. (Tensai! Shimura-ken Doubutsuen)

Background

Aiba was born in Chiba as the first child of his family. He has a younger brother who is four years younger. Aiba was raised by his grandparents until he was four years old because his parents were busy running their newly-opened Chinese Cuisine restaurant then. Prior to joining Johnny & Associates, Aiba watched a program called I Love SMAP (愛ラブSMAP, Ai Rabu SMAP) and saw SMAP playing basketball on television. Wanting to play basketball with them, he sent in the application to join the talent agency himself, without exactly knowing what the agency specialized in until the day of auditions. Aiba became a Johnny’s Jr. in August 1996 at the age of 13.

Aiba began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 13. Prior to his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, Aiba started an acting career when he was cast as the lead role of Gordie for the stage play Stand by Me, which was based on the film of the same name. About five years after his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, he became one of the co-hosts of the variety show Tensai Shimura Dōbutsuen (天才！志村どうぶつ園, Genius! Shimura Zoo) in 2004, making him the first member of Arashi to regularly participate in a variety show not primarily hosted by Arashi.

Career

Music

In collaboration with the other members, he has written the lyrics to "Fight Song" and "5x10". For his solo song "Hello Goodbye", Aiba played the harmonica portion of the song throughout Arashi's Arashi Marks 2008 Dream-A-Live and Arashi Marks Arashi Around Asia 2008 concert tours. Aiba also used to play the saxophone; however, due to the collapse of one of his lungs in 2002, he was forced to stop playing due to the operation he had to undergo.

Stage

Aiba began acting in a 1997 stage play based on an American coming of age film called Stand by Me with future bandmates Jun Matsumoto and Kazunari Ninomiya. In 2005, Aiba took up the lead role of Keiji Takashima (高島啓治, Takashima Keiji), a naive but honest station attendant living in a world after a World War III nuclear war, in Tsubame no Iru Eki (燕のいる駅, A Station with Swallows).In 2007, Aiba portrayed Adam, a shy young man with a heart defect, in Wasurerarenai Hito (忘れられない人, Unforgettable Person). It was the first stage adaptation of the 1993 film Untamed Heart. In early 2008, Aiba was given the lead role of Colin Briggs in the stage play called Greenfingers, which was adapted from the movie of the same name.

Aiba reunited with director Keiko Miyata (宮田慶子, Miyata Keiko), who has been the director for his stage plays since 2005, and took on the lead role for Kimi to Miru Sen no Yume (君と見る千の夢, The Thousand Dreams I Dream With You), which ran from May 5 to May 24, 2010. He portrayed a young man hovering over life and death due to a violent traffic accident.

Drama

In 1997, Aiba made his drama debut portraying Akira, one of the many children left to survive in a city under government lockdown after a mysterious disease wipes out all the adults, in the drama Bokura no Yūki: Miman Toshi (ぼくらの勇気, Our Courage: Miman City). After the announcement of the formation of Arashi in September 1999 and their position as supporters for the 1999 Volleyball World Cup competition, all five members starred together for the first time in the volleyball-centered short drama V no Arashi.

Although Aiba was featured in a number of dramas such as Mukodono 2003 (ムコ殿2003, The Son-in-Law 2003) and Yankee Bokō ni Kaeru (ヤンキー母校に帰る, Drop-out Teacher Returns to School), he became more known for his appearances in variety shows instead and went on to focus on stage productions after Yankee Bokō ni Kaeru.

On August 2, 2009, it was announced that Aiba would not only act in his first drama series in nearly six years but also star as the lead actor for the first time. In My Girl, Aiba portrayed a young man who discovers that he has a five-year-old daughter after receiving the news that his girlfriend, who he has not seen in six years, was killed in an accident.

In January 2010, Aiba co-starred with the other members of Arashi in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku. He portrayed Akira Tanada (棚田昭, Tanada Akira), a 28-year-old coffee shop employee who is caught up in a building hijack.

Film

Variety Show Host

In 2004, Aiba became a regular part of Ken Shimura's variety show Tensai Shimura Dōbutsuen. With co-hosts of the show such as Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, Sayaka Aoki and Becky, Aiba interacts with various wild animals such as tigers, pandas and crocodiles in zoos both in and out of Japan such as Singapore, South Africa, Philippines and Indonesia.

Field Navigator

From July 18 to July 19, 2009, Aiba was appointed a Field Navigator for the Gymnastics Japan Cup 2009 (体操Japan Cup 2009, Taisō Japan Cup 2009). He was once again a navigator on October 18, 2009 for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2009: London Rally (世界体操選手権2009 ロンドン大会, Sekai Taisō Senshuken 2009 Rondon Taikai).

In July 2010, Aiba was a Field Navigator for the Gymnastics Japan Cup 2010 (体操Japan Cup 2010, Taisō Japan Cup 2010).

Radio

Since October 5, 2001, Aiba has his own radio show Arashi's Aiba Masaki no Rekomen! Arashi Remix, which currently broadcasts on JOQR. On May 17, 2009, Aiba hosted a special radio program on Tokyo FM called Muteki no Aiba-kun (ムテキの相葉クン!, Invincible Aiba)

Filmography

Drama

( 1997 )Bokura no Yuki: Miman Toshi as Akira

( 1998 )Shonentachi as Kei Matsushita

( 1999 )V no Arashi as Masaki Aiba *

( 2001 )Mukodono 2003 as Ryo Takeyama

( 2002 )Shonen Taiya: Second Story - Gypsy as Roku

( 2002 )Shonen Taiya: Third Story - Aoki-san Uchi no Oku-san as Masaki

( 2003 )Kaigo Kazoku: Hana, Sakimakka as Akira Mataki

( 2003 )Gekidan Engimono: Eleventh Story - Kuru ga Mama as Kazuya *

( 2003 )Yoiko no Mikata as Akira Mataki

( 2003 )Yankee Boko ni Kaeru as Tetsuji Yashiki

( 2006 )Triple Kitchen as Eisaku Odajima

( 2006 )Kuitan Special as Extra

( 2009 )My Girl as Masamune Kazama *

( 2010 )Saigo no Yakusoku as Akira Tanada *

( 2010 )Freeter, Ie o Kau as Hirata

( 2011 )Bartender as Ryu Sasakura*

( 2011 )21 nin no Wa~Shinsai no Naka no 6-nensei to Sensei no Kiroku~ as Documentary narrator*
( 2012 )Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri as Katayama Yoshitaro*
( 2013 )Last Hope as Hatano Takumi*

*as a lead role

Film

( 1998 )Shinjuku Shonen Tantei-dan as Sosuke Hashiba

( 2002 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy as Shun Okano *

( 2004 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy as Shun Okano*

( 2007 )Kiiroi Namida as Shoichi Inoue*

( 2011 )Nippon Rettou: Ikimonotachi no Monogatari as Documentary narrator*

*as a lead role

Stage

( 1997 )Stand By Me as Gordie *

( 2005 )Tsubame no Iru Eki as Keiji Takashima *

( 2007 )Wasurerarenai Hito as Adam *

( 2009 )Green Fingers as Colin Briggs *

( 2010 )Kimi to Miru Sen no Yume as Haruya Ikebe *

*as a lead role

Award

( 2010 )13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Fall 2009) - Best Actor ( My Girl )*

( 2010 )TV Navi Drama Awards (Fall 2009) - Best Newcomer ( My Girl )*

*won

Name : 松本潤

Name (romaji) : Matsumoto Jun

Nicknames : Matsujun, Junji, King [by all Arashi], Jun~Chan, Matsumoto~kun

Profession : Actor, singer

Birthdate : 1983-Aug-30

Birthplace : Toshima, Tokyo, Japan

Height : 173cm

Weight : 58kg

Star sign : Virgo

Blood type : A

Family : Older sister

Talent agency : Johnny’s Entertainment

Genre : Pop

Occupations : Singer, Actor, Radio Host

Existence : 1996 – present

Trivia

He is one of the few elites in Johnny's to have joined without an audition

Background

Matsumoto was born in Toshima, Tokyo as the youngest child in his family. He has an older sister whose support of Kinki Kids influenced his decision to join Johnny & Associates in 1996. Thinking it might bode good luck, he sent his application to the agency on his elementary school graduation day and received a phone call weeks later from president Johnny Kitagawa himself, inviting him to attend a rehearsal instead of being auditioned. Due to this, Matsumoto is frequently referred to as one of the elite within the agency. Matsumoto graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen, a renowned high school known for its many performing arts alumnae such as Kyoko Fukada and Ai Kato, in March 2002 at the age of 18.

Matsumoto began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 12. Prior to his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, Matsumoto started an acting career when he was cast as Teddy Duchamp for the stage play Stand by Me, which was based on the fil of the same name. Since then, he has went on to appear in numerous dramas and movies, receiving a number of award and nominations for his roles.

Career

Music

Although the majority of Matsumoto's solos for albums and concerts are written by Arashi's staff, he has contributed lyrics for two of his solos: "La Familia" for the 2004 Arashi! Iza, Now Tour!! and "Naked" in 2008 for the album Dream "A" Live under the penname "Jun"

Stage

In 1997, Matsumoto was cast in his first stage play, which was based on the American coming of age film Stand by Me with future bandmates Masaki Aiba and Kazunari Ninomiya. He did not return to do any major stage productions for nearly seven years after Stand by Me, instead focusing on dramas and movies. However, in 2004, Matsumoto appeared in the stage play West Side Story with bandmates Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai. In 2005 and 2006, Matsumoto was given his first lead stage play roles in Eden no Higashi (エデンの東, East of Eden) and Byakuya no Onna Kishi (白夜の女騎士, Valkyrie of the White Night) respectively.

Drama

Like bandmate Sakurai, Matsumoto made his acting debut as a television actor in April 1997 in the TBS drama special Hoken Chousain (保険調査員, Insurance Investigator). A few months later, he co-starred with the members of KinKi Kids and future bandmate Masaki Aiba in the mystery-thriller series Bokura no Yūki: Miman Toshi (ぼくらの勇気, Our Courage: Miman City).

Matsumoto gained further popularity as an actor in 2002 when he starred in the first season of Gokusen with Yukie Nakama, Shun Oguri, Tomohiro Waki, Hiroki Narimiya and Yuma Ishigaki. His portrayal of the troubled but highly intelligent student, Shin Sawada, drew acclaim and won him Best Supporting Actor at the 33rd Television Drama Academy Awards. He later returned with most of the original cast to star in the special epilogue episode in 2003. Soon after, his character also made a cameo in Sakurai's comedy series Yoiko no Mikata (よい子の味方, Ally of Good Children). In the same year, Matsumoto took another high-profile role in the live-action adaptation of manga series Kimi wa Pet as Takeshi "Momo" Goda, starring opposite Koyuki.

In 2005, Matsumoto took the most prominent role of his career to date when he was cast as Tsukasa Domyōji in the live-action adaptation of shōjo manga Hana Yori Dango. Co-starring opposite Mao Inoue, Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda and Tsuyoshi Abe, the series was a success with an average viewership rating of 19.6%. Matsumoto's portrayal as the air-headed and arrogant leader of four heirs to billionaire business empires won him Best Supporting Actor again at the 47th Television Drama Academy Awards.

In 2007, due to the success of Hana Yori Dango, it spawned a second season, which was an even bigger hit with television audiences as it had a peak rating of 27.6% on the final episode and an overall rating of 21.57%. Matsumoto won Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for his role. The same year, Matsumoto starred in Bambino!, which won him his first Best Actor award at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards.

In 2008, he re-united with Bambino! co-star Karina for the drama special Myū no Anyo Papa ni Ageru (みゅうの足パパにあげる, Myū will Give Daddy Her Legs), which aired as part of the 24-hour Television telethon in 2008. He portrayed a man diagnosed with CIDP struggling to recuperate and return to normal life with his wife and young daughter. The drama special received a viewership rating of 25.6%.

In 2009, Matsumoto starred in his first drama series in nearly two years. He portrayed Vito Hayakawa (早川ビト, Hayakawa Vito), a half-Japanese, half-Filipino young man who always faces life with a smile in the drama Smile. Matsumoto subsequently won Best Actor for his role in the 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix. Fuji TV announced on September 10, 2009 that Matsumoto would star in a three-part drama special called Wagaya no Rekishi (わが家の歴史, History of our Family) scheduled to air for three consecutive days in the spring of 2010.

In January 2010, Matsumoto co-starred with the other members of Arashi in their first drama in nearly ten years in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku (最後の約束, Last Promise). Matsumoto portrayed Nozomu Gotō (後藤望, Gotō Nozomu), a 27-year-old motorcycle courier rider who is caught up in a building hijack. It was announced on May 28, 2010 that Matsumoto will co-star with Yūko Takeuchi in his first Getsuku drama titled Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku (夏の恋は虹色に輝く, Summer Love Shines in Rainbow Colors). He made a guest appearance on the final episode of bandmate Ohno's drama Kaibutsu-kun (怪物くん, Little Monster), which is based on the Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun manga and anime series.

Film

Matsumoto appeared on the silver screen for the first time a year later in Shinjuku Tanteidan Shōnen (新宿少年探偵団, Shinjuku Boy Detectives) but his breakthrough did not come until 2001 when he was cast as Hajime Kinda'ichi in the third season of Kinda'ichi Shōnen no Jikenbo, taking over the role from Tsuyoshi Domoto and co-starring opposite Anne Suzuki.

In 2002, Arashi co-starred in their first movie together called Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy (ピカ☆ンチ Life is HardだけどHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard But Happy). They came together again for its sequel Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy (ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is HardだからHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard Therefore Happy) in 2004. He also starred in the film Tokyo Tower as a womanizer with a preference for older women with Junichi Okada the same year.

In 2007, Arashi starred in their third movie together Kiiroi Namida while Matsumoto was cast in the independent film Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru with Nana Eikura as his co-star. He portrayed the lead character Yori Yūki (結城頼, Yūki Yori), a high school student who falls in love and develops a romantic relationship with his younger twin sister.

In 2008, Matsumoto took on his first jidaigeki role in a re-make of Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress, Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess, with award-winning actors Hiroshi Abe, Kippei Shiina and Masami Nagasawa. Soon after, TBS decided to end the Hana Yori Dango series through a film. Hana Yori Dango Final, which hit the big screen on June 28, 2008 in Japan, became a box office hit.

Radio

Matsumoto has his own radio show, Jun Style, on Nack5 since October 5, 2002.

Filmography

Drama

( 1997 )Bokura no Yūki: Miman Toshi as Mori

( 1998 )Hitsuyō no Nai Hito as Takuji Ohno

( 1999 )Kowai Nichiyōbi: Furugiya

( 1999 )V no Arashi as Jun Matsumoto*

( 2001 )Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo 3 as Hajime Kindaichi*

( 2002 )Gokusen as Shin Sawada

( 2003 )Yoiko no Mikata as Shin Sawada

( 2003 )Kimi wa Pet as Momo/Takeshi Goda

( 2005 )Hana Yori Dango as Tsukasa Dōmyōji*

( 2005 )Propose: Story One - First story of mini-drama

( 2005 )Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari: Story Five - Imakiyo-san*

( 2007 )Hana Yori Dango 2 as Tsukasa Dōmyōji*

( 2007 )Bambino! as Shogo Ban*

( 2008 )Myu no Anyo Papa ni Ageru as Hayato Yamaguchi*

( 2009 )Smile as Vito Hayakawa*

( 2010 )Saigo no Yakusoku as Nozomu Gotō *

( 2010 )Wagaya no Rekishi as Yoshio Yame

( 2010 )Kaibutsu-kun as Kaibutsu-kun's butler

( 2010 )Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku as Taiga Kusunoki*

( 2012 )Lucky Seven as Shuntaro Tokita*
( 2013 )Lucky Seven SP as Shuntaro Tokita*

*as a lead role

Film

( 1998 )Shinjuku Shōnen Tanteidan

( 2002 )Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy as Rentarō Futaba (Bon)*

( 2004 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy as Rentarō Futaba (Bon)*

( 2005 )Tokyo Tower as Kōji

( 2007 )Boku wa Imōto Ni Koi wo Suru as Yori Yūki*

( 2007 )Kiiroi Namida as Yūji Katsumada*

( 2008 )Kakushi Toride no San’akunin: The Last Princess as Musashi*

( 2008 )Hana Yori Dango Final as Tsukasa Dōmyōji*

( 2010 )Wagaya no Rekishi as Yoshio Yame

( 2013 )Hidamari no Kanojyo as Okuda Kosuke*

*as a lead role

Stage

( 1997 )Stand By Me as Teddy

( 2004 )West Side Story as Bernardo

( 2005 )East of Eden as Carl Trask*

( 2006 )Byakuya no Valkyrie as Sasuke Kūhibi*

( 2011 )Aa, Kōya as a boxer*

*as a lead role

Award

( 2002 )33rd Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actor (Gokusen)*

( 2005 )47th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actor (Hana Yori Dango)*

( 2007 )10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter) - Best Supporting Actor (Hana Yori Dango 2)*

( 2007 ) 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (Bambino!)*

( 2007 ) 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring) - Best Actor (Bambino!)

( 2008 )GQ Japan Men of the Year 2008 Awards - GQ Man Of The Year Award 2008 (Hana Yori Dango series)*

( 2009 )13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring) - Best Actor (Smile)*

( 2009 )61st Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (Smile)

*won

Name : 二宮和也

Name (romaji) : Ninomiya Kazunari

Nickname : Nino

Profession : Actor, singer, songwriter, showhost

Birthdate : 1983-Jun-17

Birthplace : Katsushika City, Tokyo, Japan

Height : 168cm

Weight : 49kg

Star sign : Gemini

Blood type : A

Family : Older sister

Talent agency : Johnny’s Entertainment

Genre : Pop

Occupations : Singer, Actor, Song Writer Seiyu, Radio Host

Instruments : Piano, Drum, Guitar

Existence : 1996 – present

Trivia

First JE talent to star in a Hollywood movie, Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

Background

Ninomiya was born in Katsushika, Tokyo as the youngest child of his family. His father and mother were both working as chefs when they met and his sister is two year older than him. His parents divorced early in his life and his father left the family soon after. When Ninomiya was born, his grandfather immediately came home and named him the heir to the family's windshield factory since he was his grandfather's only grandson. However, when

Ninomiya was twelve years old, his cousin sent in an application to Johnny & Associates without his knowledge. After attending and passing the auditions due to his mother's bribery, he joined the

talent agency. Ninomiya graduated from high school in March 2002 at the age of 18. Ninomiya's parents were Yukio Hattori's (of Iron Chef fame) teachers, and Ninomiya also mentioned that he has never tasted bad cooking from his mother.

Ninomiya began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 13. Prior to his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, Ninomiya started an acting career when he was cast as Ch

ris for the stage play Stand by Me, which was based on the film of the same name. Since then, he has went on to appear in numerous drama, movie and stage productions, making him known as the actor of Arashi. Described as an actor who can act with his mouth and eyes, Ninomiya has won a number of awards and nominations for his roles.

Career

Music

In 2004, Ninomiya penned and composed "Kako" (痕跡)for his solo performance during Arashi's Iza, Now!! tour. Although Arashi's fifth studio album One was the first of their albums to feature solo songs of each member, Ninomiya did not provide lyrics or music for official release until the Time album almost two years later.

In 2007, the group's eighteenth single "Love So Sweet" was released with the limited edition containing the bonus song "Fight Song" (ファイトソング, "Faito Songu"), which was written by Arashi and composed by Ninomiya in 2006 for their variety

show G no Arashi. On July 11, 2007, the Time album was released with the limited edition containing solo song of each member. Ninomiya wrote the lyrics to his solo song, "Niji" (虹, "Rainbow"), and played the piano portion of the song throughout Arashi's summer tour. He later reprised the performance throughout Arashi's second Asia Tour in 2008.

In 2008, Ninomiya composed, co-arranged and penned the lyrics for his solo "Gimmick Game". In 2010, Ninomiya also composed, co-arranged and penned the lyrics for his solo "1992*4##111". According to Ninomiya himself, the title is read as tokubetsu (特別, "special").

Stage

Ninomiya began his acting career in a 1997 stage play based on the American coming of age film Stand by Me with future bandmates Masaki Aiba and Jun Matsumoto. He did not return to do any major stage productions for nearly seven years after Stand by Me, instead focusing on dramas. However, in 2004, Ninomiya appeared in his first lead role in the stage play Shibuya Kara Tooku Hanarete (シブヤから遠く離れて). From April 3, 2005 to May 4, 2005, he took up Rebel Without a Cause, playing the James Dean character Jim Stark.

From July 18, 2009 to August 11, 2009, Ninomiya appeared in his first stage play in four years. He starred as the psychopathic murderer Bruno in Mishiranu Jōkyaku (見知らぬ乗客, Strangers on a Train), which was based on the novel of the same name.

Drama

In 1998, he made his television debut as a fifteen-year-old runaway in the TBS television movieJust a few months before his debut with Arashi, he was given his first lead role in the drama Abunai Hōkago (あぶ Amagi Goe (天城越え, Crossing Mt. Amagi).

ない放課後, Dangerous After School) with Subaru Shibutani acting as his stepbrother. His schedule became packed, causing him to lose 7 kg in a month as a result. From October 11, 1999 to October 29,

1999, because Arashi were the main supporters for the 8th World Cup of Volleyball Champ

ionships, all five members co-starred together for the first time in the volleyball-centered short drama V no Arashi (Vの嵐).

From 2003 to 2005, Ninomiya continued to appear in a wide range of dramas. He played a student who found himself to be one of the last four virgins left at school in the comedy series Stand Up!!, a boyfriend of a girl who mysteriously shrunk into a size of merely six

teen centimeters tall in the romance series Minami-kun no Koibito (南くんの恋人, Minami's Girlfriend) and a young man who accidentally killed his mother and developed an estranged relationship with his father as a result in the human drama series Yasashii Jikan (優しい時間, Affectionate Time)

In 2006, Ninomiya starred in the drama special Sukoshi wa, Ongaeshi ga Dekitakana (少しは、恩返しができたかな, Have I Returned a Bit of My Gratitude?), which was based on the true story of young man named diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma. He went on to appear in two different films for the rest of 2006 before taking up Haikei, Chichiue-sama (拝啓、父上様, Dear Father) on January 11, 2007.

During the summer of 2007, he and fellow Arashi bandmate Sho Sakurai co-starred together in the manga-based comedy drama Yamada Tarō Monogatari.

Ninomiya played the title character Tarō Yamada (山田太郎, Yamada Tarō), an extremely poor student attending a school for the rich. Soon after—whilst juggling rehearsals for Arashi's upcoming concerts—he acted as the lead in the drama special Marathon (マラソン, Marason), which was based on the true story of an autistic young man training to become a marathon runner.

After a year without any acting roles, other than a small guest appearance in bandmate Satoshi Ohno's first lead drama Maō, Ninomiya finally took up the

main role in the drama Ryūsei no Kizuna with Ryo Nishikido and Erika Toda acting as his younger siblings. The three played the children of parents who were murdered long ago by an nameless man. Readers, reporters and critics of the 59th Television Drama Academy Awards panel recognized his role as the oldest vengeful sibling and awarded him Best Actor. His Ryūsei no Kizuna role also earned him an Outstanding Actor nomination in the drama category in the 49th Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

In spring 2009, Ninomiya starred as the lead in the third and final of the TBS kandō (感動, "moving") drama special trilogy Door to Door, with the first and second being Sukoshi wa, Ongaeshi ga Dekitakana and Marathon respectively. The drama special was based on the true story of Bill Porter, an American door-to-door salesman who achieved the highest sales for his company despite suffering from cerebral palsy. His roles in Door to Door and Ryūsei no Kizuna won him the Individual Award in the television category of th

e 46th Galaxy Awards, a first for a Johnny's talent and the first by an actor in his twenties. Ninomiya began filming for the drama special Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara (天国で君に逢えたら, If I Can Meet You in Heaven) in April 2009.However, the special, which saw Ninomiya's first time playing a psychiatrist, did not air on television until September 24, 2009.

In January 2010, Ninomiya co-starred with the other members of Arashi in their first drama in nearly ten years in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku. Ninomiya portrayed Shūji Yamagiwa (山際修司, Yamagiwa Shūji), a 27-year-old temporary security center employee who is caught up in a building hijack. On September 20, 2010, he will make a guest appearance on the last episode of bandmate Matsumoto and Yūko Takeuchi's getsuku drama Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku (夏の恋は虹色に輝く, Summer Love Shines in Rainbow Colors)

Ninomiya will star in the drama Freeter, Ie o Kau (フリーター、家を買う。, Part-time Worker, Buys a House), his first serial drama since Ryūsei no Kizuna (2008)

, with Karina as his co-star. With Ninomiya portraying a freeter named Seiji Take (武誠治, Take Seiji), the drama will start airing in October 2010.

Film

In 2002, he made his motion picture debut in Arashi's first movie together, Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy (ピカ☆ンチ Life is HardだけどHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard But Happy).Ninomiya next took to the screen as Shuichi, a high school student trying to get rid of his abusive stepfather, in the 2003 film Ao no Honō with Aya Matsuura as his co-star. In 2004, Arashi came together again to reprise their respective roles for the sequel of Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy, Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy (ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is HardだからHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard Therefore Happy).

2006 proved to be a productive year for Ninomiya as he became the first artist from Johnny's & Associates to debut in Hollywood. He played a reluctant soldier called Saigo in Clint Eastwood'sAcademy Award-nominated Letters from Iwo Jima with Academy Award-nominated actor Ken Watanabe. His performance was praised by many film critics, som

e of which include RogerEbert.com editor Jim Emerson ("thoroughly winning"), Claudia Puig of USA Today ("also superb"), James Berardinelli ("another performer worth singling out")and Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter ("who is just terrific").On January 7, 2007, New York TimesA. O. Scott listed Ninomiya as an ideal Oscar candidate for Best Supporting Actor. On October 24, 2006, a couple months after returning from filming Letters from Iwo Jima in the United States, he debuted as a seiyū, lending his voice to main character Black in the Michael AriasTekkon Kinkreet. animated film film critic

In 2007, all the members of Arashi co-starred in their third movie t

ogether, Kiiroi Namida (黄色い涙, Yellow Tears), with Ninomiya playing the main role of an aspiring manga artist.

On October 8, 2009, it was announced that Ninomiya is set to star in the two live-action adaptations of the manga Gantz. He will star as Kei Kurono,

a young man who is hit by a subway train and becomes part of a semi-posthumous "game" with other deceased people. With Kenichi Matsuyama as his co-star, part one and two of the Gantz movies are expected to open in theaters in the winter and spring of 2011 respectively. Months later, on December 23, 2009, it was announced that Ninomiya will star in another movie slated to open in theaters in Japan on October 1, 2010. With Kou Shibasaki as his co-star, Ninomiya will play Hiroyuki Mizuno (水野祐之進, Mizuno Hiroyuki), a young man living in a matriarchal society due to a disease that killed most of the male population, in the live-action adaptation of Fumi Yoshinaga'sŌoku: The Inner Chambers manga. award-winning

Radio

Ninomiya has his own radio show, Bay Storm, since October 4, 2002. The show is currently airing every Sunday on Japan's BayFM, in which he often plays his own renditions of Arashi's songs as well as songs by other artists.

Filmography

Drama

( 1998 )Amagi Goe asTakichi Nishinōra (child)

( 1998 )Nijuroku ya Mairi

( 1998 )Akimahende asTaiki Aoki

( 1999 )Abunai Houkago as Katsuyuki Natsuki*

( 1999 )Kowai Nichiyoubi

( 1999 )V no Arashi as Kazunari Ninomiya*

( 2000 )Namida o Fuite as Kenta Fuchigami

( 2001 )Handoku as Nobu Sakaguchi

( 2003 )Netsuretsu Teki Chūka Hanten as Kenta Nanami

( 2003 )Stand Up!! as Shōhei Asai*

( 2004 )Minami-kun no Koibito as Susumu Minami

( 2005 )Yasashii Jikan as Takuro Wakui

( 2006 )Sukoshi wa, Ongaeshi ga Dekitakana as Kazunori Kitahara*

( 2007 )Haikei, Chichiue-sama as Ippei Tahara*

( 2007 )Marathon as Shōtaro Miyata*

( 2007 )Yamada Tarō Monogatari as Taro Yamada*

( 2008 )Maō as Masayoshi Kumada <Cameo>

( 2008 )Ryūsei no Kizuna as Kōichi Ariake*

( 2009 )Door to Door as Hideo Kurasawa*

( 2009 )Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara as Junichi Nonogami*

( 2010 )Saigo no Yakusoku as Shūji Yamagiwa*

( 2010 )Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku <Cameo>

( 2010 )Freeter, Ie o Kau as Seiji Take*

( 2011 )Freeter, Ie o Kau SP as Seiji Take*

( 2012 )Kuruma Isu de Boku wa Sora wo Tobu as Hasebe Yasuyuki*

*as a lead role

Film

( 2002 )Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy as Takuma Onda

( 2003 )Ao no Honōas Shuichi Kushimori*

( 2004 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happyas Takuma Onda

( 2006 )Letters from Iwo Jima as Saigo< Hollywood debut >

( 2006 )Tekkon Kinkreet as Black* <Dubber>

( 2007 )Kiiroi Namida as Eisuke Muraoka*

( 2009 )Heaven's Door <Cameo>

( 2010 )Ōoku as Hiroyuki Mizuno*

( 2011 )Gantz as Kei Kurono *

( 2011 )Gantz: Perfect Answer as Kei Kurono *

( 2013 )Platina Data as Ryuhei Kagura*

*as a lead role

Stage

( 1997 )Stand By Me as Chris

( 2004 )Shibuya Kara Tooku Hanarete as Naoya*

( 2005 )Rebel Without a Cause as Jim Stark*

( 2009 )Mishiranu Jōkyaku as Bruno*

*as a lead role

Award

( 2003 )10th Rendora 110Award - Best Actor ( Stand Up!! )*

( 2005 )8th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter) - Best Supprting Actor ( Yasashii Jikan )

( 2005 )16th Rendora 110Award - Best Supporting Actor ( Yasashii Jikan )*

( 2007 )15th Hashida Awards - Hashida Award ( Sukoshi wa, Ongaeshi ga Dekitakana )*

( 2007 )10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Winter) - Best Actor ( Haikei, Chichiue-sama )*

( 2007 )52nd Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Haikei, Chichiue-sama )

( 2007 )11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Summer) - Best Actor ( Yamada Taro Monogatari )*

( 2007 )54th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor( Yamada Taro Monogatari )

( 2007 )Monthly Galaxy Awards (September) - Galaxy Award ( Marathon )*

( 2007 )62nd Cultural Affairs Award - Hōsō Kojin Award ( Marathon )*

( 2008 )12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Fall) - Best Actor ( Ryūsei no Kizuna )*

( 2008 )59th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Ryūsei no Kizuna )*

( 2008 )49th Monte-Carlo Television Festival - Outstanding Actor Drama ( Ryūsei no Kizuna )

( 2009 )46th Galaxy Awards - Individual Award ( Ryūsei no Kizuna, Door to Door )*

( 2011 )14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Fall) - Best Actor ( Freeter, Ie o Kau )*

( 2011 )67th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Freeter, Ie o Kau )*

*won

Name : 大野智

Name (romaji) : Ohno Satoshi

Nicknames : Ridaa (Leader) / Captain / Oh~Chan / Satoshi-kun / Samii (By Nino)

Profession : Actor, singer and show host

Birthdate : 1980-Nov-26

Birthplace : Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan

Height : 166cm

Weight : 49kg

Blood type : A

Star sign: Sagittarius

Family : Older sister

Talent agency : Johnny’s Entertainment

Genre : Pop

Occupations : Singer, Actor, Artist, Radio Host, Host, Dancer, Choreographer

Existence : 1994 – present

Trivia

First JE Talents to open own art exhibition title "Freestyle"

Best singer and dancer in JE

First Arashi member who has own Solo Concert

Background

Ohno was born in Mitaka, Tokyo as the youngest child of his family. He has one older sister. During middle school, his mother sent in his application to Johnny & Associates without his knowledge. An invitation to audition was sent back to Ohno, and he subsequently became a trainee in October 1994. In order to focus on the stage play Kyo to Kyo, which ran from 1997 to 1998 during his trainee days, he withdrew from high school and moved to Kyoto.

Born in Mitaka, Tokyo, Ohno began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1994 at the age of 13. Ohno started an acting career in 1997 when he was cast to be part of the stage play Kyo to Kyo. In 2008, almost nine years after his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, Ohno became the first and the only artist from Johnny's to hold and open his own art exhibit titled "Freestyle" and received his first starring role in a Japanese television drama, for which he earned a handful of Best Actor awards.

Career

Music

Before his music debut with Arashi, Ohno wanted to resign from Johnny & Associates. However, then-president Johnny Kitagawa asked him to help out with a song recording and to pack up for a trip to Hawaii, which turned out to be the place where the press conference announcing the formation of Arashi was held. With Ohno at the age of 18 at the time, Arashi was officially formed on September 15, 1999 and made their CD debut on November 3, 1999. Since much of his trainee days was spent in Kyoto, he was the least known member during Arashi's early days. Ohno is the lead vocalist of Arashi. Although his music career is primarily with Arashi, he had solo concert called 3104 (which can be read as his name Satoshi in Japanese) in 2006 and became the first member in Arashi to release a solo single in 2009. He has also choreographed a few dances for Arashi's concerts, such as the dance for the song "Carnival Night Part 2".

Ohno also is the only member in the group that has released his own solo single for his previous drama soundtrack Uta no Onii-san title Kumorinochi, Kaisei by Yano Kenta starring Satoshi Ohno

Ohno provided the vocals to the insert song "Yukai Tsukai Kaibutsu-kun" (ユカイツーカイ怪物くん), which was released on July 7, 2010 as a single, for the drama Kaibutsu-kun. On the Oricon daily singles chart, the single debuted at number-two behind Arashi's "To Be Free" and sold around 59,000 copies on the first day.

Stage

In 1997, Ohno was a cast member of Kyo to Kyo with Musical Academy (MA) leader Shingo Machida (町田慎吾, Machida Shingo) and continued to act in other stage productions such as Koichi Dōmoto's Mask and Shōnentai's Playzone after Kyo to Kyo was over.Since then, he has done a number of stage plays such as the Pū (プーシリーズ, Wind) series, West Side Story with bandmates Sho Sakurai and Jun Matsumoto, and Amatsukaze (アマツカゼ).

In 2006, Ohno starred in Tensei Kunpū, another play that was part of the Pū series. He portrayed Kaoru Kazamine (風峰薫, Kazamine Kaoru), a man who was accidentally sent back to the Edo period of Japan through a system malfunction.

Drama

In 1999, Ohno made his drama debut in the volleyball-centered short drama V no Arashi (Vの嵐), which was Arashi's first drama together.

Although Ohno has appeared in the fewest dramas out of all the members, Ohno was given his first starring role in the 2008 suspense drama Maō. He co-starred with Johnny's Jr. member Toma Ikuta and portrayed a two-faced lawyer who sought for revenge against the person who murdered his brother years ago. Soon after in 2009, he was given another starring role in his first comedy drama Uta no Oniisan (歌のおにいさん, Brother of Song). With Kanjani Eight member Ryuhei Maruyama as his co-star, Ohno played a musician who unexpectedly becomes "Uta no Oniisan" for a children's program after being dumped by his girlfriend, kicked out of his band and labeled useless by his family.

On September 4, 2009, it was announced that a select number of different artists from Johnny's would take turns participating in a television mini-drama project on Fuji Television from October 23, 2009 to April 2010. Entitled 0 Gōshitsu no Kyaku (0号室の客, Guest in Room 0), Ohno starred in the first story called "Akogare no Otoko" (憧れの男, Yearning Man), which ran for four episodes in total. The first story was about a salaryman and a club hostess visiting a strange "Room 0" that can reveal anyone's "grade" as a human being.

In January 2010, Ohno co-starred with the other members of Arashi in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku (最後の約束, Last Promise). Ohno portrayed Satoru Mashiko (益子悟, Mashiko Satoru), a 28-year-old employee of a cleaning company who is caught up in a building hijack. On February 11, 2010, it was announced that Ohno is set to star in the live-action adaptation of the manga and anime Kaibutsu-kun, which began airing on NTV from April at 9:00 pm (JST) on Saturdays.

Ohno made a guest appearance on the last episode of bandmate Sakurai's drama Tokujo Kabachi!! (特上カバチ!!, lit. Extraordinary Quibbling) playing a corrupted lawyer. He also reprised his role of Kaibutsu-kun for the Kaibutsu-kun special which aired on June 26, 2010. It was announced on September 9, 2010 that Ohno will star in the second story, Hajime no Ippo (はじめの一歩, First Step), of the Fall 2010 Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari (世にも奇妙な物語) special set to air on October 4, 2010.

Film

In 2002, Ohno made his motion picture debut in Arashi's first movie together, Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy (ピカ☆ンチ Life is HardだけどHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard But Happy). He portrayed Haru, a bizarre high school student who gets swindled during his trip to Harajuku. Two years later in 2004, Ohno reprised his role for the sequel Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy (ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is HardだからHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard Therefore Happy).

In 2007, the group came together once again to act in their third movie together, Kiiroi Namida (黄色い涙, Yellow Tears), with Ohno acting as an oil painter.

Art

When Ohno was in the third grade, he was inspired by his classmate's Dragon Ball illustration to start drawing. Since then, he has been drawing his own artwork and making original figurines.In 2008, he held an art exhibition called Freestyle, making him the first artist in Johnny's to hold one

Radio

Ohno has his own radio show called Arashi Discovery, which is currently airing every weekday from Monday to Friday on FM Yokohama since October 1, 2002.

Discography

Solo Single

( 2009 )Kumorinochi, Kaisei - Uta no Onii-san

( 2010 )Yukai Tsukai Kaibutsu-kun - Kaibutsu-kun

Filmography

Drama

( 1999 )V no Arashi as Satoshi Ohno*

( 2001 )Speed Star as Hiroshi Sakurai

( 2002 )Shōnen Taiya: Third Story - Aoki-san Uchi no Oku-san as Satoshi*

( 2003 )Engimono: Mitsuo as Mitsuo*

( 2003 )Yoiko no Mikata as Claim Agent Arashi

( 2004 )Yon-bun no Ichi no Kizuna as Naoya Suzuki

( 2004 )Gekidan Engimono: Third Story - Katte ni Nosutarujii*

( 2007 )Yamada Tarō Monogatari as Villa Kubari no Oniisan

( 2008 )Maō as Ryo Naruse*

( 2009 )Uta no Oniisan as Kenta Yano*

( 2009 )0 Gōshitsu no Kyaku: First Story - Akogare no Otoko as Hiroyuki Matsuda*

( 2010 )Saigo no Yakusoku as Satoru Mashiko*

( 2010 )Tokujo Kabachi!! as Shūhei Honda

( 2010 )Kaibutsu-kun as Kaibutsu-kun*

( 2010 )Mō Kaette Kita Yo!! Kaibutsu-kun Subete Shinsaku Special as Kaibutsu-kun*

( 2010 )Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari: Hajime no Ippo as Hajime Shinozaki*

( 2011 )Kaibutsu-kun Shinsaku SP as Kaibutsu-kun*

( 2012 )Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai as Tarui Shotaro*

( 2012 )Kagi no Kakatta Heya as Enomoto Kei*
( 2012 )Papadol as Ohno Satoshi

*as a lead role

Film

( 2002 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy as Haruhiko Kida (Haru)

( 2004 )Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy as Haruhiko Kida (Haru)*

( 2007 )Kiiroi Namida as Kei Shimokawa

( 2011 )Kaibutsu-kun the Movie as Kaibutsu-kun*

*as a lead role

Stage

( 1997 )Kyo to Kyo as Ushiwakamaru

( 1997 )Show Geki '97 Mask

( 1998 )Kyo to Kyo as Ushiwakamaru

( 1999 )Show Geki '99 Mask

( 1999 )Shōnentai Musical Playzone’99: Goodbye and Hello

( 2001 )Shōnentai Musical Playzone 2001 "Shinseiki" Emotion as Kare

( 2002 )Aoki-san Uchi no Okusan as Satoshi*

( 2003 )Sengokupū*

( 2004 )True West as Austin*

( 2004 )West Side Story as Riff

( 2005 )Bakumatsu Banpū as Sōji Okita*

( 2006 )Tensei Kunpū as Kaoru Kazamine*

( 2008 )Amatsukaze as Nagi*

*as a lead role

Award

( 2008 )12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Summer) - Best Actor ( Maō )*

( 2008 )58th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Maō )

( 2008 )12th Nikkan Sports Annual Drama Grand Prix - Best Actor ( Maō )*

( 2009 )5th Annual TV Navi Drama Awards - Best Actor ( Maō )*

( 2009 )18th Annual TV Life Awards - Best Actor ( Maō )*

( 2009 )60th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Uta no Oniisan )

( 2009 )60th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Theme Song ( Uta no Oniisan )*

( 2010 )14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring) - Best Actor ( Kaibutsu-kun)*

( 2010 )65th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor ( Kaibutsu-kun)*

( 2011 )GQ Japan Men of the Year 2011 Awards - GQ Men of the Year 2011*

*won

Name : 櫻井翔 (さくらい　しょう)

Name (romaji) : Sakurai Sho

Nicknames : Sho-kun / Sho-chan

Profession : Actor, singer and TV news anchor

Birthdate : 1982-Jan-25

Birthplace : Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Height : 171cm

Weight : 60kg

Star sign : Aquarius

Blood type : A

Family : Younger sister & younger brother

Talent agency : Johnny’s Entertainment

Genre : Pop, Hip Hop, Rap

Occupations : Singer, Actor, Rapper, Radio Host, Host, Newscaster

Instruments : Piano

Existence : 1995 – present

Trivia

Sakurai has the highest education among Arashi and has become the inspiration for younger Johnny's idols such as NEWS members to pursue higher education after graduating from high school.

Background

Sakurai was born in Minato, Tokyo as the oldest child of his family. He has two younger siblings: a sister who is five years younger and a brother who is thirteen years younger. Sakurai attended Keio Yochisha Elementary School, an affiliated elementary school to Keio University, after passing the entrance examinations. Despite already having an established career with Arashi by the time he graduated from high school, Sakurai went on to attend Keio University, graduating with a degree in economics in 2004.

Sakurai began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1995 at the age of 13. About seven years after his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, he became a newscaster in 2006, appearing in the news program News Zero every Monday. In 2008, he was appointed the official newscaster for the news coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing on NTV. For his work as an actor, singer and newscaster, Sakurai became one of the recipients of GQ Japan's Men of the Year award in 2009.

Career

Music

Sakurai is the designated rapper of Arashi and, although he had written rap lyrics (known to fans as Sakurap) for some of the group's earlier releases under the pen name "Show", his first major contribution was for the A-side song "Kotoba Yori Taisetsu na Mono". While not the first artist from Johnny's to take on rapping, his breakthrough made it easier for his juniors to rap as well despite being idols. According to Taichi Kokubun of Tokio, KAT-TUN member Koki Tanaka (田中聖, Tanaka Kōki) began to rap because of him.

He became the first member in Arashi to hold a solo concert called The Show in 2006. Sakurai was also a part of a special group with his Kisarazu Cat's Eye World Series co-stars that same year. Specially formed to promote the movie, they released the movie's theme song "Seaside Bye-Bye" (シーサイドばいばい, "Shisaido Baibai") as a single on October 25, 2006.

Sakurai co-wrote the lyrics of six songs on the August 2010 Arashi album Boku no Miteiru Fūkei. These songs are "Movin' On," "Mada Ue o", "Taboo" (Sho Sakurai solo), "Let Me Down," "Sora Takaku", and "Summer Splash!"

Stage

Actually he rarely play in stage, his popular stage are The Beautiful Game and , West Side Story with bandmates Ohno Satoshi and Jun Matsumoto, and Amatsukaze (アマツカゼ)

Drama

Unlike the other members of Arashi who made their major acting debut on stage, Sakurai made his debut on television in Arashi's volleyball-centered short drama V no Arashi (Vの嵐) in 1999. In 2001, he took part in his first drama series called Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko 2 (天国に一番近い男 - 教師編, The Man Closest to Heaven 2) with Masahiro Matsuoka as his teacher. His role as a student with two conflicting characters won him Best Newcomer in the 5th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Awards.

In 2003, Sakurai was given his first lead role in the drama Yoiko no Mikata (よい子の味方, Ally of Good Children). He portrayed Taiyō Suzuki (鈴木太陽, Suzuki Taiyō), a man who strives to prove himself capable of being a nursery school teacher. After Yoiko no Mikata, Sakurai took up many drama specials and mini-dramas until 2005. He even acted in a NHK late-night drama series called Tokio, in which each episode lasted for fifteen minutes each.

Sakurai and bandmate Kazunari Ninomiya co-starred together in the manga-based comedy drama Yamada Tarō Monogatari in 2007. Although there was no release of dramas, movies or stageplays from Sakurai in 2008 due to his involvement with the Olympic Games in Beijing and Arashi's concert tours, 2009 saw his first lead role in a drama series since Yoiko no Mikata in 2003. In the drama The Quiz Show 2 with You Yokoyama, he portrayed an amnesic host of a live TV quiz program. Sakurai rounded off 2009 with a small guest appearance on the final episode of the drama My Girl, which was bandmate Masaki Aiba's first starring role in a serial drama.

On January 9, 2010, Sakurai co-starred with the other members of Arashi in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku. He portrayed Yukio Tomizawa (富澤友紀夫, Tomizawa Yukio), a 28-year-old life insurance salesman who is caught up in a building hijack. Sakurai appeared in the docudrama special Kobe Shimbun no Nanokakan (神戸新聞の７日間, 7 Days of the Kobe Newspaper) on January 16, 2010. He portrayed Tomohiko Mitsuyama (三津山朋彦, Mitsuyama Tomohiko), a real photo reporter who worked for the Kobe Shimbun and helped keep the newspaper running without interruption despite the damage inflicted from the Kobe earthquake.

On January 17, 2010, TBS aired the first episode of Sakurai and Maki Horikita's comedy drama Tokujo Kabachi!! (特上カバチ!!, lit. Extraordinary Quibbling).

Film

In 2002, Sakurai made his motion picture debut in Arashi's first movie together, Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy (ピカ☆ンチ Life is HardだけどHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard But Happy). He portrayed Chu, a yankee who dropped out of high school after an incident involving his teacher and the girl he had a crush on. That same year, he took on the role of Bambi, a college student who becomes part of a burglar ring at the beckoning of his cancer-stricken friend Bussan in order to make Bussan's final days worthwhile. In the drama Kisarazu Cat's Eye with Junichi Okada playing the character Bussan, the drama would eventually span into two movie sequels entitled Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Nihon Series and Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series in 2003 and 2006 respectively.

In 2004, he reprised his role for the sequel of Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy, Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakara Happy (ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is HardだからHappy, Pikanchi Life is Hard Therefore Happy).

While training for a rowing competition with the rest of Arashi on their variety show Mago Mago Arashi in 2005, Sakurai filmed for his first starring movie role in the manga-based live-action film Honey and Clover. He portrayed the mellow Yūta Takemoto (竹本祐太, Takemoto Yūta).

In 2007, all the members of Arashi co-starred in their third movie together, Kiiroi Namida (黄色い涙, Yellow Tears), with Sakurai playing the role of an aspiring writer. By the end of the year, it was announced that he would star as Gan-chan in the Takashi Miike movie Yatterman, which was not released in theaters until the beginning of 2009.

It was announced on June 8, 2010 that Sakurai will co-star with Aoi Miyazaki in the novel-based movie Kamisama no Karute (神様のカルテ, God's Medical Records), which is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2011.

Newscaster

In 2006, he became a newscaster for the NTV news program News Zero with newscaster Nobutaka Murao (村尾信尚, Nobutaka Murao) and actress Mao Kobayashi. In 2007, he was chosen to help host Zero x Senkyo 2007 (Zero×選挙2007, Zero x Election 2007), a special program which focused the 2007 House of Councillors elections. Sakurai became the first pop idol to host such a program. Following that same year, he was chosen as the main caster for Fuji TV's broadcast of the 2007 Volleyball World Cup, marking it the first time in eight years that he has been involved with the Volleyball World Cup.

In 2008, Sakurai was a newscaster for the 2008 FIVB Women's World Olympic Qualification Tournament and the main newscaster for the news coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing on NTV. On June 7, 2009, Sakurai was one of the main newscasters for a special program titled Touch! Eco 2009, which focused on environmental issues. On August 30, 2009, he was appointed the official caster for the second part of Zero x Senkyo 2009 (Zero×選挙2009, Zero x Election 2009), which covered Japan's 2009 general elections.

Sakurai was the special newscaster for the 2010 Winter Olympics news coverage on NTV with Shizuka Arakawa as the main newscaster. On July 11, 2010, he took on the role of a navigator for the second half of Zero x Senkyo 2010 (Zero×選挙2010, Zero x Election 2010), which focused on the 2010 House of Councillors elections.

Radio

From October 5, 2002 to March 30, 2008, Sakurai hosted his own radio show called Sho Beat on FM Fuji.

Discography

Solo Single

( 2006 ) Seaside Bye-Bye" (シーサイドばいばい) - Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Nihon Series

Rap Lyrics Contribution

A-side Song

( 2003 )"Kotoba Yori Taisetsu na Mono"

( 2004 )"Pikanchi Double"

( 2005 )"Sakura Sake"

( 2006 )"Kitto Daijōbu"

( 2007 )"We Can Make It!"

( 2008 )"Step and Go"

( 2008 )"Kaze no Mukō e"

( 2009 )"Believe"
( 2012 )"Face Down"

B-side Song

( 2004 )"Gori Muchu"

( 2005 )"Futari no Kinenbi"

( 2006 )"Na! Na! Na!"

( 2007 )"Itsumademo"

( 2007 )"Di-Li-Li"

( 2007 )"Still..."

( 2009 )"Tokei Jikake no Umbrella"

( 2010 )"Spiral"
( 2011 )"Boom Boom"
( 2011 )"Utakata"
( 2012 )"Futari no Katachi"

Album

( 2002 ) Here We Go!

"Theme of Arashi"

"All or Nothing Ver.1.02"

( 2003 ) How's It Going?

"Crazy Ground No Ōsama"

"Lucky Man"

"Paretto"

"Te Agero"

( 2004 ) Iza, Now!

"The Bubble"

"Eyes with Delight"

"Right Back to You"

( 2004 ) 5x5 The Best Selection of 2002–2004

"La Tormenta 2004"

( 2005 ) One

"Overture"

"Natsu no Namae"

"Subarashiki Sekai"

"Yes? No?"

( 2006 ) Arashic

"Runaway Train"

"Raise Your Hands"

"Cool & Soul"

"Secret Eyes"

( 2007 ) Time

"Wave"

"Firefly"

"Taiyō no Sekai"

"Rock You"

"Cry For You"

"Kaze"

"Life"

"Can't Let You Go"

( 2008 ) Dream "A" Live

"Move You Body"

"Niji no Kanata e"

"Flashback"

"My Answer"

"Once Again"

"Hip Hop Boogie"

( 2009 ) All the Best! 1999–2009

"Re(mark)able"

"5x10"

( 2010 ) Boku no Miteiru Fūkei

"Movin' On"

"Mada Ue o"

"Taboo"

"Let Me Down"

"Sora Takaku"

"Summer Splash!"

( 2011 ) Beautiful World

"Rock This"

"Mada Minu Sekai e"

"Hung up on"

"Joy"

"Kono Mama Motto"

Filmography

Drama

( 1999 )V no Arashi as Sho Sakurai*

( 2000 )Otōsan as Akira Ohmura

( 2001 )Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko 2 as Ayumi Tōdō

( 2002 )Shōnen Taiya: Third Story - Aoki-san Uchi no Oku-san as Sho

( 2002 )Kisarazu Cat's Eye as Futoshi Nakagomi (Bambi)

( 2003 )Yoiko no Mikata as Taiyō Suzuki*

( 2003 )Ikebukuro West Gate Park Special as Bambi <Cameo>

( 2003 )Gekidan Engimono: Fourteenth Story - Haetori Kami as Yōhei Yamada*

( 2004 )Nurseman Special as Masaya Iwata

( 2004 )Gekidan Engimono: First Story - Unlucky Days: Natsume no Mōsō as Kantaku*

( 2004 )Tokio as Tokio Miyamoto

( 2005 )Gekidan Engimono: Eleventh Story - Ishikawa-ken Gosan-shi as Jun Kawase*

( 2005 )Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru Special as Masaya Yoshimori*

( 2007 )Yamada Tarō Monogatari as Takuya Mimura

( 2009 )Uta no Onii-san as Himself <Cameo>

( 2009 )The Quiz Show 2 as Satoru Kamiyama*

( 2009 )My Girl as Sato <Cameo>

( 2010 )Saigo no Yakusoku as Yukio Tomizawa*

( 2010 )Kobe Shimbun no Nanokakan as Tomohiko Mitsuyama*

( 2010 )Tokujo Kabachi!! as Katsuhiro Tamura*

( 2011 )Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de as Kageyama*

( 2012 )Blackboard, Teachers Who Fought Against Era as Shirahama*
( 2012 )Papadol as Sakurai Sho

*as a lead role

Film

( 2002 )Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy as Tadashi Kamogawa (Chu)

( 2003 )Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Nihon Series as Futoshi Nakagomi (Bambi)

( 2004 )Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy as Tadashi Kamogawa (Chu)

( 2006 )Honey and Clover as Yūta Takemoto*

( 2006 )Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series as Futoshi Nakagomi (Bambi)

( 2007 )Kiiroi Namida as Ryūsan Mukai

( 2009 )Yatterman as Gan-chan/ Yatterman*

( 2011 )Kamisama no Karute as Ichito Kurihara*
( 2013 )Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de The Movie as Kageyama*

*as a lead role

Stage

( 2004 )West Side Story as Tony*

( 2006 )The Beautiful Game as John Carey*

*as a lead role

Award

( 2002 )5th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix - Best Newcomer (Tengoku ni Ichiban Chikai Otoko 2)*

( 2009 )61st Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (The Quiz Show 2)

( 2009 )GQ Japan Men of the Year 2009 Awards - GQ Man Of The Year 2009*
( 2010 )64th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (Tokujo Kabachi!!)

( 2012 )21st Annual TV Life Awards - Best Actor (Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato De)*
( 2012 )71st Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato De)

*won