Hirofumi Araki

Infobox Celebrity
name =Hirofumi Araki (荒木 宏文)
ja_name =荒木 宏文
ja_name_trans=Araki Hirofumi


caption =
birth_date =birth date and age|1983|6|14
birth_place =Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
occupation =Actor, Singer
salary =
networth =
website = [http://blog.watanabepro.co.jp/arakihirofumi/ Araki's Official Blog]
footnotes = nihongo|Hirofumi Araki|荒木 宏文|Araki Hirofumi (born June 14, 1983) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is known most notably for his roles as Sadaharu Inui in "The Prince of Tennis" (musical series "Tenimyu" & live film adaptation), and as The Black Lion Rio in the tokusatsu television series "Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger". He is also part of a young men's stage acting troupe, D-Boys, which perform in various skit-like performances.

Career

He has appeared in a various number of TV shows.

Araki acted in the TV drama, "The Hit Parade"Hit Parade Official Site [http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/hit/index.html] ] , as a member of The Tigers. The show, which aired May 26th, 2006 on Fuji TV, also starred fellow D-Boys members Masato Wada, Yuu Shirota, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Yuuya Endo and Seto Kouji.

Appeared on a Japanese radio program for [http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/blog_artist/d-boys/archives/2006/10/post_122.html BAY FM] with fellow D-Boys member, Kouji Seto on October 14th, 2006.

With the D-Boys

In October 2004, Araki joined the [http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/ Watanabe Entertainment] group named the D-BOYS.

As a member of the D-Boys, Araki also keeps a [http://blog.watanabepro.co.jp/arakihirofumi/ blog] , which he updates occasionally and includes a personal video greeting from Araki.

The D-Boys so far have released two Photobooks. The first photobook released on April 27, 2005, was self-titled " [http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/492456642X D-Boys] ", while the second, released on March 15th, 2006, was called " [http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4054030351 Start] ", both which contain many photos of Araki.

The D-Boys have also starred in their own drama documentary variety series called, "DD-Boys"DD-Boys Official Site [http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/dd-boys/top.html] ] in which Araki's appeared in a few episodes as himself. The show was 24 episodes long and ran from April 10th to September 25th, 2006.

In June 2007, the D-Boys starred in their very own musical together called, "D-BOYS STAGE"D-BOYS STAGE Official Website [http://www.d-boys.com/dboysstage/index.html] ] , which ran from June 3rd to June 10th at the [http://www.spacezero.co.jp/index.html Space Zero] theater in Tokyo. Araki appeared in the musical as a guest performer, making select appearances on June 6th and June 9th.

As Sadaharu Inui in The Prince of Tennis Musicals

Araki's acting career took off when he won the role of Sadaharu Inui, the "data-tennis" regular of Seigaku Middle School's tennis club in the "The Prince of Tennis" musicals, "Tenimyu". He became the second actor to play Inui, as part of the second generation Seigaku cast. He made his first debut on January 8th, 2005 in the "Side Yamabuki" performance in Osaka. He coninued Inui's role over the next several months in other Tenimyu incarnations, such as "Dream Live 2nd", "The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen", and "Dream Live 3rd". During his run in the musicals, he was able to work with fellow D-Boys members Yuya Endo, Kotaro Yanagi, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Osamu Adachi, Masato Wada, and former member Yuu Shirota.

On March 29th, 2006, at the end of the final "Dream Live 3rd" show, he along with the majority of the Seigaku cast, graduated from their roles. Since his graduation, the role of Inui has been played by Masei Nakayama; and currently by Yuuta Takahashi.

As Sadaharu Inui in The Prince of Tennis Live-Action Film

Araki was able to carry on his role from the musicals to the live-adaptation film of the manga series of "The Prince of Tennis". He, along with most of the principle cast members for the Seigaku Regulars, were able to reprise their roles in the movie. The only major casting change was the casting of Kanata Hongo as Ryoma Echizen, the main protagonist.

"The Prince of Tennis" was released on May 13th, 2006 and opened on the tenth spot in the Japanese Box Office.

In "June Bride"

Araki's next movie, the "June Bride" ("Jyun Bride")June Bride Official Site [http://www.junebride-movie.com/] ] opened on May 27, 2006. He played one of the supporting characters, costarring with fellow D-Boys members, Shirota Yuu and Suzuki Hiroki. The movie's based on the original manga "Jyun Bride", by Yoshida Satoshi.

In "Limit~ What's Your Story?"

In June 2006, Araki started rehearsing, with fellow D-Boys Hiroki Suzuki and Yuichi Nakamura, for his next on-stage production, in a play called "nihongo|Limit~ What's Your Story?|limit～あなたの物語は何ですか?|Limit~ no monogatari wa nani desu ka?".

As Rio in "Jūken Sentai Gekiranger"

On February 18, 2007, Araki starred as the main villain Rio, a former student of the Fierce Beast Fist who turned his back on his teacher and becomes leader of the Confrontation Beast Hall, all in his quest to become strong in the "Super Sentai" series "Jūken Sentai Gekiranger". The show also costars Hirofumi's fellow D-Boys member, Hiroki Suzuki, as Rio's rival, Jan Kandou/GekiRed.

Photobooks and Idol DVD

It was announced in early 2007 that Araki, along with D-Boys Hiroki Suzuki and Koji Seto, would be getting solo photobooks and DVDs called the "Prince Series." Araki's solo photobook was released on April 19th, 2007, while his solo idol DVD was released on May 16th, 2007. A "Prince Series" trading card set featuring all three boys shortly followed the release of the books and DVDs.

Araki's second photobook, entitled "Always By Your Side" was released in May 2008. It was brought out simultaneously with Hiroki Suzuki's second photobook, despite being separate from the "Prince Series"; perhaps to highlight on the boys' success in "Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger". A limited-edition trading card set featuring both Araki and Suzuki was released on September 27, 2008 to coincide with their recent books.

Personal life

Araki keeps [http://blog.watanabepro.co.jp/arakihirofumi/ a blog] on his D-Boys webpage, which he updates occasionally. He is very close friends with fellow D-Boys members Hiroki Suzuki, Koji Seto, Masaki Kaji, Masato Wada and Osamu Adachi.

elected Filmography

tage

* March 24th, 2007 as a guest performer in the "Out of Order" Live Entertainment Show

Musicals

TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Sadaharu Inui)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Side Yamabuki feat. St. Rudolph (In Winter of 2004-2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Dream Live 2nd (2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen (2005)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen in Winter (In Winter of 2005-2006)
*"The Prince of Tennis Musical": Dream Live 3rd (2006)

D-BOYS MUSICAL
* June 6th and June 9th, 2007 as a guest performer in the "D-BOYS STAGE" Musical

Plays

* June 2nd to June 4th, 2006 in "Limit ~ What Is Your Story?"

Official DVDs

References

* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8D%92%E6%9C%A8%E5%AE%8F%E6%96%87 Wikipedia Japanese article on 荒木宏文]
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-BOYS Wikipedia Japanese article on D-Boys]

External links

* [http://blog.watanabepro.co.jp/arakihirofumi/ Araki's Official Blog] ja icon
* [http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/arakihirofumi/ Araki's Official Website and Profile] ja icon
* [http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/blog_artist/arakihirofumi/ Araki's Past Blog Archive] ja icon
* [http://www.watanabepro.co.jp/04_artist/d-boys/arakihirohumi/index2.html Araki's Past Blog Archive with Introduction] ja icon
* [http://www.d-boys.com/ D-Boys Official Website] ja icon
*ann name|id=55357|name=Hirofumi Araki
*imdb name|id=2318591|name=Hirofumi Araki

ee also

* D-Boys
* "Tenimyu"
* "The Prince of Tennis (film)"
* "The Prince of Tennis"
* Sadaharu Inui
* "Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger"