Hirofumi Arai
Encyclopedia
Hirofumi Arai is a third-generation Zainichi South Korean
actor.
's GO in 2001. His next film role that year was the emotionally disturbed senior high school student Aoki in Toshiaki Toyoda's Blue Spring
, which won him the Best New Actor award at the 17th Takasaki Film Festival.
In a Josei Seven interview, Arai had stated that, in spite of the critically acclaimed Blue Spring, The Whispering of the Gods, Sway and Blood and Bones, he regarded the satirical crime film The Matsugane Potshot Affair (2006) as his true breakthrough film. His role had allowed him to exhibit a wider range of his acting abilities including comic timing. Since the film release, he was offered comedic roles he had wanted but couldn't get, including The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio, Korede iinoda!! Eiga★Akatsuka Fujio and Slapstick Brothers.
In 2011, Arai co-stars as Detective Kazuhiko Soga in an one-off TV crime thriller Douki with co-stars Ryuhei Matsuda as Detective Ryota Udagawa and Chiaki Kuriyama as Michiru Soga.
, the eldest daughter of noted musician Ryuichi Sakamoto
and singer-songwriter Akiko Yano
, after they met during a television talk show in 2006. After Arai was formally introduced to Miu's father on TV in 2008, the couple sought to keep their relationship private from the media. As of May 2011, it's reported that the couple are still in relationship.
Zainichi Korean
Koreans in Japan are the ethnic Korean residents of Japan. They currently constitute the second largest ethnic minority group in Japan. The majority of Koreans in Japan are Zainichi Koreans, also often known as Zainichi for short, who are the permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan...
actor.
Career
Arai made his screen debut in Isao YuiksadaIsao Yukisada
from Kumamoto, Japan is a Japanese film director. He served as assistant director on Shunji Iwai's Love Letter, April Story, and Swallowtail Butterfly.-Director:* OPEN HOUSE * A Closing Day...
's GO in 2001. His next film role that year was the emotionally disturbed senior high school student Aoki in Toshiaki Toyoda's Blue Spring
Blue Spring (film)
is a Japanese film directed by Toshiyaki Toyada, released in 2001. It is based on a manga by Taiyō Matsumoto. The Japanese title can be translated as "blue spring", or as "inexperienced years", i.e., teenage.-Plot:...
, which won him the Best New Actor award at the 17th Takasaki Film Festival.
In a Josei Seven interview, Arai had stated that, in spite of the critically acclaimed Blue Spring, The Whispering of the Gods, Sway and Blood and Bones, he regarded the satirical crime film The Matsugane Potshot Affair (2006) as his true breakthrough film. His role had allowed him to exhibit a wider range of his acting abilities including comic timing. Since the film release, he was offered comedic roles he had wanted but couldn't get, including The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio, Korede iinoda!! Eiga★Akatsuka Fujio and Slapstick Brothers.
In 2011, Arai co-stars as Detective Kazuhiko Soga in an one-off TV crime thriller Douki with co-stars Ryuhei Matsuda as Detective Ryota Udagawa and Chiaki Kuriyama as Michiru Soga.
Personal
Tokyograph announced in 2007 that Arai was in a "serious relationship" with singer Miu SakamotoMiu Sakamoto
is a Japanese pop singer. She is the daughter of musicians Ryuichi Sakamoto and Akiko Yano.- Albums :* aquascape * DAWN PINK * Harmonious...
, the eldest daughter of noted musician Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
and singer-songwriter Akiko Yano
Akiko Yano
is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. She was born as Akiko Suzuki in Tokyo and raised in Aomori, Aomori, and later began her singing career in the mid-1970s...
, after they met during a television talk show in 2006. After Arai was formally introduced to Miu's father on TV in 2008, the couple sought to keep their relationship private from the media. As of May 2011, it's reported that the couple are still in relationship.
Trivia
- Arai frequently works with actors Ryuhei MatsudaRyuhei Matsudais a Japanese film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in Japanese films such as Taboo and Nana.-Early life:Matsuda was born on 9 May 1983 in Tokyo to Yusaku Matsuda, a Japanese actor, and Miyuki Matsuda , a Japanese actress. He has two siblings, one of whom is Japanese actor Shota...
, Aoi MiyazakiAoi Miyazakiis a Japanese actress. She is best known for her pure image and roles such as in Nana and Virgin Snow. Her brother Masaru Miyazaki is an actor, and they starred together in the film Hatsukoi. She married Sosuke Takaoka on June 15, 2007, her partner since she was fifteen.-Career:Miyazaki started...
, Tadanobu AsanoTadanobu Asano, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
, ARATAArata (actor)Arata is a Japanese actor from Tokyo, Japan. He writes his name in Japanese as ARATA using capital letters.-Filmography:* Wonderful Life * Shady Grove * Distance * Ping Pong...
, Satoshi TsumabukiSatoshi Tsumabukiis a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was Waterboys for which he was nominated for the 'Best Actor' award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize...
and Shun OguriShun Oguriis a Japanese actor, director and voice actor.-Career:Born to a theater director father, Tetsuya Oguri, and having an actor brother, Ryo Oguri, Shun Oguri started his acting career quite early in his life...
.
- He often says he has a continual interest in films exploring Korean-Japanese issues.
- His performance in Blue Spring and promo release interviews had attracted the attention of critically acclaimed Japanese director Yôichi Sai, also a Zainichi KoreanZainichi KoreanKoreans in Japan are the ethnic Korean residents of Japan. They currently constitute the second largest ethnic minority group in Japan. The majority of Koreans in Japan are Zainichi Koreans, also often known as Zainichi for short, who are the permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan...
. They publicly agreed to do a film together some day, which came to be Blood and BonesBlood and BonesBlood and Bones is a Japanese film, directed by Yoichi Sai and starring Takeshi Kitano. It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel Chi to hone by Zainichi Korean author Yan Sogiru ....
two years later.
- Arai's currently represented by ANORE INC., a talent agency founded in 1996 by actor Tadanobu AsanoTadanobu Asano, born is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in Electric Dragon 80.000 V, Kakihara in Ichi the Killer, Mamoru Arita in Bright Future, Hattori Genosuke in Zatoichi, Kenji in Last Life in the Universe, Aman in Survive Style 5+, Ayano in The Taste of Tea, and Temudjin...
, Asano's father Yukihisa Sato, and Asano's musician brother Kujun.
Filmography
- Blue SpringBlue Spring (film)is a Japanese film directed by Toshiyaki Toyada, released in 2001. It is based on a manga by Taiyō Matsumoto. The Japanese title can be translated as "blue spring", or as "inexperienced years", i.e., teenage.-Plot:...
(青い春 Aoi haru, 2001) - GoGo (2001 film)Go is a 2001 Japanese movie by Isao Yukisada, based on the novel of the same title by Kazuki Kaneshiro. The film stars Kubozuka Yōsuke and Kou Shibasaki . It tells the story of a Korean boy born and raised in Japan and his love story with a Japanese girl...
(2001) - Justice (2002)
- Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (ジョゼと虎と魚たち Joze to tora to sakana tachi, 2003)
- Heaven's Bookstore (天国の本屋～恋火 Tengoku no honya, 2004)
- Loved Gun (ラブドガン Rabudo gan, 2004)
- 69 sixtynine (2004)
- Blood and BonesBlood and BonesBlood and Bones is a Japanese film, directed by Yoichi Sai and starring Takeshi Kitano. It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel Chi to hone by Zainichi Korean author Yan Sogiru ....
(血と骨 / Chi to Hone, 2004) - Neighbour No. 13 (隣人１３号 / Rinjin 13-gō, 2005)
- The Whispering of the Gods (ゲルマニウムの夜 Gerumaniumu no yoru, 2005)
- SwaySway (film)is a 2006 film directed by Japanese director Miwa Nishikawa. It was given the Best Film award at the 2007 Yokohama Film Festival. A young woman falls to her death from a bridge while walking in the country with two brothers, one a small town gas station attendant, the other a trendy Tokyo...
(ゆれる / Yureru, 2006) - The Matsugane Potshot Affair (松ヶ根乱射事件 Matsugane Ransha Jiken 2007)
- A Crowd of Three (ケンタとジュンとカヨちゃんの国 Kenta to Jun to Kayo-chan no Kuni, 2008)
- My Darling of the Mountains (Yama no Anata -Tokuichi no Koi-, 2008)
- The Blood of Rebirth (Yomigaeri no Chi, 2009)
- The Crab Cannery Ship (Kanikōsen, 2009)
- The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio" (Kuhio Taisa (Captain Kuhio), 2009)
- R246 STORY～224466～ (2009)
- Villon’s Wife (ヴィヨンの妻 Viyon no Tsuma, 2009)
- Mt. TsurugidakeMt. Tsurugidakeis a 2009 Japanese film directed by Daisaku Kimura.-Awards:33rd Japan Academy Prize* Won: Best Director - Daisaku Kimura* Won: Best Supporting Actor - Teruyuki Kagawa* Nominated: Best Film* Nominated: Best Actor - Tadanobu Asano...
(劒岳 点の記 Tsurugidake Ten no Ki, 2009) - Douki (TV movie) (同期 2010)
- Soil (TV series) (2010)
- Love & Loathing & Lulu & Ayano (名前のない女たち, 2010)
- A Yakuza's Daughter Never Cries (Doch yakudzy Yakuza Girl, 2010)
- ConfessionsConfessions (film)is a 2010 Japanese drama film directed by Tetsuya Nakashima.-Plot:Yuko Moriguchi , a junior high teacher, announces she will resign. She reveals that her daughter, Manami, was killed by two pupils in her class, whom she dubs "Student A" and "Student B"...
(告白 Kokuhaku, 2010) - All Around Us (ぐるりのこと Gururi no Koto" (What's All Round Us), 2010)
- BOX: The Hakamada Case - What's Life (BOX 袴田事件 命とは BOX: Hakamada jiken - inochi towa, 2010)
- That's The Way!! A Film Starring Fujio Akatsuka (これでいいのだ!! 映画★赤塚不二夫 Korede iinoda!! Eiga★Akatsuka Fujio, 2011)
- Slapstick Brothers (漫才ギャング Manzai gyangu, 2011)
- Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (一命 Ichimei (one life), 2011)
- Seiji: Riku no Sakana (セイジ 陸の魚 Seiji: House 475, 2011)
- Love Strikes! (2011)
- The Eclipse's Shadow (short) (2011)
- Space Brothers (2012)
- House of Quilts (two-part TV drama) (キルトの家 Quilt no ie, 2012)
External links
- at JMDb (in Japanese)