Yui Aragaki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese idol
, model, actress, singer, seiyū
and occasional radio show host of Ryukyuan ancestry.
She is particularly recognized for her beauty and her movie projects.
. Upon learning that the magazine was looking for a new face, Aragaki's sister turned in an audition profile for her. Aragaki won the Grand Prix and officially became an exclusive model for nicola or a "nicomo". In 2001, her fellow nicomo Ayako Enamoto nicknamed her Gakky.
Aragaki expanded her modeling career into gravure in 2004. She also appeared in variety shows and commercials; she is best remembered for her TV advertisements for Pocky
. In 2005, she graduated from the magazine and subsequently acted in the TBS
drama Dragon Zakura
alongside fellow Japanese idol Tomohisa Yamashita
and actress Masami Nagasawa
, marking her breakthrough in show business. Since Dragon Zakura, Aragaki had been cast in various dramas such as Gal Circle
and My Boss, My Hero
. Despite graduating from 'nicola', she still appears in the magazine occasionally. She currently holds the record of appearing the most number of times as its cover girl
.
In 2007, she starred in Waruboro with Shota Matsuda
and Yuu Shirota. Afterwards she was cast alongside Hiroshi Tachi
and Shigeaki Kato
in the TBS summer drama, Papa to Musume no Nanokakan in which Aragaki plays a high school student who exchanged bodies with her father, a middle-aged salaryman
. Aragaki was also cast in the movie Koisuru Madori (Tokyo Serendipity) with Ryuhei Matsuda
. Later that year she appeared in the tragic drama Koizora
/Sky of Love with Haruma Miura
which won Aragaki a string of Newcomer awards, most notably in the Japan Academy Awards
. To date, Aragaki has won five Newcomer awards for the movies Waruboro, Tokyo Serendipity and Koizora. Her fifth award was in honor of her role in the ¥3.6 billion-grossing movie, Koizora. Her tremendous number of movie shoots as well as the preparation for her debut album resulted in her suffering from work-related stress
in 2007.
Outside acting she also released her first album, Sora
, and the single "Heavenly Days", a song from Koizora. "Memories", the theme song for Tokyo Serendipity, was included in her debut album. She also performed her at Budokan
. She also released two singles in 2008, "Make my Day" and "Akai Ito". "Make my Day" was used in the NHK drama Hachi-One Driver, while "Akai Ito" is a cover of a song written and performed by Kobukuro
during their indie days, in commemoration of the duo's tenth anniversary in the Japanese music industry.
In August 2008 Aragaki' played intern
Megumi Shiraishi in the medical drama Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyuumei, with Tomohisa Yamashita
and Erika Toda
. At the same time she made the movie Fure Fure Shojo. She also appeared in Ballad
, with Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
, as a feudal princess. She released her fifth single PIECE in February 2009.
Aragaki also hosts GIRLS LOCKS!, part of the Japanese radio
program, SCHOOL OF LOCKS!, together with other U-20 idols Maki Horikita
, Chiaki Kuriyama
and Nana Eikura
. She also works as a voice actor.
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
, model, actress, singer, seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
and occasional radio show host of Ryukyuan ancestry.
She is particularly recognized for her beauty and her movie projects.
Overview
Aragaki's career began when she appeared in the junior fashion magazine nicolaNicola (magazine)
is a fashion magazine published in Japan by Shinchosha. This magazine targets young girls ranging from early- to mid-teens. The magazine is known for its models...
. Upon learning that the magazine was looking for a new face, Aragaki's sister turned in an audition profile for her. Aragaki won the Grand Prix and officially became an exclusive model for nicola or a "nicomo". In 2001, her fellow nicomo Ayako Enamoto nicknamed her Gakky.
Aragaki expanded her modeling career into gravure in 2004. She also appeared in variety shows and commercials; she is best remembered for her TV advertisements for Pocky
Pocky
is a Japanese snack food produced by the Ezaki Glico Company of Japan.-History:Pocky was first sold in 1966, and consists of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. It was named after the Japanese onomatopoetic word for the sound Pocky makes when bitten, pokkin . The original was followed by...
. In 2005, she graduated from the magazine and subsequently acted in the TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
drama Dragon Zakura
Dragon Zakura
is a Japanese manga by Norifusa Mita, which won the 2005 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga and an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival. It was adapted into live action television series of the same name broadcast on TBS in 2005.- Plot :...
alongside fellow Japanese idol Tomohisa Yamashita
Tomohisa Yamashita
, also widely known as Yamapi, is a Japanese idol, actor, and singer.Yamashita joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 11 and made his official CD debut with NEWS in 2004. He debuted as a solo artist in 2006 with the hit single "Daite Senorita". His first solo...
and actress Masami Nagasawa
Masami Nagasawa
is a Japanese actress under Toho Entertainment. She has performed in many movies and television dramas including Crying out Love, In the Center of the World, Dragon Zakura and Proposal Daisakusen. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in 2006. She is also known as "Ma-chan" or, as Tomohisa...
, marking her breakthrough in show business. Since Dragon Zakura, Aragaki had been cast in various dramas such as Gal Circle
Gal Circle
is a Japanese television drama series that was aired on Nippon Television. The series started on 15 April 2006 and ended with 11 episodes on 24 June 2006. It was the first drama in which Naohito Fujiki played a lead role.- Story :...
and My Boss, My Hero
My Boss, My Hero
My Boss, My Hero is a 2001 South Korean film. It is the first of a trilogy with My Boss, My Teacher in 2006 and The Mafia, The Salesman in 2007.-Synopsis:...
. Despite graduating from 'nicola', she still appears in the magazine occasionally. She currently holds the record of appearing the most number of times as its cover girl
Cover girl
A cover girl is a woman whose photograph features on the front cover of a magazine. She may be a model, celebrity or entertainer. The term would generally not be used to describe a casual, once-off appearance by a person on the cover of a magazine....
.
In 2007, she starred in Waruboro with Shota Matsuda
Shota Matsuda
is a Japanese actor. His parents are the actors Yusaku Matsuda and Miyuki Matsuda, his older brother is the actor Ryuhei Matsuda, and his aunt is the actress Mami Kumagai. Matsuda is 181 cm tall. His father, Yusaku Matsuda was half-Korean, thus Shota and Ryuhei are a quarter Korean.Matsuda has...
and Yuu Shirota. Afterwards she was cast alongside Hiroshi Tachi
Hiroshi Tachi
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is probably best known for starring the TV drama series Seibu Keisatsu.He is a dropout of Chiba Institute of Technology.- References :...
and Shigeaki Kato
Shigeaki Kato
is a member of the J-pop group NEWS, from Johnny's Entertainment, Inc.- Biography :Kato Shigeaki joined Johnny's Entertainment on April 17, 1999 when he was 11.As a junior he was a member of the organizations:* Best Beat Boys （B.B.B.）...
in the TBS summer drama, Papa to Musume no Nanokakan in which Aragaki plays a high school student who exchanged bodies with her father, a middle-aged salaryman
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
. Aragaki was also cast in the movie Koisuru Madori (Tokyo Serendipity) with Ryuhei Matsuda
Ryuhei Matsuda
is 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...
. Later that year she appeared in the tragic drama Koizora
Koizora (film)
is a 2007 film based on a cell phone novel of the same name. The film is directed by Natsuki Imai and it stars Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura.Koizora debuted at the Japanese box office on 3 November 2007...
/Sky of Love with Haruma Miura
Haruma Miura
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is part of the Amuse agency, and debuted as one of the members of Brash Brats, a J-pop group. However, they are currently on hiatus, while Haruma is still active as an actor. He gained popularity with Gokusen 3 and 2007 film Koizora...
which won Aragaki a string of Newcomer awards, most notably in the Japan Academy Awards
Japan Academy Prize
Japan Academy Prize may refer to:*Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy, an award of the Japan Academy to non-members in recognition of outstanding academic achievements....
. To date, Aragaki has won five Newcomer awards for the movies Waruboro, Tokyo Serendipity and Koizora. Her fifth award was in honor of her role in the ¥3.6 billion-grossing movie, Koizora. Her tremendous number of movie shoots as well as the preparation for her debut album resulted in her suffering from work-related stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
in 2007.
Outside acting she also released her first album, Sora
Sora (album)
-Chart positions:-Sales and certifications:- Release history :...
, and the single "Heavenly Days", a song from Koizora. "Memories", the theme song for Tokyo Serendipity, was included in her debut album. She also performed her at Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
. She also released two singles in 2008, "Make my Day" and "Akai Ito". "Make my Day" was used in the NHK drama Hachi-One Driver, while "Akai Ito" is a cover of a song written and performed by Kobukuro
Kobukuro
is a Japanese band, which formed in 1998 and made its major label debut in 2001. The name is a portmanteau of the two family names, Kentarō Kobuchi and Shunsuke Kuroda.- Members :...
during their indie days, in commemoration of the duo's tenth anniversary in the Japanese music industry.
In August 2008 Aragaki' played intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
Megumi Shiraishi in the medical drama Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyuumei, with Tomohisa Yamashita
Tomohisa Yamashita
, also widely known as Yamapi, is a Japanese idol, actor, and singer.Yamashita joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 11 and made his official CD debut with NEWS in 2004. He debuted as a solo artist in 2006 with the hit single "Daite Senorita". His first solo...
and Erika Toda
Erika Toda
, is a Japanese actress from Kobe. She originally debuted as a gravure model at age 13.She starred in many dramas like Liar Game, Code Blue, Ryusei no Kizuna and Keizoku 2: SPEC. She has had supporting roles in many popular Japanese TV dramas such as BOSS, Nobuta wo Produce, Engine and Gal Circle...
. At the same time she made the movie Fure Fure Shojo. She also appeared in Ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, with Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
is a Japanese entertainer. Kusanagi is a member of the popular Japanese idol group SMAP and has also appeared in a number of television dramas, variety shows and movies.-Background:Kusanagi grew up in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan....
, as a feudal princess. She released her fifth single PIECE in February 2009.
Aragaki also hosts GIRLS LOCKS!, part of the Japanese radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
program, SCHOOL OF LOCKS!, together with other U-20 idols Maki Horikita
Maki Horikita
is a Japanese actress and endorser. She debuted in 2003 as a U-15 idol and has since starred in Japanese television dramas, television and magazine advertisements, and movies.- Childhood:...
, Chiaki Kuriyama
Chiaki Kuriyama
is a Japanese actress, singer and model. She is best known in the West for her roles in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Volume 1 and the Japanese film Battle Royale .- Biography :...
and Nana Eikura
Nana Eikura
is a Japanese model, actress, and occasional radio show host.She was born in Izumi, Kagoshima, Kyushu island and grew up in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. She was scouted in front of 109 in Shibuya, Tokyo when she was in junior high school...
. She also works as a voice actor.
Television
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Sh15uya Sh15uya is a Japanese television drama that premiered on TV Asahi on January 10, 2005. It ran for 12 episodes until its conclusion on March 10, 2005. Set in a virtual simulation of Shibuya, Tokyo which is regulated by an entity named Piece which does not allow inhabitants to live, the series focuses on a... |
| Dragon Zakura Dragon Zakura is a Japanese manga by Norifusa Mita, which won the 2005 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga and an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival. It was adapted into live action television series of the same name broadcast on TBS in 2005.- Plot :... |
|
| Onna no Ichidaiki! | |
| 2006 | True Love |
| Kanojo no Koibumi | |
| Gal Circle Gal Circle is a Japanese television drama series that was aired on Nippon Television. The series started on 15 April 2006 and ended with 11 episodes on 24 June 2006. It was the first drama in which Naohito Fujiki played a lead role.- Story :... |
|
| My Boss My Hero My Boss My Hero is a Japanese TV drama broadcast by Nippon Television. It aired during the summer of 2006.-Synopsis:The show is about Makio Sakaki , also known as "Tornado", a 27-year-old yakuza, who wants to succeed his father at the head of the gang... |
|
| 2007 | Papa to Musume no Nanokakan |
| 2008 | Code Blue |
| 2009 | Smile |
| 2010 | Angel Bank |
| Code Blue 2 | |
| 2011 | Zenkai Girl |
| Ranma ½ |
Films
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Waruboro |
| Koisuru Madori (Tokyo Serendipity) | |
| Koizora Koizora (film) is a 2007 film based on a cell phone novel of the same name. The film is directed by Natsuki Imai and it stars Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura.Koizora debuted at the Japanese box office on 3 November 2007... (Sky of Love) |
|
| 2008 | Fure Fure Shojo (Cheer Cheer Cheer!) |
| 2009 | Ballad: Namonaki Koi no Uta (Ballad) |
| 2010 | Hanamizuki Hanamizuki is a 2010 Japanese romance drama film inspired by the lyrics of a love song of the same name by Yō Hitoto. The film is directed by Nobuhiro Doi, and its script was written by Noriko Yoshida. The film spans the ten-year period from 1996 to 2006, and it stars Yui Aragaki as Sae, a high school student... |
| 2011 | Shinzanmono |
Voice acting
| Year | Title | Type | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Digimon Data Squad | Anime Anime is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons.... series |
Yoshino Fujieda |
| Digimon World Data Squad | Video game | ||
| Keroro Gunso | Anime Anime is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons.... film Film A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects... |
Mirara |
Commercials
- Daio Paper - Elleair (2003)
- Seika - MeijiMeiji Seikais the trade name of a pharmaceutical company in Japan, , until March 31, 2011.It was the confectionery and pharmaceutical company that manufactures a wide range of products including Hello Panda and Yan Yan...
(2005) - Senoby - JT BeverageJapan Tobacco, abbreviated JT, is a cigarette manufacturing company. It is part of the Nikkei 225 index. In 2009 the company was listed at number 312 on the Fortune 500 list. The company is headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo. The international headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.-History:The company...
(2005) - NTT EastNippon Telegraph and Telephone, commonly known as NTT, is a Japanese telecommunications company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Ranked the 31st in Fortune Global 500, NTT is the largest telecommunications company in Asia, and the second-largest in the world in terms of revenue....
(2005-current) - PantenePantenePantene is a brand of hair care products owned by Procter & Gamble. The product line was first introduced in Europe in 1947 by Hoffman-LaRoche of Switzerland, which branded the name based on panthenol as a shampoo ingredient...
- Procter & GambleProcter & GambleProcter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
(2006-current) - Dailies Aqua - Ciba VisionCIBA VisionCIBA VISION is a company that researches, develops, and manufactures contact lenses and lens care products. A Novartis company, it is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia in the Johns Creek Technology Park. Manufacturing plants are also located in Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia...
(2006) - PockyPockyis a Japanese snack food produced by the Ezaki Glico Company of Japan.-History:Pocky was first sold in 1966, and consists of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. It was named after the Japanese onomatopoetic word for the sound Pocky makes when bitten, pokkin . The original was followed by...
- Glico (2006-current) - Townwork - RecruitRecruit (company)Recruit Co., Ltd. is a classified advertisement, publication and human resources company in Japan, founded in 1963 originally as an advertisement company specialized in university newspapers.-Overview:...
(2006-current) - Japanese Red CrossJapanese Red CrossThe ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
(2007) - UniqloUNIQLOis a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.The company was originally a division of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.. On November 1, 2005, it was restructured as a separate wholly owned subsidiary called Uniqlo Co., Ltd. , which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock...
(2007) - Mitsuya Cider - Asahi Soft DrinksAsahi Soft Drinksis a soft drink company founded in 1982 and headquartered in the Azuma-bashi district of Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries. The company sponsors the Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers, an American football team in the X-League, as well as a futsal team.-History:In 1884, began...
(2007) - Green Tea - Asahi Soft DrinksAsahi Soft Drinksis a soft drink company founded in 1982 and headquartered in the Azuma-bashi district of Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries. The company sponsors the Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers, an American football team in the X-League, as well as a futsal team.-History:In 1884, began...
(2009-current) - Sony Walkman - S series (2009-current)
- Tokyo MetroTokyo Metrois one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Toei. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.-Organization:...
- Tokyoheart (2010) - Toyota - Ractis (2010)
Official Photobooks
- Chura Chura (2006)
- A Happy New Gakky (2006)
- Masshiro (2007)
- Koisuru Madori (2007)
- Gekkan Aragaki Yui Special (2010)
- Hanamizuki Official Photostory Book (2010)
Singles
| Release | Title | Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Weekly | Debut | Overall | |||
| 2008/07/16 | "Make My Day Make My Day (Yui Aragaki song) "Make My Day" is a pop song by Japanese recording artist Yui Aragaki. It was released as her first single on July 16, 2008.-Background and composition:"Make My Day" is a pop-rock song written and produced by Japanese singer-songwriter Keito Blow... " |
1 | 2 | 53,471 | 85,341 | Hug |
| 2008/10/15 | "Akai Ito Akai Ito (song) "Akai Ito" is a pop song by Japanese recording artist Yui Aragaki. It was released as her second single on October 15, 2008.-Background:"Akai Ito" is a cover of one of Kobukuro's lesser known songs from their independent releases. Kobukuro's team wanted to bring focus to the song once again and... " |
1 | 3 | 34,236 | 64,461 | |
| 2009/02/25 | "Piece Piece (song) "Piece" is a pop song by Japanese recording artist Yui Aragaki. It was released as her third single on February 25, 2009.-Background:"Piece" was written and composed by singer-songwriter Minako Kawae. The song first premiered on Aragaki's Tokyo FM radio show, "School of Lock!", January 21, 2009... " |
6 | 7 | 18,204 | 25,283 | |
| 2009/05/27 | "Utsushie" | 9 | 10 | 15,946 | 22,048 | |
Albums
| Release | Title | Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Weekly | Debut | Overall | ||
| 2007/12/05 | Sora Sora (album) -Chart positions:-Sales and certifications:- Release history :... |
2 | 3 | 72,879 | 133,086 |
| 2009/06/17 | Hug | 3 | 5 | 22,540 | 40,704 |
| 2010/09/22 | Niji Niji (album) - Charts and sales:- Release history :... |
2 | 4 | 19,888 | 29,902 |
Recognitions
- 61st Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Smile
- 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring 2009): Best Supporting Actress for Smile
- Best Newcomer Award at the 50th Blue Ribbon AwardsBlue Ribbon AwardsThe are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers...
for her role in KoizoraKoizora (film)is a 2007 film based on a cell phone novel of the same name. The film is directed by Natsuki Imai and it stars Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura.Koizora debuted at the Japanese box office on 3 November 2007...
, Waruboro and Tokyo Serendipity.