Hirofumi Araki

Hirofumi Araki (荒木 宏文, Araki Hirofumi, born June 14, 1983) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known 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 Juken 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,^[1] as a member of The Tigers. The show, which aired May 26, 2006 on Fuji TV, also starred fellow D-Boys members Masato Wada, Yuu Shirota, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Yuuya Endo and Kōji Seto.

Appeared on a Japanese radio program for BAY FM with fellow D-Boys member, Kōji Seto on October 14, 2006.

With the D-BOYS

In October 2004, Araki joined the Watanabe Entertainment group named the D-BOYS.

As a member of the D-BOYS, Araki also keeps a 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 D-Boys, while the second, released on March 15, 2006, was called Start, both which contain many photos of Araki.

The D-BOYS have also starred in their own drama documentary variety series called, DD-Boys^[2] in which Araki's appeared in a few episodes as himself. The show was 24 episodes long and ran from April 10 to September 25, 2006.

In June 2007, the D-BOYS starred in their very own musical together called, D-BOYS STAGE,^[3] which ran from June 3 to June 10 at the Space Zero theater in Tokyo. Araki appeared in the musical as a guest performer, making select appearances on June 6 and June 9.

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 debut on January 8, 2005 in the Side Yamabuki performance in Osaka. 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 29, 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 actors Yuuta Takahashi and Yusuke Arai.

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 principal 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 13, 2006 and opened on the tenth spot in the Japanese Box Office.

In June Bride

Araki's next movie, the June Bride (Jyun Bride)^[4] 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 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 Juken 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 Kōji Seto, would be getting solo photobooks and DVDs called the "Prince Series." Araki's solo photobook was released on April 19, 2007, while his solo idol DVD was released on May 16, 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 Juken 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 a blog on his D-BOYS webpage, which he updates frequently. He is very close friends with fellow D-BOYS members Hiroki Suzuki, Kōji Seto, Masaki Kaji, Masato Wada and Osamu Adachi.

Selected filmography

Selected dubbing

Stage

• March 24, 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 6 and June 9, 2007 as a guest performer in the D-BOYS Stage Vol. 1 Musical
• June 20-26th & July 5-6th 2008 - starred in the D-BOYS Stage Vol. 2 ~ The Last Game Musical

Plays

• June 2 to June 4, 2006 in Limit ~ What is Your Story?
• October 27 to November 2, 2008 in Shatou

Official DVDs

References

1. ↑ Hit Parade Official Site
2. ↑ DD-Boys Official Site
3. ↑ D-BOYS STAGE Official Website
4. ↑ June Bride Official Site

• Wikipedia Japanese article on 荒木宏文
• Wikipedia Japanese article on D-Boys

External links

• Araki's Official Blog (Japanese)
• Hirofumi Araki's Official FRiendster Page (Japanese)
• Araki's Official Website and Profile (Japanese)
• Araki's Past Blog Archive (Japanese)
• Araki's Past Blog Archive with Introduction (Japanese)
• D-Boys Official Website (Japanese)
• Hirofumi Araki at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Hirofumi Araki at the Internet Movie Database

See also

• D-BOYS
• Tenimyu
• The Prince of Tennis (film)
• The Prince of Tennis
• Sadaharu Inui
• Juken Sentai Gekiranger