Hirofumi Araki is a Japanese actor and singer associated with Watanabe Entertainment. He is a member of the acting troupe D-Boys and the boy band D-Date. As an actor, Araki has been involved in many theater and television projects, notably starring in and Juken Sentai Gekiranger.
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 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, which ran from June 3 to 10 at the Space Zero theater in Tokyo. Araki appeared in the musical as a guest performer, making select appearances on June 6 and 9.
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 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.
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 opened on May 27, 2006. He played one of the supporting characters, costarring with fellow D-Boys members, Shirota Yuu and Hiroki Suzuki. The movie's based on the original mangaJyun 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?.
As Rio in ''Jūken Sentai Gekiranger''
On February 18, 2007, Araki starred in the Super Sentai series Juken Sentai Gekiranger as the main villain Rio, a former student of martial arts school known as the Gekijuken Beast Arts whose motivation of becoming strong resulted in him turning his back on his teacher as he becomes leader of the revived Rinjuken Akugata. 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.
