Hirofumi Araki

is a Japanese actor and singer associated with Watanabe Entertainment. He is a member of the acting troupe D-Boys and the leader of its pop unit D-Date. As an actor, Araki has been involved in many theater and television projects, notably starring in Musical: The Prince of Tennis, Juken Sentai Gekiranger, and Musical: Touken Ranbu. In 2015, Araki made his solo debut with his single Next Stage. On June 14, 2023, Araki changed his name to 新木 宏典, but it is still read the same way.

Career In October 2004, Araki joined the Watanabe Entertainment group named the D-Boys. On April 27, 2005, they have released a photobook entitled D-Boys, while the second, released on March 15, 2006, was called Start. Araki has appeared in various TV shows, debuting in the TV drama The Hit Parade as a member of The Tigers. The show, which aired on May 26, 2006 on Fuji TV, also starred his fellow D-Boys members Masato Wada, Yuu Shirota, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Yuuya Endo and Kōji Seto. Araki also appeared on a Japanese radio program for BAY FM with fellow D-Boys member Kōji Seto on October 14, 2006.

Araki's acting career took off when he portrayed 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 worked with fellow D-Boys members Yuya Endo, Kotaro Yanagi, Masaki Kaji, Hiroki Suzuki, Osamu Adachi, Masato Wada, and former member Yu Shirota. Araki reprised his role in the live-adaptation film of the Prince of Tennis manga series. He, along with most of the principal cast members for the Seigaku Regulars, reprised their roles in the movie, while Kanata Hongō was cast as Ryoma Echizen, the main protagonist. On March 29, 2006, at the end of the final Dream Live 3rd show, Araki and majority of the Seigaku cast graduated from their roles. After his graduation, he was succeeded by Masei Nakayama in portraying Inui.

The D-Boys starred in their own drama documentary variety series called, DD-Boys in which Araki has appeared in a few episodes as himself. The show has 24 episodes and ran from April 10 to September 25, 2006. Araki appeared in the film June Bride based on the manga of the same name by Yoshida Satoshi. He played one of the supporting characters and co-starred with fellow D-Boys members Shirota and Suzuki.

In June 2006, Araki acted onstage in the play Limit: What Is Your Story?, where he appeared with fellow D-Boys members Suzuki and Yuichi Nakamura. On February 18, 2007, Araki starred in the Super Sentai series Juken Sentai Gekiranger as the main villain Rio, a former student of 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 co-stars Hirofumi's fellow D-Boys member Suzuki as Rio's rival and the series protagonist, Jan Kandō/GekiRed.

It was announced in early 2007 that Araki, along with D-Boys members 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. 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 second photobook, entitled "Always By Your Side" was released in May 2008. It was brought out simultaneously with Suzuki's second photobook despite being separate from the "Prince Series", most likely 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.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2004 Kwaidan: Eternal Love Townsman 2006 The Prince of Tennis Sadaharu Inui June Bride Yoshitake 2007 Juken Sentai Gekiranger: Nei-Nei! Hou-Hou! Hong Kong Decisive BattleRio / Black Lion Rio 2008 Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs Boukenger Asymmetry Shin'ichirō Tatsumi Lead role Shakariki! Bandman 1 Month Like Summer Vacation Junya Kashiwagi Lead role Ōoku Ukie Hiren Ukishima Lead role; part of Taiga Roman Trilogy 2009 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope Britney BeatRock☆Love Aki Lead role Engine Sentai Go-onger vs. Gekiranger Rio / Black Lion Rio Battle of Demons Kaki Kitō Lead role Battle of Demons 2 Video appearance Battle of Demons 3 2010 X Game Hideaki Kokubo Lead role 2017 Stray Dogz 5 Rei Gojo 2018 Uchu Sentai Kyuranger vs. Space Squad Rio / Black Lion Rio Voice only; video appearance 2022 Bungo Stray Dogs The Movie: Beast Ango Sakaguchi Jet Black Ten: The Ending Story Nameless Lead role

Television Year Title Role Broadcast Notes 2006 The Hit Parade The Tigers Fuji TV Regatta Imai TV Asahi Episode 3 2007 Juken Sentai Gekiranger Rio / Black Lion Rio TV Asahi / Toei 2008 The Negotiator Takashi Sakai TV Asahi Episodes 7–8 Eisei Damashī 2: Ikenai Tashizan A+B Makoto BS Japan Episode 4 Love 17 Makoto Takeshita Mētele 2009 Deadly Work People 2009 Jiro Asahi Broadcasting / TV Asahi / Shōchiku Episode 1 GodHand Teru Manabu Nishimura TBS No Angel No Luck Kataoka TV Tokyo Love Game Hayato Aoyagi Nippon TV Episode 13 Urban Myths: Sepia Kimihiko Sakita WOWOW Segment: Dead Love 2010 Shinsengumi Peace Maker Toshimaro Yoshida MBS / TBS Team Batista 2: The Triumphant Return of General Rouge Hiroyuki Tsukada Fuji TV Episode 3 Uchū Inu Sakusen Bakuto TV Tokyo Episode 2 Cold Cases Naoki Tsukamoto TV Asahi Episode 6 Gachiban: Ultimatum 2 Hiroyuki Tsukuda Episode 3 Ushijima the Loan Shark Yoshinori MBS / TBS Episodes 5–8 2011 Heaven's Flower: The Legend of Arcana Yuichiro Manaka TBS The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Rio / Black Lion Rio CBS Voice dub; Episode 2 2012 Good Life: Thank You, Dad, Goodbye Ryoji Hosokawa Kansai TV / Fuji TV Keigo Higashino Mysteries Ato Fuji TV Episode 4 High School Opera Company: Men's Team Yūji Machida Nippon TV / TBS Sugarless Mita Minoru / Santa Nippon TV Episodes 6–7, 11 High School Entrance Exam Tetsuya Sawamura Fuji TV / Fuji TV Next 2015 Watashitachi ga Propose Sarenai no ni wa, 101 no Riyū ga Atte da na 2 Kuro LaLa TV Episode 1 Oretachi ga Propose Dekinai no ni wa, 3ttsu no Riyū shika nakuteda na Kataoka 2016 Seifukusōsa 2 Yoshio Sugawara TBS Bakumatsu Prince Izō Okada Chukyo TV 2018 Ochanomizu Rock Junya Kiriyama TV Tokyo Episode 8 2020 King of Dance Osamu Tokimoto Yomiuri TV Crazy Rain Iguchi Asahi Broadcasting Lead role

TV animation Year Title Role Broadcast Notes 2021 Dinosaur Biyori AlamosaurusQuetzalcoatlus Tokyo MXBS11

Stage Year Title Role Location Notes 2005 Musical The Prince of Tennis: Side Yamabuki feat. St. Rudolph Gakuen Sadaharu Inui Osaka Mielparque HallTokyo Mielparque Hall Musical The Prince of Tennis: Concert Dream Live 2nd Tokyo Bay NK Hall Musical The Prince of Tennis: The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen Japan Youth HallOsaka Mielparque Hall Musical The Prince of Tennis: The Imperial Match Hyotei Gakuen In Winter 2006 Limit: What Is Your Story? Og Theater V Akasaka Musical The Prince of Tennis: Concert Dream Live 3rd Sadaharu Inui Zepp Tokyo Yume no Kobako ni Ribonwokakete: Kaichōban Omotesando Fab Director 2007 Out of Order: Daijin Denshin Himself Aoyama Theatre Daily appearance D-Boys Stage Vol.1: Kanbai Orei Saburō Nagatsuka / Ryōma Sakamoto Zenrosai Hall Space Zero 2008 D-Boys Stage Vol.2: Last Game Yoshihiko Aimoto Aoyama TheatreTheatre Brava! Lead role 2009 Run with the Wind Kōsuke Sakaki Le Theatre GinzaToyamaken Kyōikubunka HallMeitetsu HallDenryoku HallOsaka Kōseinen Kinkaikan Geijutsu HallFukuoka Sunpalace Reading Stage: Love Letters Andrew Le Theatre Ginza D-Boys Stage Vol.3: Karasu Torakichi Aoyama TheatreTheatre Brava! Legend of the Eight Samurai Genpachi Inukai New National Theatre (Middle Theatre)NHK Osaka Hall 2013 Reading Stage: Shippo no Nakamatachi 3 The Galaxy Theatre 2014 Handsome Rakugo: Act III Performer Akasaka Red Theatre Tumbling: Final Yūya Nishii Kanagawa Arts TheatreTheatre Brava!Akasaka ACT Theatre Musical Black Butler: Lycoris that Blazes the Earth Lau Roppongi Blue TheatreUmeda Arts Theatre Drama City My Host: Blood Battle! Fukuoka Nakasu Edition Tokio Japan Youth HallMorinomiya Piloti Hall 2015 Garantido Yoshimura / Katsuo Sekikawa Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre PlayhouseHyogo Performing Arts Center Hankyū-chū Hall D-Boys Stage 16th × TS Musical Foundation Orange Takashi Yamakura Morinomiya Piloti HallSunshine TheatreMeitetsu HallAlpha Anabuki HallKoriyama City Cultural CenterHitachi Systems Hall SendaiAkita Prefectural Children's HallDoshin Hall Amuse × People Purple Mononofu Series: Mononofu White Tiger Toshizō Hijikata The Galaxy TheatreArtopia HallUmeda Arts Theatre Drama City 2016 My Host: The Final – Crash! Sakae Nagoya Edition Tokio The Galaxy Theatre Guest appearance Live Fantasy Fairy Tail Jellal Fernandes Sunshine TheatreShanghai Art Theatre Opera Meiji Tokyo Love Song: Black Cat of the Hazy Moon Ōgai Mori Hakuhinkan Theatre Mitsuru Matsuoka presents Daydream Babys Arako Mama / Hirofumi Araki Akasaka BlitzNamba Hatch Mononofu Series: Meditating Wolf Black Duck Toshizō Hijikata The Galaxy TheatreMorinomiya Piloti HallKitakyushu Arts Theatre Main Hall Reading Stage: Gege Takayuki Takano Rikkō-kai Hall The Smile Mermaid Kent Theatre 1010Umeda Arts Theatre Drama City 2017 My Host: Reborn Tokio Sunshine Theatre Guest appearance Musical Touken Ranbu: 300-Year Lullaby Nikkari Aoe AiiA 2.5 TheatreUmeda Arts Theatre Main HallZhuhai Grand Theatre Ghostly Tōsen Japan Youth HallHongqiao Artistic Center Office Shika Produce Vol.M: Futodoki Kageyama / Sadayū Murakaki The Galaxy TheatreSankei Hall Breeze ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. Jean Otus Shinagawa Club eX Lead role Musical Touken Ranbu: Shinken Ranbu Festival 2017 Nikkari Aoe Nippon BudokanOsaka-jō HallSaitama Super ArenaGuangzhou Gymnasium 2018 My Host: Reborn – Sequel! Osaka Minami Edition Tokio Sunshine Theatre Guest appearance Mononofu Series: Kake Hayabusa Hito Yamato Toshizō Hijikata The Galaxy TheatreMorinomiya Piloti Hall Ochanomizu Rock: The Live Stage Junya Kiriyama AiiA 2.5 Theatre Musical The Prince of Tennis: Dream Live 2018 Sadaharu Inui Kobe World Memorial Hall Guest appearance Ran: Koan Ogata's Case Files Musician / Wakasa Osaka Shochikuza TheatreShinbashi Enbujō Want-to-Know More about History Series: John Manjirō Takechi Hanpeita / Jolly Ex Theatre Roppongi Opera Meiji Tokyo Love Song: Moonbow of My Fiancé Ōgai Mori Morinomiya Piloti HallTheatre 1010 Lead role Bungo Stray Dogs on Stage: The Dark Age Ango Sakaguchi Sunshine TheatreMorinomiya Piloti Hall Musical Touken Ranbu: Shinken Ranbu Festival 2018 Nikkari Aoe Fukui Sun DomeNippon BudokanSekisui Heim Super ArenaOsaka-jō HallMakuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 9–11 2019 Musical Touken Ranbu: 300-Year Lullaby 2019 The Galaxy TheatreSankei Hall BreezeKyoto TheatreTokyo Dome City Hall Trump Series: Cocoon Raffaello Delico Sunshine TheatreSankei Hall Breeze Appears in Dark of the Moon and Upon One of the Stars Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin – Kizuna Akame The Galaxy TheatreAiiA 2.5 Theatre Kobe Reading Stage: Lily and Rose Hikaru Amano Shinagawa Club eX Koi wo Yomu Vol.2: Running Away is Shameful but Useful Hiramasa Tsuzaki Hulic Hall Tokyo Yu Yu Hakusho Koenma Theatre 1010Morinomiya Piloti HallMomochi PalaceIchinomiya Community Hall Musical Touken Ranbu: Utago Ranbu Frenzy 2019 Nikkari Aoe Big HatSekisui Heim Super ArenaHokkai KitayellFukuoka Kokusai CenterHiroshima Green-ArenaSaitama Super ArenaAichi Sky Expo Exhibition Hall AOsaka-jō HallMusashino Forest Sport Plaza Main Hall 2020 My Host: The Last Live – Love to the End! Tokio Japan Youth Hall Guest appearance Touken Ranbu Online 5th Anniversary Touken Ranbu: The Great Performance Nikkari Aoe Tokyo Dome Canceled Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Track.2 Hifumi Izanami / Gigolo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball May run canceled King of Dance Osamu Tokimoto Cool Japan Park Osaka WW HallHulic Hall TokyoNagoya Civic Assembly Hall Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin – Gajō Kessen-hen Akame The Galaxy Theatre Yu Yu Hakusho: Act 2 Koenma Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar BallCool Japan Park Osaka WW HallKyoto Theatre Also director 2021 Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Track.4 Hifumi Izanami / Gigolo Tokyo Dome City HallOsaka Mielparque HallFukuoka Sunpalace Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Track.2 Replay Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball Bungo Stray Dogs on Stage: Dead Apple Ango Sakaguchi Cool Japan Park Osaka WW HallNippon Seinen-kan Hall Video appearance Musical Touken Ranbu: Nikkari Aoe Solo Performance – 2021 Spring Run Nikkari Aoe Hakodate Citizen Hall, Main HallKyara Hall/Tonan Public HallOmagari Civic Center, Main HallShibata Civic CenterToyama Prefectural HallKomatsu Urara Theater, Main HallSabae City Culture CenterUmeda Arts Theater, Main HallNara Prefecture Cultural Hall, International HallYonago City Cultural CenterIzumo Civic HallMomochi PalaceArao General Cultural Center, Main HallHouzan Hall Lead role Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Battle of Pride Hifumi Izanami / Gigolo Maruzen Intec Arena OsakaPia Arena MM Koi wo Yomu in Crea: Running Away is Shameful but Useful Hiramasa Tsuzaki Theater Creation Musical Touken Ranbu: Nikkari Aoe Solo Performance – 2021 Autumn Run Nikkari Aoe Minamisoma Civic Cultural Hall, Main HallYuki Civic Culture Center ACROSS, Main HallYamanashi Prefectural Citizen's Culture Hall, Small HallIchinomiya Civic HallOtsu Civic Hall, Main HallKinan Cultural Hall, Main HallOkayama Civic HallSusaki Seaside StageYahatahama Civic Cultural Hall, Main HallJ:COM HorutoHall OITA, Main HallMiyazaki Municipal Culture Hall, Main Hall Lead role 2022 Musical Touken Ranbu: Nikkari Aoe Solo Performance – 2022 Spring Run Okinawa Civic HallIsahaya Culture HallTosu Civic HallShimonoseki City Lifelong Learning Plaza, Main HallUji Culture Center, Main HallKobe Kokusai HallNagaragawa Convention CenterHamamatsu Hamakita Culture Center, Main HallSagami Women's University Green HallShibukawa Civic Hall, Main HallSano Culture Center, Main HallAomori Civic HallNatori Performing Arts Center, Main HallLead role; Natori run canceled Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Rep LIVE side M.T.C Hifumi Izanami / Gigolo KT Zepp Yokohama Guest appearance Jet Black Ten: The Beginning Story Yōnosuke Udai / Kutarō Sunshine TheatreUmeda Arts Theatre Drama City Lead role Musical Touken Ranbu: Nikkari Aoe Solo Performance – 2022 Autumn Run Nikkari Aoe Showa Women's University, Hitomi Memorial HallWako Civic Culture CenterChiba City Civic HallSendai Denryoku HallYamagata Citizens' Hall, Main HallHokuto Culture Hall, Middle HallEchizen Culture Center, Main HallKakiyasu City Hall (Kuwana Civic Center)JMS Aster Plaza, Main HallTokushima Arts Foundation for CultureMinoh Theatre for the Performing Arts, Main HallRexxam Hall, Main Hall Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle – Rule the Stage: Bad Ass Temple VS Matenrō Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball Hifumi Izanami / Gigolo 2025Musical Fate/Zero: The Sword of Promised Victory Kiritsugu EmiyaTheater Milano-za, TokyoSky Theater MBS, OsakaLead role

Official DVDs Year DVD DVD cover Release date JPN certification 2007 Prince Series D-BOYS Collection – Hirofumi Araki May 16, 2007