After her passionate portrayal of a high school student with Gender Identity Disorder in the 6th series of the long-running classroom drama Kinpachi sensei, "3-nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei 6" (2001), endeared her to the Japanese nation, she was able to pursue a solo music career with her first single, "Pureness", released in August 2002. It was this performance that also convinced cult movie director Ryohei Kitamura to cast her in the title role of Azumi (2003).
With the film's release date coinciding with the sale of her debut album "AYAUETO" in the spring of 2003, Aya was set for super-stardom. Her famous smile has since earned her increasing numbers of commercial contracts and magazine covers - all-important exposure for any idol - combined with starring roles in a number of popular television dramas have meant she is rarely out of the limelight and has cemented her position as one of Japan's top entertainers.
She has been married to Hiroyuki Igarashi (HIRO of EXILE) since September 14, 2012. Their first daughter was born on August 19, 2015. On July 27, 2019, the birth of their second child, a boy, was announced. On Jun 23, 2023, the birth of their third child, a boy, was announced.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/4rQw6_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abe Hiroshi", "alternateName": "阿部寛", "birthDate": "June 22, 1964", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Abe Hiroshi, born in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Japanese model and actor. He began his career as a model, but successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. Abe graduated from Chuo University in 1988 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Abe's model career began during his college days. By winning "Shueisha 3rd Nonno Boyfriend Award" in 1985, his image as a charismatic model was established and appeared exclusively for "Nonno" and "Men's Nonno" magazines. In his last year of college, Abe made his debut in acting with the movie "Haikara-san ga Toru". His first TV drama leading role came in 1990. Abe achieved a breakthrough in 1994 by winning the Japanese Professional Movie Special Award for "Kyoju Luger P08", and one other work. In his 30-year long career, Abe has starred in many series and movies, and the most notable works include "TRICK" series, "Dragon Zakura", "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko", "Shinzanmono" series, "Thermae Romae", and multiple works directed by Koreeda Hirokazu - "Still Working" and "After the Storm".
In 2009, Abe won the award for Best Actor at the 63rd Mainichi Film Award for his performances in "Still Walking" and "Aoi Tori". He has also won Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actor Award twice - at the 36th edition for "Thermae Romae", and at the 38th edition for "Cape Nostalgia". In 2012, he won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for his performances in "Kirin no Tsubasa", "Thermae Romae", and "By Rule of Crow's Thumb". Abe has also won the Television Drama Academy Award a total of six times - four as Best Actor and twice as Best Supporting Actor.
In his private life, he remained single beyond 40, making him synonymous with the character he played, Kuwano Shinsuke, from "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko". On November 20, 2007, Abe held a press conference at TV Asahi to announce his engagement. His fiancée is an office lady (28 at the time) and 15 years younger than him. He even stated that "The man who can't get married is getting married!" (referring to Kuwano Shinsuke) during the press conference. Abe and his fiancée registered their marriage in February 2008. The couple has two daughters - the eldest one was born on June 23, 2011, and the second child was born on November 1, 2012.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/6wwg0_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kimura Midoriko", "alternateName": "キムラ緑子", "birthDate": "October 15, 1961", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Kimura Midoriko is a Japanese actress, born on Sunday, October 15, 1961, in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. She's represented by SIS talent agency.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/RLqy6_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matsuo Satoru", "alternateName": "松尾諭", "birthDate": "December 7, 1975", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Matsuo Satoru is a Japanese actor, entertainer, and commentator born in Amagasaki, Hyogo. He is affiliated with FMG.
He worked as a part-time worker in the organization department of the Sankei Shimbun Osaka headquarters for 3 years, declined the offer to become a full-time employee, and aspired to be an actor from the age of 25.
When he was in his second year of high school, Matsuo decided to pursue acting after seeing a stage performance for the first time at a school event. In 1995, he entered the Faculty of Comprehensive Policy Studies at Kwansei Gakuin University, where he worked part-time in the organization department of the Sankei Shimbun Osaka headquarters through a senior's introduction. Even after dropping out of university in his third year, he continued working there and was recommended to become a full-time employee. However, in 1998, he resigned to pursue his acting career.
In 2000, he moved to Tokyo to pursue acting. While attending auditions for theater companies, he happened to pick up an envelope containing an airplane ticket on the street in front of his house and delivered it to the police box. Subsequently, he met the woman who had dropped it and wanted to thank him, and it turned out she was the president of the entertainment production company FMG, which led to him joining the company. Gradually participating in auditions, he made his acting debut in the film "Unforgettable People" in the same year.
(Source: Japanese = Wikipedia || Translation = MyDramaList)", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/wJjKRN_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sasano Takashi", "alternateName": "笹野高史", "birthDate": "June 22, 1948", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Takashi Sasano is a Japanese actor born in Awaji, Japan. He graduated from Sumoto High School and attended Nihon University College of Art.
(Source: IMDb)", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/2z182_5c.jpg" } ], "director": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Takeuchi Hideki", "alternateName": "武内英樹", "birthDate": "October 9, 1966", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/Q5B7vc.jpg" } ], "trailer": { "@type": "VideoObject", "name": "Trailer for Thermae Romae", "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/", "thumbnailUrl": "https://img.youtube.com/vi//0.jpg" }, "productionCompany": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Unknown", "description": "", "logo": "/app/manga/themes/kissasian/assets/images/noposter.jpg" } ], "countryOfOrigin": { "@type": "Country", "name": "Japan" }, "numberOfEpisodes": "1", "episode": [ { "@type": "TVEpisode", "name": "Episode 1", "url": "https://ww7.kissasian.video/watch/thermae-romae/episode-1.html", "episodeNumber": 1, "datePublished": "2014-05-20" } ]
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