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. 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, Tennimu. 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.