Jun Matsumoto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jun Matsumoto 松本 潤
Matsumoto in November 2019
Born	(1983-08-30) August 30, 1983 (age 41) Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
Other names	MatsuJun
Occupation	Singer actor radio host dancer model
Years active	1996–present
Musical career
Genres	J-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Pony Canyon J Storm

Jun Matsumoto (松本 潤, Matsumoto Jun, born August 30, 1983) is a Japanese singer, actor, radio host, and model. He is a member of the popular boy band Arashi. Jun Matsumoto also helps plan concerts for his band and other groups. He is famous for playing Tsukasa Dōmyōji in the 2005 TV show Boys Over Flowers. For this role, he won a special award as "Man of the Year" from GQ Japan.

Matsumoto started his career in entertainment in 1996. He joined a Japanese talent agency called Johnny & Associates. Before he became a singer with Arashi in 1999, he began acting. His first play was Stand by Me, based on the movie. Since then, he has been in many TV shows and movies. He has also won several awards for his acting.

Early Life and School

Matsumoto was born in Toshima, Tokyo. He is the youngest child in his family. His older sister was a fan of the group KinKi Kids. This made him want to join Johnny & Associates in 1996. He sent his application on his elementary school graduation day. Weeks later, the agency's president, Johnny Kitagawa, called him. He invited Jun to a rehearsal instead of a regular audition. Because of this, Matsumoto is often called one of the "elite" members of the agency.

Matsumoto finished high school in March 2002. He went to Horikoshi Gakuen, a famous school for performing arts. Many well-known actors and singers have gone there.

Career Highlights

In October 2023, Matsumoto announced a photo book. It celebrated his 40th birthday. The book shared his experiences playing Ieyasu Tokugawa. It was released in December 2023. By May 2024, his photo book was very popular. It ranked second in "Men's Photo Books" in Japan.

On May 16, 2024, Matsumoto shared big news. He decided to become independent from his agency, Starto, for his solo work. However, he would still be a part of Arashi. He officially left Starto on May 30. On June 1, he updated his Instagram. He shared details about his new company, MJC Inc. Its website says the company wants to "generate new value." It aims to "lead Japan and the world to a brighter future through entertainment." He is the "Chief Entertainment Officer" of MJC Inc.

On December 3, 2024, Matsumoto announced another step. He signed a contract with Eternal Moments Inc. for his individual activities. His original company, MJC Inc., will handle planning and directing.

Music and Concerts

Matsumoto often sings solos for Arashi's albums and concerts. Most of these songs are written by the band's staff. But he has written lyrics for some of his own songs. These include "La Familia" (2004), "Naked" (2008), and "Stay Gold" (2014). He also helped with the song "DRIVE" (2016). He worked with other Arashi members to write lyrics for songs like "Fight Song" and "5×20".

Matsumoto started helping with concert production in 2000. He mainly focuses on Arashi's concerts. But he also gives advice to younger groups from Johnny & Associates. For example, he helped Hey! Say! JUMP in 2014 and King & Prince in 2018. In 2021, he directed a big concert called Johnny's Festival. This show featured many different groups. He is officially listed as the director for several Arashi tours. He also co-directed the "We Are!! Let's get the party STARTO!!" concert series in April 2024. This was his last project before becoming independent.

As a concert producer, Matsumoto has many new ideas. In 2005, he helped create the "moving stage." This stage moves around the venue. Many other Asian music acts now use this idea. He also worked for three years on a new idea for concerts. He wanted to use bluetooth to change the colors of penlights. This idea was successfully used in the Arashi Live Tour 2014 The Digitalian.

Acting Career

Stage Plays

In 1997, Matsumoto acted in his first stage play. It was Stand by Me. His future bandmates, Masaki Aiba and Kazunari Ninomiya, were also in it. After this, he focused on TV shows and movies for seven years. In 2004, he returned to the stage. He appeared in West Side Story with bandmates Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai. In 2005 and 2006, he got his first main roles in plays. These were Eden no Higashi (East of Eden) and Byakuya no Onna Kishi (Valkyrie of the White Night).

On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Matsumoto would star in Aa, Kōya (Ah, Wilderness). This was his first play in five years.

In April 2024, Matsumoto joined a new play by Hideki Noda. The play is called Sei sankaku kankei (Trilateral connection). It is based on a famous book, The Brothers Karamazov. Matsumoto plays the oldest brother, a fireworks artist. The play is a suspense story about their father's murder. It was performed in Tokyo, Kitakyushu, and Osaka. It also had shows in London, England, under the name "Love in action." The performances ran from July 11 to November 2, 2024.

TV Dramas

Matsumoto started acting on TV in April 1997. His first role was in the drama special Hoken Chousain. A few months later, he was in the mystery series Bokura no Yūki: Miman Toshi. In 1999, all the members of Arashi acted together for the first time. They were in a short drama about volleyball called V no Arashi.

Matsumoto became very well-known in 2001. He played Hajime Kinda'ichi in the third season of Kinda'ichi Shōnen no Jikenbo.

He gained even more popularity in 2002. He starred in the first season of Gokusen. He played Shin Sawada, a smart but troubled student. His acting earned him the Best Supporting Actor award. He returned for a special episode in 2003. His character also made a brief appearance in Sakurai's comedy series Yoiko no Mikata.

In 2003, Matsumoto took another important role. He played Takeshi "Momo" Goda in Kimi wa Pet.

In 2005, Matsumoto took on his most famous role. He played Domyōuji Tsukasa in Hana Yori Dango. This show was very successful. Matsumoto won Best Supporting Actor again for his role. In 2007, a second season, Hana Yori Dango Returns, was even more popular. It had very high viewership ratings. Matsumoto won Best Supporting Actor for this role too. The series ended with a movie in 2008. In 2018, he made a guest appearance as Domyōuji in the new series Hana Nochi Hare ~ Hanadan Next Season.

In 2007, Matsumoto starred in Bambino!. He won his first Best Actor award for this show.

In 2008, he was in a TV special called Myū no Anyo Papa ni Ageru. He played a man with a serious illness. The show was very popular.

In 2009, Matsumoto starred in Smile. He played Vito Hayakawa, a young man who always smiles. He won Best Actor for this role. In 2010, he starred in a three-part drama special called Wagaya no Rekishi.

In January 2010, all Arashi members starred together in a drama special. It was a suspense drama called Saigo no Yakusoku. Matsumoto played Nozomu Gotō, a motorcycle courier. He also starred in the drama Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku. He made a guest appearance in Ohno's drama Kaibutsu-kun.

In 2012, Matsumoto played Shuntaro Tokita in Lucky Seven. This show was about a group of unique detectives.

In 2014, Matsumoto played Koyurugi Sota in Shitsuren Chocolatier. This was a live-action version of a romance manga.

In 2016, Matsumoto starred as Hiroto Miyama in 99.9 Criminal Lawyer. The show is about a lawyer who tries to find the small 0.1% truth in cases. In Japan, most people are found guilty once they are charged. In 2018, Matsumoto returned for a second season. This season was also very successful. The series continued in 2021 with a TV special and a movie.

In 2019, Matsumoto played Matsuura Takeshirō in an NHK drama special. It celebrated the 150th anniversary of Hokkaido's naming.

By the end of 2021, Matsumoto's next drama was announced. It was called Tonari no Chikara (My neighbor Chikara). It started airing in January 2022. He played Chikara Nakagoshi, a stay-at-home dad and writer. He cares a lot about the people around him.

Matsumoto played the main role in the 2023 NHK Taiga drama What Will You Do, Ieyasu?. He played Tokugawa Ieyasu. As part of promoting the drama, Matsumoto visited cities important to the story. He also took part in a mounted procession at the Hamamatsu Kite Festival in May 2023. This drama was the fourth time he acted alongside Nanako Matsushima, who played Ieyasu's mother.

Movies

In 1998, Matsumoto appeared in the movie Shinjuku Tanteidan Shōnen. His future bandmate Aiba was also in it.

In 2002, Arashi starred in their first movie together. It was called Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy. They made a sequel in 2004, Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy. In 2005, Matsumoto also starred in the film Tokyo Tower.

In 2007, Arashi starred in their third movie, Kiiroi Namida. Matsumoto also starred in the independent film Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru. He played Yori Yūki, a high school student who falls in love with his twin sister.

In 2008, Matsumoto took on his first historical role. He was in a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess. Later, the Hana Yori Dango series ended with a movie. Hana Yori Dango Final was a big success at the box office.

In 2013, Matsumoto played Okuda Kosuke in the movie Hidamari no Kanojo (Her Sunny Side).

In 2014, Arashi starred in another sequel to the Pikanchi series. It was called Pikanchi Life is Hard Tabun Happy.

In 2017, Matsumoto played Takashi Hayama in the movie Narratage.

Matsumoto played Hiroto Miyama again in 2021. This was for the movie 99.9 Criminal Lawyer: The Movie. It was a sequel to the TV drama series.

Other Activities

TV Host

From 2005 to 2007, Matsumoto co-hosted TV shows like Minna no Terebi and Utawara Hot Hit 10. He hosted these shows with other famous Japanese artists.

Radio Show

Matsumoto had his own radio show called Jun Style. It was on Nack5 from October 2002 to September 2011.

Exhibition

On November 4, 2023, Matsumoto announced an exhibition. It opened at the Roppongi Museum. The exhibition was called "Jun Matsumoto Exhibition `Perspective ~ Toki o tsunagu manazashi ~". It was a collaboration with six artists. Visitors could experience Matsumoto's views and words. The exhibition ran from December 8, 2023, to January 18, 2024.

Commercials

Matsumoto has appeared in many commercials for various products. These include:

• Asahi Soft Drinks "Mitsuya Cider" (with Arashi)
• Au by KDDI (mobile phones)
• Bandai's Tamagotchi
• Daiichi Sankyo (cold medicine)
• Daio Paper "Elleair + Water"
• Hitachi home appliances (by himself and with Arashi)
• House Foods
• Japan Airlines (with Sho Sakurai)
• Japan Post New Year's postcard campaigns
• KFC Japan (Pot Pie and Chicken Box)
• Kikkoman "Uchi no gohan"
• Kirin Holdings (beer and beverages)
• Kosé Corporation (cosmetics)
• Meiji Seika (chocolate and snacks)
• Misawa Home
• NHK new satellite channels
• Nintendo (Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Wii Party)
• Osaka-Kansai Expo
• Recruit (Hot Pepper Beauty, Suumo)
• Sagawa Express
• Suntory Pepsi Nex

Filmography

TV Drama Roles

Movie Roles

Stage Play Roles

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: Jun Matsumoto para niños