Masaharu Fukuyama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masaharu Fukuyama
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| 福山 雅治 | |
Fukuyama at the Golden Melody Awards in 2013
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| Born | February 6, 1969 Nagasaki, Japan
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| Education | Nagasaki Prefectural Nagasaki Technical High School |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Agent | Amuse, Inc. |
| Partner(s) |
Kazue Fukiishi
(m. 2015) |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels |
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Masaharu Fukuyama (福山 雅治, Fukuyama Masaharu, born February 6, 1969) is a famous Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and radio host from Nagasaki, Japan. He is one of Japan's most successful music artists. He started his career in 1990 with his first single, "Tsuioku no Ame no Naka."
Fukuyama is represented by the talent agency Amuse, Inc.
Contents
A Star in Music and Acting
Masaharu Fukuyama is famous for both his music and his roles in Japanese television dramas and movies. His singing career took off in 1992 with the song "Good night." The song was used in a TV show, which helped many people discover his music.
In 1993, he was invited to perform on Kōhaku Uta Gassen. This is a very popular New Year's Eve TV show in Japan that features only the most successful singers.
Becoming a Superstar
Fukuyama's fame grew even more after he acted in the TV drama Under the Same Roof. He played the role of Chinichan, the second oldest brother in the Kashiwagi family. After the show's success, his 1994 single "It's Only Love/Sorry Baby" sold over a million copies. The next year, his song "Hello" was one of the best-selling songs in Japan.
After a two-year break from entertainment, he returned in 1998. His comeback song, "Heart/You", was a big hit. To thank his fans for their support, he started a series of popular concerts called "Daikanshasai," which means "Great Thanksgiving Festival."
Famous Songs and Records
Some of Fukuyama's most loved songs are "Sakura Zaka" and "Niji." His 2000 single "Sakura Zaka" was a massive success. It sold over 751,000 copies in just its first week and stayed at the top of the Japanese Oricon music charts for three weeks in a row. In total, it sold about 2.3 million copies.
His song "Niji" was the theme for the popular TV drama Water Boys. He holds the record for being the best-selling male solo artist in Japan, with over 21 million copies sold.
Success on Screen
In 2007, Fukuyama returned to acting in the TV drama Galileo. He played Manabu Yukawa, a smart but quirky physics professor who helps solve crimes. He won a "Best Actor" award for this role. He also formed a music group called KOH+ with his co-star, Kou Shibasaki.
In 2010, he played the main character, Sakamoto Ryōma, in the historical TV series Ryōmaden. More recently, in 2023, he was the voice of King Magnifico in the Japanese version of the Disney movie Wish.
Radio Host
Fukuyama has also had a long career as a radio host. For many years, he hosted a popular weekly show on All Night Nippon. He was known for his funny and entertaining style. As of 2025, he continues to host radio programs on Tokyo FM.
Personal Life
Fukuyama's parents were survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. These survivors are known as hibakusha. He has worked to help protect special trees that survived the bombing, called hibakujumoku.
On September 28, 2015, Fukuyama married actress Kazue Fukiishi. The news of his marriage was a big surprise to many of his fans. The couple had their first child in December 2016. Fukuyama has also shared that he has two rescue cats named Ore-chan and Tora-chan.
Main Albums
Fukuyama has released many successful albums throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- 1990: Dengon
- 1991: Lion
- 1991: Bros.
- 1992: Boots
- 1993: Calling
- 1994: On and On
- 1998: Sing a Song
- 2001: F
- 2006: 5 Nen Mono
- 2009: Zankyō
- 2014: Human
- 2015: Tama Riku
See also
- List of best-selling music artists in Japan
