Mizushima Hiro
Encyclopedia
, is a Japanese writer and former model and actor. He appeared in a number of Japanese TV dramas, such as Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
and Zettai Kareshi, before giving up his acting career to become a writer. Also, he was well known as the main protagonist in the tokusatsu
series Kamen Rider Kabuto
.
due to his father's job. He lived in Zurich
, Switzerland for six years, where he became fluent in English and developed an interest in soccer. His family returned to Japan when he was twelve years old.
Mizushima went to the junior high school and the high school
of Toin Gakuen and belonged to the soccer club of the school. When he was in the twelfth grade, he worked as a regular midfielder
in The 81st All Japan High School Soccer Tournament
. His team advanced to the semifinals, but, they were defeated by Kunimi High School that had Sōta Hirayama
who played in the U-20 FIFA Youth Championship.
In April, 2003, Mizushima entered the Faculty of Environmental Information, Keio University
. (He graduated in March 2008.)
In 2004, Mizushima began to work as a fashion model to earn money to study abroad while at college. Then he worked modelling in the fashion show
for a while. However, he was spotted and recruited as a potential actor by the acting agency
Ken-On
and transferred from the modeling agency Gig Management Japan to Ken-On.
. In the same year, he found guest starring roles in Japanese dramas such as Ame to Yume no Ato ni and a small role in the TBS
drama Brother Beat
.
In 2006, Mizushima became a main character in the series Kamen Rider Kabuto
and acted in the lead role in the film Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love
. He also appeared in two other Japanese films that year.
Beginning in 2007, Mizushima began taking on bigger roles in more high-profile productions, such as the supporting role of the girl-crazy Minami Nanba in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
and the main role of Soshi Asamoto in Zettai Kareshi. Both dramas were among the most popular dramas of Japan at the time of their airing. Mizushima also provided the voice of Bruce Banner in the Japanese dub of The Incredible Hulk
.
In September 2010, Mizushima left his talent agency, Ken-on, to pursue a writing career. Several weeks later, on 31 October 2010, it was announced that Mizushima had won the 5th Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction and a cash prize of 20 million yen for his debut work, titled Kagerou, written under the pen name
. Mizushima revealed that he would decline the prize money.
on 22 February 2009 after several months of dating. Mizushima graduated from Keio University
.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
, also known as Ike-para, is a Japanese drama produced by Fuji Television and first aired on July 3, 2007. It is based on the comic by Hisaya Nakajo, published in English as Hana-Kimi. Filming locations include the Ryutsu Keizai University....
and Zettai Kareshi, before giving up his acting career to become a writer. Also, he was well known as the main protagonist in the tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
series Kamen Rider Kabuto
Kamen Rider Kabuto
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asahi. The first episode aired on January 29, 2006, and...
.
Early life
Mizushima was born in Tokyo on 13 April 1984. He has one older sister. When he was six years old, his family moved from Japan to SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
due to his father's job. He lived in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland for six years, where he became fluent in English and developed an interest in soccer. His family returned to Japan when he was twelve years old.
Mizushima went to the junior high school and the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of Toin Gakuen and belonged to the soccer club of the school. When he was in the twelfth grade, he worked as a regular midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
in The 81st All Japan High School Soccer Tournament
All Japan High School Soccer Tournament
The of Japan, commonly known as "Winter Kokuritsu" , is an annual nationwide high school association football tournament. It is the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan, even as soccer continues to gain more attention....
. His team advanced to the semifinals, but, they were defeated by Kunimi High School that had Sōta Hirayama
Sota Hirayama
, is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for FC Tokyo. He has represented Japan's U-20 team at the 2003 and 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, and the U-23 team at the 2004 Olympics.-Career:...
who played in the U-20 FIFA Youth Championship.
In April, 2003, Mizushima entered the Faculty of Environmental Information, Keio University
Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus
, also known as “Keio SFC” is a research-oriented campus of Keio University located in the city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The campus currently offers three undergraduate courses, two postgraduate courses and incorporates one high school and several research institutes...
. (He graduated in March 2008.)
In 2004, Mizushima began to work as a fashion model to earn money to study abroad while at college. Then he worked modelling in the fashion show
Fashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
for a while. However, he was spotted and recruited as a potential actor by the acting agency
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
Ken-On
Ken-On
is a small Japanese entertainment conglomerate founded in October 1979. It is located in Roppongi.- Subsidiaries :* Ken-On Incorporated* Ken Kikaku Incorporated* MC Cabin Music Publishing* RAD Japan* Taisuke Management* Pin-ups Artists- Female :- Male :...
and transferred from the modeling agency Gig Management Japan to Ken-On.
Career
Mizushima first appeared on Japanese television in 2005, where he played Hiro Misawa, a minor character in the second season of GokusenGokusen
is a manga series by Kozueko Morimoto. The story follows Kumiko Yamaguchi, the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss and teacher at an all-male private high school. In 2008, a SP manga was out, featuring some of Yankumi's old students who are by now working adults.In 2002, the manga was adapted into a...
. In the same year, he found guest starring roles in Japanese dramas such as Ame to Yume no Ato ni and a small role in the TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
drama Brother Beat
Brother Beat
is a Japanese television drama consisting of eleven episodes, which aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 13 to December 22, 2005.The program centers on a mother and three sons, living together and supporting one another since their father died when they were young; much of the plot...
.
In 2006, Mizushima became a main character in the series Kamen Rider Kabuto
Kamen Rider Kabuto
is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asahi. The first episode aired on January 29, 2006, and...
and acted in the lead role in the film Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love
Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love
is the theatrical film adaptation of the Kamen Rider Kabuto TV series directed by Hidenori Ishida and written by Shōji Yonemura. Unlike many others Kamen Rider movies, it does not follow the TV series's storyline. Instead, it is more like a prologue...
. He also appeared in two other Japanese films that year.
Beginning in 2007, Mizushima began taking on bigger roles in more high-profile productions, such as the supporting role of the girl-crazy Minami Nanba in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
, also known as Ike-para, is a Japanese drama produced by Fuji Television and first aired on July 3, 2007. It is based on the comic by Hisaya Nakajo, published in English as Hana-Kimi. Filming locations include the Ryutsu Keizai University....
and the main role of Soshi Asamoto in Zettai Kareshi. Both dramas were among the most popular dramas of Japan at the time of their airing. Mizushima also provided the voice of Bruce Banner in the Japanese dub of The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk (film)
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
.
In September 2010, Mizushima left his talent agency, Ken-on, to pursue a writing career. Several weeks later, on 31 October 2010, it was announced that Mizushima had won the 5th Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction and a cash prize of 20 million yen for his debut work, titled Kagerou, written under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
. Mizushima revealed that he would decline the prize money.
Personal life
Mizushima is bilingual, being fluent in English and Japanese. He married Japanese pop singer AyakaAyaka
is a Japanese female singer formerly signed to Warner Music Japan. Born in Osaka, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She married actor Hiro Mizushima on February 22, 2009.-2006:...
on 22 February 2009 after several months of dating. Mizushima graduated from Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
.
Dramas
- GokusenGokusenis a manga series by Kozueko Morimoto. The story follows Kumiko Yamaguchi, the granddaughter of a Yakuza boss and teacher at an all-male private high school. In 2008, a SP manga was out, featuring some of Yankumi's old students who are by now working adults.In 2002, the manga was adapted into a...
(season 2) as Hiro Misawa (2005) - Ame to Yume no Ato ni (ep 7) (2005)
- Brother BeatBrother Beatis a Japanese television drama consisting of eleven episodes, which aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 13 to December 22, 2005.The program centers on a mother and three sons, living together and supporting one another since their father died when they were young; much of the plot...
as Yoshi (2005) - Pink no Idenshi (ep 3) as Ikushima Mizuki (2005)
- Kamen Rider KabutoKamen Rider Kabutois a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asahi. The first episode aired on January 29, 2006, and...
as Tendou Souji/Kusakabe Souji (2006) - Kanojo to no Tadashii Asobikata as Fujiki Kyouji (2007)
- Watashitachi no Kyokasho as Yahata Daisuke (2007)
- Hanazakari no Kimitachi eHanazakari no Kimitachi e, also known as Ike-para, is a Japanese drama produced by Fuji Television and first aired on July 3, 2007. It is based on the comic by Hisaya Nakajo, published in English as Hana-Kimi. Filming locations include the Ryutsu Keizai University....
as Nanba Minami (2007) - Gutannubo (Gout Temps Nouveau) Drama Special (2007)
- Churaumi Kara no Nengajo as Miyashita Kota (2007)
- Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) as Asamoto Soshi (2008)
- Room of King as Moriji/Mori Jirou (2008)
- Mei-chan no ShitsujiMei-chan no Shitsujiis a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Riko Miyagi. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's Margaret magazine. The manga is licensed and published in Chinese in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing...
as Shibata Rihito (2009) - Mr. BrainMr. Brainis a Japanese television drama starting on TBS on 23 May 2009.-Synopsis:Tsukumo Ryusuke is a quirky, yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Wielding a unique perspective and psychology, Tsukumo tackles the nation's most baffling crimes and...
as Hayashida Toranosuke (TBS, 2009) - Tokyo DogsTokyo Dogsis a Fuji TV Japanese television drama, which stars Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro.-Synopsis:Takakura So witnessed his father's murder at a young age. Pledging to catch the killer, he grows up to become an elite cop in New York City, where the criminal lives. His character is cool-headed and...
as Maruo Kudo (Fuji TV, 2009)
Films
- Hatsukare as Ibushi (2006)
- Lovely ComplexLovely Complex, also known as Lovely Complex, is a romantic comedy shōjo manga by Aya Nakahara. It was published by Shueisha in Bessatsu Margaret from 2001 to 2006 and collected in 17 tankōbon volumes. The series is about the romance between a tall girl and a short boy who are treated as a comedy duo by their...
as Ryoji Suzuki (2006) - Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed LoveKamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Loveis the theatrical film adaptation of the Kamen Rider Kabuto TV series directed by Hidenori Ishida and written by Shōji Yonemura. Unlike many others Kamen Rider movies, it does not follow the TV series's storyline. Instead, it is more like a prologue...
(2006) - Kanojo to no Tadashii Asobikata as Fujiki Takeshi (2007)
- 100 Scene no Koi (2007)
- GS Wonderland (2008)
- Drop (March 2009)
- BECK: Mongolian Chop SquadBECK: Mongolian Chop SquadBECK is a manga by Harold Sakuishi published by Kodansha in Monthly Shōnen Magazine. It was adapted as an anime television series with the title BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad...
(2010)