Wikipedia

Kanata Hongō

In this Japanese name, the surname is Hongō.

Kanata Hongō (本郷 奏多, Hongō Kanata, born November 15, 1990) is a Japanese actor. He is part of Stardust Promotion and has appeared several times in music videos, movies, TV series, and magazines. His major breakthrough role was as Ryoma Echizen in the live-action film adaptation of The Prince of Tennis and became even more widely known when he was cast as Shin in Nana 2. In television, his most notable role was as Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono and he starred in Seigi no Mikata. For the live-action feature film adaptation of Attack on Titan, he portrayed Armin Arlert. He has also been involved in anime voice acting as the lead character Ryōta Sakamoto in Btooom!.

Kanata Hongō
本郷 奏多
Hongo in May 2023
Born (1990-11-15) November 15, 1990 (age 34)
Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Other namesKacchan (かっちゃん)
Kannaty (カナティ)
Alma materNihon University College of Art
Occupations
Years active2002–present
AgentStardust Promotion
Japanese name
Kanji本郷 奏多
Hiraganaほんごう かなた
Katakanaホンゴウ カナタ
Transcriptions
RomanizationHongō Kanata
WebsiteOfficial website

He is occasionally incorrectly credited as Sōta Hongō.

Early life

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Hongō was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. When he was in kindergarten, he became active as a child model for Sendai SOS Model Agency (now Morado Company).[1]

He attended Nihon University College of Art, where he studied photography and graduated in 2013. In 2020, he was selected for the 14th Nihon University Awards and appointed as Nihon University Ambassador.[2][3]

Career

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2003–2006: Beginnings as a child actor

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Hongō has appeared in several movies, including Moon Child, which also starred Gackt, Hyde, and Leehom Wang. Hongō played the role of Sho as a child, while the adult role was played by Gackt. He appeared in the movie Daiteiden no Yoru ni, released in November 2003.

Hongō starred in the 2005 film Hinokio, which was his first major role. He also appeared in two music videos in 2005, portraying the young boy in the singer YUI's music video for her song "Tomorrow's Way" and in "Zutto Yomikake no Natsu" by Keiichi Tomita featuring the pop duo CHEMISTRY.

In 2006, Hongō was cast as the popular anime character Ryoma Echizen in the live-action adaptation film of The Prince of Tennis. He joined the majority of the Seigaku Regulars of the Prince of Tennis musicals as he was replacing Kotaro Yanagi, who could not play the role due to a car accident he was involved in. Hongō also portrayed the young bassist Shinichi Okazaki in the movie Nana 2, which was released in Japan on December 9, 2006. He had replaced Kenichi Matsuyama,[4] who had previously played Shin in the first Nana film. He also appeared in three episodes of the 2006 TBS series Memories of Matsuko.

2007–2013: Rising popularity

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His next feature film was alongside Michael Pitt and Keira Knightley in Silk which was screened at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. This marked Hongō's first appearance in an English language film, where he played a Japanese servant boy. He also starred in another music video, B'zs "Eien no Tsubasa" along with Tsubasa Honda and in GReeeeN's music video of "Namida Sora". In television, Hongō's first major role was as major supporting character Hinata in Himitsu no Hanazono, followed by another major supporting character role in the drama Seito Shokun! as a rebellious student, Kohei Aoki. Later, he appeared as a guest in two other shows, namely Detective School Q and Iryu: Team Medical Dragon 2.

In 2008, he starred as Riku Okamoto in Seigi no Mikata, broadcast by NTV. He said Okamoto was probably his most normal role to date. He was then featured in the music video for The Gospellers' "Sky High", which was the opening to the second season of anime Nodame Cantabile. Moreover, he starred in three films in late 2008, including Aoi Tori, K-20: Legend of the Mask, and Goth. The latter two were released in Japan on the same day, December 20. Goth is based on a Japanese novel of the same name, written by Otsuichi.[5]

In 2011, he portrayed the role of Jōichiro Nishi in Gantz and reprised his role in its sequel film Gantz: Perfect Answer, as well as its sequel series Gantz: Another Gantz. He also appeared in the drama special Saigo no Bansan: Keiji Tono Kazuyuki to Shichinin no Yougisha, playing the character of a suspect among others. Moreover, he was a guest in one episode of Shibuya Deep A, a series broadcast by NHK. He also made his stage debut in June 2011, performing in the Dotto! 25th anniversary play, Kinema no Kami-sama.

In January 2012, Shirato Osamu no Jikenbo was aired at TBS, where Hongō played the role of Kurosaki Hitoshi opposite Yudai Chiba. He also starred in Mirai Nikki Another: World, a drama adaptation of the Japanese series of the same name. In October of the same year, he debuted as a voice actor in the anime Btooom! as the lead character Ryōta Sakamoto. Hongō also starred in the NHK FM Theater radio drama Mayu, which also marked his radio debut. He also performed onstage in the rōdoku geki entitled Fuki no Hatsukoi, Ebina SA in September 2012. In October 2012, he appeared in the third short movie of the web drama Heather LOVE Short Movies entitled Umi Made Nan-kiro, marking his debut in the said platform.

In 2013, Hongō starred in Real Onigokko: The Origin as one of the lead characters, Tsubasa Sato, and in the UULA original web drama Yubikoi: Kimi ni Okuru Message alongside Korean actor Seungri and Japanese actress Miori Takimoto. He also appeared as a guest character in the series Minna! ESPer Dayo! and in the drama special So Long!, which was broadcast by NTV. Hongō also appeared in the WOWOW series KAZEOKE in August 2013 and performed in the radio drama Inanagi in February of the same year.

2014–2018: Transition in roles and success in Japan

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Hongō starred in the 2014 drama Nazo no Tenkōsei as the titular character, who came from a parallel world, and he also appeared in the baseball drama Yowakutemo Katemasu as part of its recurring cast. In March 2014, he appeared in a guest role in the drama adaptation of Koibumi Biyori. He played the lead role in the film Tokyo Slaves, which was based on the Japanese novel series Doreiku written by Shinichi Okada. Hongō also voiced Julian Ayers Mackenzie in the science fiction anime Gundam Build Fighters. He starred in the stage adaptation of the series Danganronpa entitled Danganronpa: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei THE STAGE. He portrayed the lead character Makoto Naegi throughout its theatrical run from October to November 2014.

In 2015, Hongō portrayed the mahjong prodigy Shigeru Akagi in Akagi, a drama based on the manga of the same name. He also starred in the NHK miniseries Chanpon Tabetaka, the sequel to the 2013 series Castella. By 2014, Hongō was revealed to portray Armin in the 2015 live-action adaptation of the hit series Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama, which was aired in August 2015. He then reprised his role in the film's second part, Attack on Titan: End of the World, which was released in September 2015. He also made a cameo appearance in the film Strayer's Chronicle, which was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, and he starred in the film Cinema Angel opposite Reiko Fujiwara and Mickey Curtis.

Hongō starred in the 2016 drama-comedy film Yamikin Ushijima-kun Part 3 alongside Takayuki Yamada and Gou Ayano. He also starred in the WOWOW series Kakko no Tamago wa Dare no Mono, and reprised his character as Makoto Naegi in Danganronpa: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei THE STAGE 2016, which ran from June to July 2016.

In 2017, Hongō played the role of young Jun Sekiya in Hyouka: Forbidden Secrets starring Kento Yamazaki and Alice Hirose, an adaptation of the Japanese mystery novel Hyouka. In December 2017, he portrayed the antagonist Envy in Fullmetal Alchemist, a live-action adaptation of the shōnen series of the same name. He starred in the series Rabuho no Ueno-san based on the seinen manga of the same name, portraying the titular character Ueno, and he later reprised this role for its second season. He also played the lead character in the four-episode late night drama Kaiju Club. Hongō also reprised the role of Shigeru Akagi in Akagi: Ryūzaki·Yagi-hen/Ichikawa-hen, the second part of its eponymous 2015 series. He appeared in the music video in Nano's 5th anniversary album The Crossing, which was released on May 31, 2017. He voiced Sorrel in the Pokémon film Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! and voiced Naoyuki Andō in the anime Inuyashiki, whom he also portrayed in the 2018 live-action adaptation of the same name.

Hongō starred in the 2018 Yomiuri TV–NTV drama Repeat opposite Shihori Kanjiya and Gori. In May 2018, he reprised the character of Shigeru Akagi in the concluding season of its 2015 series entitled Akagi: Washizu Mājan Kanketsu-hen. He also starred in the LINE NEWS original web drama Mirai-san as the brother of the titular character.

2019–present: Career resurgence and continued success in roles

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In 2019, Hongō starred in the mystery film Rin alongside Hayato Sano. He also portrayed Seikyou in the live-action adaptation Kingdom based on the 2006 manga of the same name, and played the role of contract killer Kid in the film Diner directed by Mika Ninagawa. He portrayed the character of Isami Kondō in the MBS drama Aozakura: Bōei Daigakukou Monogatari, which was based on the manga of the same name. He also starred in the stage play MONSTER MATES, which ran from February to March 2019, and performed in the Reading·Stage Yubi to Bara on June 15, 2019.[6]

He starred in the 2020 time travel-themed film Sengoku Girl to Kendo Boy opposite Kie Kitano. He also portrayed Makoto Karaki, the protagonist of the adventure game Death Come True written and directed by Kazutaka Kodaka.[7]

Personal life

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Hongō is known to be an avid fan of Gundam and Gunpla. In February 2020, during the Gunpla 40th Anniversary Project Presentation, he was invited as a talk show guest, where he stated that he has collected at least a hundred Gunpla kits and that Gunpla is quite useful for communication that "can allow us to connect with older generations".[8]

In November 2020, on his 30th birthday, Hongō launched his own YouTube channel entitled Kanata Hongō's Daily Life (本郷奏多の日常, Hongō Kanata no Nichijō).[9] He has said that he became interested in YouTube through Tokai On Air, of which he is a fan and friend, and they have since appeared in several videos together.[10]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 Returner Young Miyamoto
2003 Moon Child Young Sho
Daiteiden no Yoru ni Shota Tazawa
2005 Hinokio Satoru Iwamoto Lead role
Fururi The Boy  
2006 The Prince Of Tennis Ryoma Echizen Lead role
Nana 2 Shinichi "Shin" Okazaki  
2008 Silk Japanese servant boy  
Aoi Tori Shinichi Sonobe
K-20: Legend of the Mask Yoshio Kobayashi  
Goth Itsuki Kamiyama Lead role
2011 Gantz Jōichiro Nishi [11]
Gantz: Another Gantz Jōichiro Nishi [11]
2014 Tokyo Slaves Yūga Ōta Lead role
2015 Strayer's Chronicle Bespectacled student Cameo role
Attack on Titan Armin [12]
Attack on Titan: End of the World Armin  
Cinema Angel Akira
2016 Yamikin Ushijima-kun Part 3 Shinji Sawamura  
2017 Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Sorrel Voice role
Hyouka: Forbidden Secrets Jun Sekiya  
Fullmetal Alchemist Envy  
2018 Inuyashiki Naoyuki Andō   [13]
2019 Rin Tendō Lead role
Kingdom Seikyou  
Diner Kid  
2020 Sengoku Girl to Kendo Boy Masato Fujī Lead role
2022 Usogui: Lie Eater Kirou Mekama [14]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar Envy [15]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy Envy [15]
2023 Shin Kamen Rider Kamakiri Kamereon Augment-01 [16]
2024 Teppen no Ken Lead role [17]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 X'smap: Tora to Raion to Go-ri no Otoko Leo
2005 Aikurushī Shu Nagumo
2006 Memories of Matsuko Yōichi Ryu (15 years old) Episodes 1–3
2007 Himitsu no Hanazono Hinata Kataoka
Seito Shokun! Kohei Aoki
Detective School Q Daisuke Makino Episode 2
Iryu: Team Medical Dragon 2 Tomoki Kuroda Guest role (episode 8)
2008 Seigi no Mikata Riku Okamoto
2009 Yonimo Kimyō na Monogatari: Haru no Tokubetsu-hen Segment: Bakudan Suitchi no Otoko
Reset Setsuya Mikami Guest role (episode 14)
2010 Yankee-kun to Megane-chan Gaku Izumi
Tokyo23: Survival City Dan Komori
2011 Gantz: Another Gantz Jōichiro Nishi[11]
Saigo no Bansan Shunta Tatematsu
Shibuya Deep A Guest role
2012 Shirato Osamu no Jikenbo Kurosaki Hitoshi Lead role
Mirai Nikki Another: World Moriguchi Rui
Heather LOVE Short Movies Ryō Mochizuki Web drama; segment: Umi Made Nan-kiro
Btooom! Ryōta Sakamoto Voice; lead role
2013 So Long! Wataru Drama special; guest role (episode 2)
Real Onigokko: The Origin Sato Tsubasa Lead role
Minna! ESPer Dayo! Yusuke Guest role (episode 9)
Kazeoke
Yubikoi Kimi no Okuru Message Masaki Web drama
2014 Nazo no Tenkousei Norio Yamazawa Lead role
Koibumi Biyori Sato Kenji Guest role (episode 10)
Gundam Build Fighters Julian Ayers Mackenzie Voice role
Baseball Brainiacs Shunichi Kamezawa
2015 Chanpon Tabetaka Masami Furuta
2015–2018 Akagi Shigeru Akagi Lead role
2016 Kakko no Tamago wa Dare no Mono Fumiya Kamijo
Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School Ryota Mitarai/Ultimate Impostor Voice role
2017 Rabuho no Ueno-san Ueno Lead role
Kaiju Club Ryōta Lead role
Inuyashiki Naoyuki Andō Voice role[13]
2018 Repeat Keisuke Mori
2019 Aozakura: Bōei Daigakukou Monogatari Isami Kondō Lead role
2020 Oedo Mononoke Monogatari Amanojaku
56-nen-me no Shitsuren Ryūichi Kikuchi Lead role
2020–2021 Awaiting Kirin Konoe Sakihisa Taiga drama[18]
2022 Come Come Everybody Bunshirō Igarashi Asadora[19]
2024 Dear Radiance Emperor Kazan Taiga drama[20]

Web series

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Year Title Role Platform Notes Ref.
2023 YuYu Hakusho Hiei Netflix [21]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Kinema no Kami-sama Assistant Director Kurokawa Dotto! 25th Anniversary
2012 Rōdoku Geki: Fuki no Hatsukoi, Ebina SA
2013 Moonlight Rambler Auguste=Dupin Lead role
2014, 2016 Danganronpa the Stage: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei Makoto Naegi Lead role
2019 Monster Mates Hidekazu Minami

Radio

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Year Title Role Broadcast Notes
2005 Daiteiden no Yoru ni Shota Tazawa Tokyo FM
2012 Mayu Yuta Saito NHK FM Theatre Lead role
2013 Inanagi Gensuke NHK FM Theatre Lead role

Music videos

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Year Song Title Artist Notes
2000 "Lovibe" The Boom
2005 "Tomorrow's Way" YUI
"Zutto Yomikake no Natsu" Keiichi Tomita feat. CHEMISTRY
2006 "Hitoiro" Mika Nakashima
2007 "Eien no Tsubasa" B'z
"Namida Sora" GReeeeN
2008 "Sky High" The Gospellers
2017 "The Crossing" Nano 5th anniversary album
2020 "Inner Circle" Kami-sama, I have noticed Death Come True theme song

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Death Come True Makoto Karaki[22] Lead role

Books/magazines

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  • Boy Actor vol.1 (September 2005 and PIA)
  • "Nana2" Novelization (2006 and Shueisha Cobalt)
  • Real G vol.1 (January 2007 and SDP)
  • Real G vol.2 (May 2007 and SDP)
  • Junon Magazine (June 2014)

Others

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  • Concert Costarring "Gackt Live Tour 2003 The Month Of The Upper Chord"
  • The Radio Play "At Night Of A Big Blackout" – Shota Tazawa

References

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  1. ^ "男の履歴書 本郷奏多" (in Japanese). InLife. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "第14回 日藝賞" (in Japanese). Nihon University College of Art. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "本郷奏多さんが日藝賞受賞！" (in Japanese). Nihon University College of Art. April 1, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "「NANA2」主要メンバー3人目の変更". www.nikkansports.com. May 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  5. ^ http://www.goth-movie.jp/ Archived 2009-03-23 at the Wayback Machine Goth Movie website. Retrieved on 2009-11-08
  6. ^ "本郷奏多 オフィシャル・ウェブサイト" (in Japanese). Kanata Hongō official website. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  7. ^ "デスカムトゥルー公式サイト　Death Come True Official Website". Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Kanata Hongo Expresses His Love For GUNPLA! A Gunpla 40th Anniversary Project Presentation Report". Gundam.info. February 21, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "本郷奏多の日常". YouTube. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "本郷奏多×東海オンエアてつや、仲里依紗×エミリン......芸能人が憧れのYouTuberとの邂逅果たす"逆転現象"が増加中". Real Sound (in Japanese). January 15, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "実写版『GANTZ』最重要キャラクター・西丈一郎は本郷奏多に決定！二宮や松山を罵倒し薄ら笑い" (in Japanese). Cinema Today. January 28, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
  12. ^ "Live-Action Attack on Titan Confirmed for 2 Films". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "本郷奏多、「いぬやしき」アニメ＆実写映画で同役演じる「不思議な気分」". Cinema Cafe. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "嘘喰い". eiga.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "実写『鋼の錬金術師』完結編が二部作で公開決定！新田真剣佑、内野聖陽、舘ひろしも新たに参加". Cinematoday. March 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  16. ^ "「シン・仮面ライダー」未発表キャスト解禁、竹野内豊・長澤まさみ・松坂桃李ら10名". Natalie. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "北乃きい＆本郷奏多が剣道映画「てっぺんの剣」でW主演、ロケ地・大分で先行公開". Natalie. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  18. ^ "麒麟がくる". Haiyaku Jiten. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "「カムカムエヴリバディ」京都編に松重豊、本郷奏多、三浦透子、新川優愛ら11名". Natalie. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "来年大河『光る君へ』第4次キャスト発表 高畑充希、三浦翔平、本郷奏多ら6人【相関図&役柄紹介あり】". Oricon. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "ドラマ「幽☆遊☆白書」飛影役は本郷奏多、逆立つ黒髪にクールな眼差しのビジュアル". Natalie. July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  22. ^ "実写ムービーゲーム『デスカムトゥルー』出演者発表、主演は本郷奏多。本郷奏多、小高和剛のコメントも到着". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
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