(born September 10, 1986) is a Japanese actor, idol singer, songwriter, and model. He was born in Habikino, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

Biography

Uchi Hiroki auditioned for

Johnny & Associates was a Japanese talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which managed groups of male idols known as The company had a significant impact on pop culture with male idols and boy bands in Japan since the 1980s. Until 2019, the company w ...

in May 1999, at the age of twelve. He had no interest in the entertainment industry, instead dreaming about a professional baseball career, but was signed up to audition by his mother. He became the vocalist of the junior's group V. West. At this time, he had the TV show "Weekly V. West" with other members of the group. Three years later, in December 2002, Uchi became a member of

Kanjani8 , previously known as is a five-member Japanese boy band from Japan's Kansai region. They are managed by the multimedia talent agency Starto Entertainment (formerly Johnny & Associates) and signed to Infinity Records. The group was formed in 20 ...

, which was officially formed. Around the same time, Uchi started filming his first drama, Doremisora. In 2003, Uchi and his best friend, another Kanjani8 member, Nishikido Ryo, were asked to join the band

NEWS News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the te ...

along with seven other members. The same year, Uchi took part in the drama Boku no Ikiru Michi, and was awarded the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix as a best newcomer. In 2004, Uchi made his debut with NEWS (The song: Kibou-Yell) and with Kanjani8 in the Kansai area, then nationwide. While performing in Hey! Say! Dream Boy shows (along with

KAT-TUN was a Japanese boy band under Starto Entertainment. Their formation under Johnny & Associates was in 2001. The group's name was originally an acronym based on the first letter of each member's family name: Kazuya Kamenashi, Jin Akanishi, Junnos ...

), Uchi was diagnosed with and hospitalized for pulmonary pneumothorax, a condition which causes holes to form in the lining of the lungs. Uchi was pulled from both shows for the urgent surgery to repair the three holes in his left lung. After rehabilitation, Uchi returned in June for the release of

’s "Teppen" single as well as filming the drama Ganbatte Ikimasshoi! In July 2005, he was temporarily suspended from all activities. In early January 2008, it was announced that Uchi would graduate from trainee to solo status with a leading role in the drama Isshun no Kaze ni Nare, a Fuji TV special airing for the last four days of February. His status became a "junior" again. In March, he also joined the cast of NTV drama

Osen Osen may refer to: People *Erwin Dom Osen (1891–1970), an Austrian mime artist *Otto Osen (1882–1950), a Norwegian long-distance runner Places Bulgaria *Osen, Silistra Province, a village in the Glavinitsa municipality, Silistra Province *Ose ...

for one of the leading roles. In November, it was announced he would start his solo concerts in Yokohama and Osaka in collaboration with Question?. In 2009, Uchi took part in Playzone 2009 "Letters from the sun" with Kis-My-Ft2 band. The same year, he starred in the anime-based drama

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is a manga series written by Tomoko Hayakawa. The individual chapters have been serialized in Bessatsu Friend since 2000, and in 36 tankōbon volumes in Japan by Kodansha. The series was licensed for an English language release in North A ...

with other JE stars Kamenashi Kazuya and

Tegoshi Yuya is a Japanese singer, actor, and television personality. He debuted as a member of Japanese boy band NEWS under Johnny & Associates and was also part of its sub-group, Tegomass. Career 2002–2020: NEWS, Tegomass Tegoshi entered Johnny & As ...

. Latter this drama was awarded Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix as a best drama. In 2010, in a news article concerning Hiroki Uchi becoming involved with the Japanese production of Broadway musical

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical theater, musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Run ...

, the president of Johnny & Associates,

Johnny Kitagawa John Hiromu Kitagawa (Japanese name ; October 23, 1931 – July 9, 2019), known professionally as , was a Japanese business magnate, promoter, record producer. He was best known as the founder of Johnny & Associates, a talent agency for numerous ...

, stated that Uchi has been permanently removed from both Kanjani8 and NEWS and will instead focus on solo work and acting. Since then he has participated in many Japanese stage shows in both an acting and producing role. He played a supporting role in "Endless SHOCK" from 2010 to 2019. In 2016 he played the leading role in a musical adaptation of "The Great Gatsby". In 2019 he played the deutagonist role in "Fortinbras", which is based on a supporting character from "

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

". In 2024 he will play the male lead in "It's too disgusting to call it love".

Discography

Filmography

TV dramas

Movies

*2012: '' Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou THE MOVIE'' as Sakuragi Ren *2013: '' Ninja Kids!!! Summer Mission Impossible'' as Doi Hansuke

Voice acting

*2004: '' One Piece: Norowareta Seiken'' as Tōma

Stage plays

*2007: Playzone: Change2Chance *2009: Playzone: Letters from the Sun *2010: Guys and Dolls *2010: Endless Shock *2011: Endless Shock *2011: Ikemen Desu Ne Stage Play (as Fujishiro Shu) *2012: Endless Shock *2012: Duet *2013: Za Odasaku *2013: Endless Shock

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uchi, Hiroki 1986 births Japanese male actors Japanese idols Japanese male pop singers Living people Kanjani Eight members News (band) members People from Habikino Singers from Osaka Prefecture Starto Entertainment