Uchi Hiroki

Biography

Uchi Hiroki had been auditioned for Johnny & Associates on May of 1999, at the age of twelve. He had no interest in the entertainment industry, dreaming about professional baseball career, but was signed up to audition by his mother, who was in show business herself.

Soon, in 19/05/1999 he joined Johnny & Associates. 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, on December of 2002, Uchi became a member of Kanjani8 , which was officially formed (December 18th) on the base of V. West.

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 along with seven other members. The same year Uchi took part in drama Boku no Ikiru Michi , and was awarded Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix as a best newcomer.

In 12/5/2004, Uchi made his debut with NEWS (The song: Kibou-Yell). In 25/8/2004, he made another debut with Kanjani 8 in Kansai area. (The song: Naniwa Iroha bushi). After that, in 22/9/2004, the band Kanjani8 debuted nationwide.

In 5/2005, while performing in SUMMARY2005 and Hey! Say! Dream Boy shows (along with KAT-TUN ), 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 made his return to work in June for the release of NEWS ’s “Teppen” single as well as to begin filming the drama Ganbatte Ikimasshoi! On July 15, 2005 Uchi Hiroki was detained for public disorder under the influence of alcohol. Apparently he had been invited to drink by an older Fuji TV presenter. Though he was released only with a warning, the incident had been blew into a scandal by press.

Being eighteen and underage for drinking at that time, Uchi was promptly "suspended from the public eye" and excluded from both bands. He was also replaced for his role in Ganbatte Ikimasshoi! with Taguchi Junnosuke of KAT-TUN. Due to Johnny & Associates strict enforcement of Uchi's punishment, Yakusoku, a special drama, where all the members of Kanjani8 were starring together for the first time, was not aired on Kansai TV as scheduled, although filming had already been ended.

In 30/12/2006 Uchi’s suspension had been lifted but he was demoted to the status of 'trainee' of JE - a level lower than the Johnny’s Junior he had been before. He was still out of the public eye and spent nearly all his time “improving his skills”. In 9/7/2007, Uchi made his first public appearance since his suspension, acting in Shonentai 'S stage show Playzone named “Playzone 07 Change2Chance”.

In early January of 2008, it was announced that Uchi would graduate from trainee to solo status with a leading role in drama Isshun no Kaze ni Nare, Fuji TV special airing for the last four days of February. His status became a “junior” again. On March he also joined the cast of NTV drama Osen for the one of the leading roles. On November had been announced that 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 was included in the cast and starring in the famous anime-based drama Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge with other JE stars Kamenashi Kazuya and Tegoshi Yuya . Latter this drama was awarded Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix as a best drama.

In 4/2010, in a news article concerning Hiroki Uchi becoming involved with the Japanese production of Broadway famous musical Guys and Dolls , (the leading role of Sky Masterson) the president of Johnny & Associates, Johnny Kitagawa , stated that Uchi has been permanently removed from both Kanjani8 and NEWS and will instead focus on solo work and acting.

TV dramas

Voice acting

• 2004:One Piece: Norowareta Seikenas Tōma

Stage plays

• 2007:Playzone: Change2Chance
• 2009:Playzone: Letters from the Sun
• 2010:Guys and Dolls
• 2010:Ore no uci ni kite KurieCome on My House
• 2010:Endless Shock

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