Kanata Hongō Explained

Kanata Hongō
Native Name:本郷 奏多
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Date:15 November 1990
Birth Place:Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Alma Mater:Nihon University College of Art
Other Names:
Years Active:2002–present
Agent:Stardust Promotion
Website:Official website
Module:
Embed:yes
Kanji:本郷 奏多
Hiragana:ほんごう かなた
Katakana:ホンゴウ カナタ
Romaji:Hongō Kanata

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!.

He is occasionally incorrectly credited as Sōta Hongō.

Early life

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

2003–2006: Beginnings as a child actor

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

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, , 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

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 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 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

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

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 .[9] He has said that he became interested in YouTube through Tokai On Air, whom he is a fan and friend of, and has since appeared in several videos together.[10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2002ReturnerYoung Miyamoto
2003Moon ChildYoung Sho
Daiteiden no Yoru niShota Tazawa
2005HinokioSatoru IwamotoLead role
FururiThe Boy 
2006The Prince Of TennisRyoma EchizenLead role
Nana 2Shinichi "Shin" Okazaki 
2008SilkJapanese servant boy 
Aoi ToriShinichi Sonobe
Yoshio Kobayashi 
GothItsuki KamiyamaLead role
2011GantzJōichiro Nishi[11]
Gantz: Another GantzJōichiro Nishi
2014Tokyo SlavesYūga ŌtaLead role
2015Strayer's ChronicleBespectacled studentCameo role
Attack on TitanArmin[12]
Attack on Titan: End of the WorldArmin 
Cinema AngelAkira
2016Yamikin Ushijima-kun Part 3Shinji Sawamura 
2017SorrelVoice role
Jun Sekiya 
Fullmetal AlchemistEnvy 
2018InuyashikiNaoyuki Andō [13]
2019RinTendōLead role
KingdomSeikyou 
DinerKid 
2020Sengoku Girl to Kendo Boy Masato FujīLead role
2022Usogui: Lie EaterKirou Mekama[14]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of ScarEnvy[15]
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final AlchemyEnvy
2023Shin Kamen RiderKamakiri Kamereon Augment-01[16]
2024Teppen no KenLead role[17]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002X'smap: Tora to Raion to Go-ri no OtokoLeo
2005AikurushīShu Nagumo
2006Memories of MatsukoYōichi Ryu (15 years old)Episodes 1–3
2007Himitsu no HanazonoHinata Kataoka
Seito Shokun!Kohei Aoki
Detective School QDaisuke MakinoEpisode 2
Iryu: Team Medical Dragon 2Tomoki KurodaGuest role (episode 8)
2008Seigi no MikataRiku Okamoto
2009Yonimo Kimyō na Monogatari: Haru no Tokubetsu-henSegment: Bakudan Suitchi no Otoko
ResetSetsuya MikamiGuest role (episode 14)
2010Yankee-kun to Megane-chanGaku Izumi
Tokyo23: Survival CityDan Komori
2011Gantz: Another GantzJōichiro Nishi
Saigo no BansanShunta Tatematsu
Shibuya Deep AGuest role
2012Shirato Osamu no JikenboKurosaki HitoshiLead role
Mirai Nikki Another: WorldMoriguchi Rui
Heather LOVE Short MoviesRyō MochizukiWeb drama; segment: Umi Made Nan-kiro
Btooom!Ryōta SakamotoVoice; lead role
2013So Long!WataruDrama special; guest role (episode 2)
Real Onigokko: The OriginSato TsubasaLead role
Minna! ESPer Dayo!YusukeGuest role (episode 9)
Kazeoke
Yubikoi Kimi no Okuru MessageMasakiWeb drama
2014Nazo no TenkouseiNorio YamazawaLead role
Koibumi BiyoriSato KenjiGuest role (episode 10)
Gundam Build FightersJulian Ayers MackenzieVoice role
Baseball BrainiacsShunichi Kamezawa
2015Chanpon TabetakaMasami Furuta
2015–2018AkagiShigeru AkagiLead role
2016Kakko no Tamago wa Dare no MonoFumiya Kamijo
Ryota Mitarai/Ultimate ImpostorVoice role
2017Rabuho no Ueno-sanUenoLead role
Kaiju ClubRyōtaLead role
InuyashikiNaoyuki AndōVoice role
2018RepeatKeisuke Mori
2019Aozakura: Bōei Daigakukou MonogatariIsami KondōLead role
2020Oedo Mononoke MonogatariAmanojaku
56-nen-me no ShitsurenRyūichi KikuchiLead role
2020–2021Awaiting KirinKonoe SakihisaTaiga drama[18]
2022Come Come EverybodyBunshirō IgarashiAsadora[19]
2024Dear RadianceEmperor KazanTaiga drama[20]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Kinema no Kami-samaAssistant Director KurokawaDotto! 25th Anniversary
2012Rōdoku Geki: Fuki no Hatsukoi, Ebina SA
2013Moonlight RamblerAuguste=DupinLead role
2014, 2016Danganronpa the Stage: Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no KōkōseiMakoto NaegiLead role
2019Monster MatesHidekazu Minami

Radio

YearTitleRoleBroadcastNotes
2005Daiteiden no Yoru niShota TazawaTokyo FM
2012MayuYuta SaitoNHK FM TheatreLead role
2013InanagiGensukeNHK FM TheatreLead role

Music videos

YearSong TitleArtistNotes
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"Nano5th anniversary album
2020"Inner Circle"Kami-sama, I have noticedDeath Come True theme song

Video games

Books/magazines

Others

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 男の履歴書 本郷奏多. ja. InLife. 15 November 2020.
  2. Web site: 第14回 日藝賞. ja. Nihon University College of Art. 15 November 2020.
  3. Web site: 本郷奏多さんが日藝賞受賞!. ja. Nihon University College of Art. 1 April 2020. 15 November 2020.
  4. Web site: 「NANA2」主要メンバー3人目の変更 . www.nikkansports.com . 2009-11-09. May 2022.
  5. http://www.goth-movie.jp/ Goth Movie website. Retrieved on 2009-11-08
  6. https://official.stardust.co.jp/kanata/profile/ "本郷奏多 オフィシャル・ウェブサイト"
  7. https://deathcometrue.com/ "デスカムトゥルー公式サイト Death Come True Official Website"
  8. Web site: Kanata Hongo Expresses His Love For GUNPLA! A Gunpla 40th Anniversary Project Presentation Report. Gundam.info. 21 February 2020. 15 November 2020.
  9. Web site: 本郷奏多の日常. YouTube. 15 November 2020.
  10. Web site: 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. 2021-05-11. Real Sound. 15 January 2021 . ja.
  11. Web site: 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. 2010-01-28. Cinema Today. 2010-01-28. ja.
  12. Web site: Live-Action Attack on Titan Confirmed for 2 Films. animenewsnetwork.com. 29 September 2016.
  13. Web site: 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」. October 4, 2023. Cinema Cafe.
  14. Web site: 嘘喰い. October 27, 2021. eiga.com.
  15. Web site: 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. April 29, 2022. Cinematoday. March 2022.
  16. Web site: 「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. March 23, 2023. Natalie.
  17. Web site: 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. 3 August 2024. Natalie.
  18. Web site: 麒麟がくる. 3 August 2024. Haiyaku Jiten.
  19. Web site: 「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. November 5, 2021. Natalie.
  20. Web site: 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】. May 23, 2023. Oricon.
  21. Web site: 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. July 18, 2022. July 18, 2022. Natalie.
  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 . ja . 2019-12-10 . . Kadokawa Game Linkage . 2019-12-10.