Jun Matsumoto

Jun Matsumoto (松本 潤), often called by the portmanteau nickname MatsuJun (松潤), is a Japanese singer, actor, radio host, and model. He is a member of the boy band Arashi, and is Arashi's concert producer as well as production advisor for other groups. He is best known to Japanese television drama audiences for his portrayal as Dōmyōuji Tsukasa in the Hana Yori Dango series, for which he won GQ Japan's Man of the Year Award under the singer/actor category for his work in the drama.

Matsumoto began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 at the age of 12. Prior to his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, Matsumoto started an acting career when he was cast as Teddy Duchamp for the stage play Stand by Me, which was based on the film of the same name. Since then, he has gone on to appear in numerous dramas and movies, receiving a number of awards and nominations for his roles.

Early life
Matsumoto was born in Toshima, Tokyo, as the youngest child in his family. He has an older sister whose support of KinKi Kids influenced his decision to join Johnny & Associates in 1996. Thinking it might bode good luck, he sent his application to the agency on his elementary school graduation day and received a phone call weeks later from president Johnny Kitagawa himself, inviting him to attend a rehearsal instead of being auditioned. Due to this, Matsumoto is frequently referred to as one of the elite within the agency.

Matsumoto graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen, a renowned high school known for its many performing arts alumnae such as Kyoko Fukada and Ai Kato, in March 2002 at the age of 18.

Career
Matsumoto announced in October 2023 on a fan club video the release of a photo book to celebrate his turning 40. The book included the account of his experience portraying Ieyasu Tokugawa. The book was released in December 2023. On May 31, 2024, the "Oricon First Half 'Book' Ranking" was announced. In the "Men's Photo Books" genre, Matsumoto's book ranked 2nd, after accumulating 66000 units sold in the period.

As with fellow member Ninomiya, Matsumoto announced on May 16, 2024, that he would become independent from Starto in relation to individual activities, but would remain as part of Arashi. Matsumoto left on May 30. On June 1, Matsumoto updated his Instagram account, posting information about his new company, MJC Inc., and giving its website. On the opening page of the website, Matsumoto states the plans of the company: "We focus on creativity and bonding to generate new value, aiming to lead Japan and the world to a brighter future through entertainment." He is named as "Chief Entertainment Officer".

Music career
Although the majority of Matsumoto's solos for albums and concerts are written by Arashi's staff, he has contributed lyrics for some of his solos: "La Familia" for the 2004 Arashi! Iza, Now Tour!!, "Naked" in 2008 for the album Dream "A" Live (under the pen name "Jun"), and "Stay Gold" in 2014 for the album The Digitalian. He also supervised the song "DRIVE" in 2016 for the album Are You Happy? and took part in writing lyrics with other Arashi members as Arashi for their songs "Fight Song", "Energy Song - Zekkōchō Chō!!!!", "5×10", and "5×20".

Matsumoto began to be involved in concert production in 2000. Although he primarily focuses on Arashi concerts, he also gave advice on concert production to younger Johnny & Associates groups, such as for Hey! Say! JUMP in 2014 and King & Prince in 2018; and in 2021 he was director for the Year-End Johnny's Festival Thank you 2021 Hello 2022 concert, featuring many different groups from Johnny & Associates. He is officially credited as the director in the closing credits for the concerts Arashi Anniversary Tour 5×20 and Arafes 2020, and on the official website of Johnny's Festival Thank you 2021 Hello 2022 for the concert of the same name. He was named director of Starto Entertainment's all-agency live, set to take place in April 2024. The concert series, named "We Are!! Let's get the party STARTO!!", was co-directed by Matsumoto and Super Eight's Tadayoshi Okura, and would become the last event produced by Matsumoto, before his independence from Starto.

As a concert producer, Matsumoto had also been conceptualizing new ideas. In 2005, he, along with the concert staff team, implemented the usage of the moving stage, which has been subsequently used by several Asian musical acts. 3 years prior to Arashi Live Tour 2014 The Digitalian, Matsumoto had been putting efforts into the idea of utilizing light color changes via bluetooth onto penlights, and the concept was successfully implemented in the previously mentioned concert.

Stage
In 1997, Matsumoto was cast in his first stage play, which was based on the American coming of age film Stand by Me with future bandmates Masaki Aiba and Kazunari Ninomiya. He did not return to do any major stage productions for nearly seven years after Stand by Me, instead focusing on dramas and movies. However, in 2004, Matsumoto appeared in the stage play West Side Story with bandmates Satoshi Ohno and Sho Sakurai. In 2005 and 2006, Matsumoto was given his first lead stage play roles in Eden no Higashi (エデンの東) and Byakuya no Onna Kishi (白夜の女騎士) respectively.

It was announced on July 21, 2011, that Matsumoto would star in Yukio Ninagawa's production play, Aa, Kōya (あゝ, 荒野), his first stage play in five years.

On April 16, 2024, it was reported that Matsumoto would appear in Hideki Noda's Noda Map's new play, held from July to November. Noda was not open to appointing talent from the former Johnny's office, the reason being their schedule. "With so many activities, like concerts, variety shows and tv. appearances, I thought they couldn't do the job.", he said in a press conference in 2023. In Matsumoto's case, the opportunity was given thanks to Arashi's hiatus. According to the report, he has been attending Noda's workshop and preparing for the stage since February. Performances are expected not only in Japan but also in London, England. The play, called Sei sankaku kankei (正三角関係), is loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Matsumoto, who will share the stage with Masami Nagasawa, and Eita Nagayama, plays the eldest of the Karamatsu brothers, a pyrotechnic artist, in a suspense story that deals with the "incident" of the murder of their father. Performances are expected at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, in Kitakyushu and Osaka, as well as Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, under the name of "Love in action", running from July 11 until November 2.

Drama
Like bandmate Sakurai, Matsumoto made his acting debut as a television actor in April 1997 in the TBS drama special Hoken Chousain (保険調査員). A few months later, he co-starred with the members of KinKi Kids and future bandmate Masaki Aiba in the mystery-thriller series Bokura no Yūki: Miman Toshi (ぼくらの勇気). In 1999, all the members of Arashi co-starred together for the first time in the volleyball-centered short drama V no Arashi (Vの嵐).

Matsumoto made his breakthrough in 2001 when he was cast as Hajime Kinda'ichi in the third season of Kinda'ichi Shōnen no Jikenbo, taking over the role from Tsuyoshi Domoto and co-starring opposite Anne Suzuki.

Matsumoto gained further popularity as an actor in 2002, when he starred in the first season of Gokusen with Yukie Nakama, Shun Oguri, Tomohiro Waki, Hiroki Narimiya and Yuma Ishigaki. His portrayal of the troubled but highly intelligent student, Shin Sawada, drew acclaim and won him Best Supporting Actor at the 33rd Television Drama Academy Awards. He later returned with most of the original cast to star in the special epilogue episode in 2003. Soon after, his character also made a cameo in Sakurai's comedy series Yoiko no Mikata (よい子の味方).

In 2003, Matsumoto took another high-profile role in the live-action adaptation of manga series Kimi wa Pet as Takeshi "Momo" Goda, starring opposite Koyuki.

In 2005, Matsumoto took the most prominent role of his career to date, when he was cast as Domyōuji Tsukasa in the live-action adaptation of shōjo manga Hana Yori Dango. Co-starring opposite Oguri again, and with Mao Inoue, Shota Matsuda and Tsuyoshi Abe, the series was a success with an average viewership rating of 19.6%. Matsumoto's portrayal as the air-headed and arrogant leader of four rich heirs won him Best Supporting Actor again at the 47th Television Drama Academy Awards. In 2007, due to the success of Hana Yori Dango, it spawned a second season, which was an even bigger hit with television audiences as it had a peak rating of 27.6% on the final episode and an overall rating of 21.57%. Matsumoto won Best Supporting Actor at the 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for his role. The series ended with a movie in 2008. In the new series, Hana Nochi Hare ~ Hanadan Next Season, that aired in 2018, he returned as Domyōuji (along with Oguri and Matsuda, two more of the original F4 members) for a one-episode guest appearance.

In 2007, Matsumoto starred in Bambino!, which won him his first Best Actor award at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards.

In 2008, he re-united with Bambino! co-star Karina for the drama special Myū no Anyo Papa ni Ageru (みゅうの足パパにあげる), which aired as part of the 24-hour Television telethon in 2008. He portrayed a man diagnosed with CIDP struggling to recuperate and return to normal life with his wife and young daughter. The drama special received a viewership rating of 25.6%.

In 2009, Matsumoto starred in his first drama series in nearly two years. He portrayed Vito Hayakawa (早川ビト), a half-Japanese, half-Filipino young man who always faces life with a smile in the drama Smile, co-starring Oguri once more. Matsumoto subsequently won Best Actor for his role in the 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix. Fuji TV announced on September 10, 2009, that Matsumoto would star in a three-part drama special called Wagaya no Rekishi (わが家の歴史) scheduled to air for three consecutive days in the spring of 2010.

In January 2010, Matsumoto co-starred with the other members of Arashi in their first drama in nearly ten years in the human suspense drama special Saigo no Yakusoku (最後の約束). Matsumoto portrayed Nozomu Gotō (後藤 望), a 27-year-old motorcycle courier rider who is caught up in a building hijack. Matsumoto co-starred with Yūko Takeuchi in his first Getsuku drama titled Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku (夏の恋は虹色に輝く). He also made a guest appearance on the final episode of bandmate Ohno's drama Kaibutsu-kun (怪物くん), which is based on the Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun manga and anime series.

In 2012, co-starring with Eita Nagayama who played as Teru Nitta, Matsumoto played the role of Shuntaro Tokita in Lucky Seven, a series surrounding a group of quirky detectives.

In 2014, co-starring with Satomi Ishihara who played as Saeko Takahashi, Matsumoto played as Koyurugi Sota in the live-adaptation of romance Josei manga series Shitsuren Chocolatier.

In 2016, Matsumoto starred as Hiroto Miyama in 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi (99.9-刑事専門弁護士-). The series is about a lawyer always eager to find the 0.1% truth in the midst of 99.9% cases in Japan, where once one is prosecuted, they are presumably guilty. Later in 2018, Matsumoto returned for the sequel titled 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi-Season II (99.9-刑事専門弁護士-SEASON II). The sequel also experienced success like the prequel, with an average viewership of 17.6% in the Kanto region, being one of the most praised drama series in 2018. The series continued in 2021, with a special on TV '99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi - Kanzen shinsaku - Aratana deai-hen (99.9－刑事専門弁護士－ 完全新作SP 新たな出会い篇) and a film 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi- The Movie (99.9-刑事専門弁護士-THE MOVIE), that were released on December 29 and 30, respectively.

In 2019, Matsumoto played lead role as Matsuura Takeshirō in the NHK drama special, Eien no Nispa~Hokkaido to Nazuketa Otoko  Matsuura Takeshiro~ (永遠のニㇱパ～北海道と名付けた男　松浦武四郎～) which was made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the naming of Hokkaido.

By the end of 2021, Matsumoto's next drama was announced, his first co-starring role with long time friend Aya Ueto, called Tonari no Chikara (となりのチカラ), airing weekly from January 20, 2022. He portrayed Chikara Nakagoshi, a stay-at-home family man, who's also a struggling writer, that neglects other duties while being concerned with the wellbeing of people around him.

Matsumoto plays the lead role in 2023 NHK Taiga drama titled What Will You Do, Ieyasu? (どうする家康), as Tokugawa Ieyasu. As his character, he appeared in a cameo role in the first minutes of the last episode of The 13 Lords of the Shogun As part of the promotion for the taiga, Matsumoto and other actors visited Okazaki City in Aichi Prefecture, and Shizuoka City and Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, which are the main setting of the story, in what was called "Tokai Premier Relay". He also participated as part of a mounted procession happening for the first time in the Hamamatsu Kite Festival on May 5, 2023. This drama marked also the 4th time he appeared alongside Nanako Matsushima, who plays Ieyasu's mother.

Film
Along with future bandmate Aiba, Matsumoto appeared on the silver screen in the 1998 film Shinjuku Tanteidan Shōnen (新宿少年探偵団).

In 2002, Arashi co-starred in their first movie together called Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy (ピカ☆ンチ Life is HardだけどHappy). They came together again for its sequel Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy (ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is HardだからHappy) in 2004. He also starred in the film Tokyo Tower as a womanizer with a preference for older women with Junichi Okada the same year.

In 2007, Arashi starred in their third movie together Kiiroi Namida while Matsumoto was cast in the independent film Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru with Nana Eikura as his co-star. He portrayed the lead character Yori Yūki (結城 頼), a high school student who falls in love and develops a romantic relationship with his younger twin sister.

In 2008, Matsumoto took on his first jidaigeki role in a re-make of Akira Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress: The Last Princess, with award-winning actors Hiroshi Abe, Kippei Shiina and Masami Nagasawa. Soon after, TBS decided to end the Hana Yori Dango series through a film. Hana Yori Dango Final, which hit the big screen on June 28, 2008, in Japan, became a box office hit.

In 2013, Matsumoto Jun played the role of Okuda Kosuke in the movie 'Hidamari no Kanojo'(Her Sunny Side) along with actress Ueno Juri in the latest movie of director Miki Takahiro ('Solanin', 'Boku ga Ita').'Hidamari no Kanojo' was filmed in January and to hit cinemas in October 2013.

In 2014, Arashi once again starred in a sequel to the Pikanchi series, Pikanchi Life is Hard Tabun Happy (ピカ☆★☆ンチ Life is HardたぶんHappy).

In 2017, Matsumoto Jun played the role of Takashi Hayama in the Movie 'Narratage' along with actress Kasumi Arimura.

Matsumoto reprised his role as Hiroto Miyama in 2021's 99.9 Keiji Senmon Bengoshi The Movie (99.9-刑事専門弁護士-THE MOVIE), a sequel to the 99.9 Criminal Lawyer drama series.

TV host
From 2005 to 2007, Matsumoto along with Akiko Wada, Aya Matsuura, KAT-TUN, Tomochika, and Hinoi Team hosted Minna no Terebi/Utawara Hot Hit 10.

Radio
Matsumoto had his own radio show, Jun Style, on Nack5 from October 5, 2002, to September 2011.

Exhibition
On November 4, 2023, through a video for members of Arashi's FC, Matsumoto announced the opening of an exhibition in Roppongi Museum for year end. The expo, named "Jun Matsumoto Exhibition `Perspective ~ Toki o tsunagu manazashi ~", according to the official Twitter, is a 6-person collaboration, in which Matsumoto's view and words can be experienced by the visitors. Exhibition will run from December 8, 2023 to January 18, 2024.

Commercials
(CM)
 * Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.
 * Asahi Soft Drinks "Mitsuya Cider" (2020) with Arashi
 * Au by KDDI
 * Au by KDDI (2011)
 * Android Au (2011) - co-star with all Arashi members
 * Au Box (2008)
 * Bandai
 * たまごっち オスっちメスっち (Tamagotchi Osutchi Mesutchi) (1999)
 * Daiichi Sankyo
 * Lulu Attack cold medicine (2018 - 2019, 2022 )
 * Daio Paper
 * Elleair + Water (2010 - 2017)
 * Hitachi
 * Home appliances (2010 - 2019) (By himself, and co-starring Arashi members, both as individuals and as a whole team)
 * House Foods
 * さわやか吐息 スーパーカテキン (Sawayaka toiki sūpākatekin) (2004)
 * Japan Airlines (2021 - 2023) With fellow Arashi member Sho Sakurai
 * Japan Post
 * New Year's postcard campaign (2015-2020, as part of Arashi), (2019-2020, individual)
 * special set of stamps for sale in Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu, Mie, Ibaraki, and Tochigi prefectures (for drama "What to do, Ieyasu") (for Tokai Post, 2023)
 * KFC Japan
 * Pot Pie and Chicken Box (2009)
 * Tomato Cream Pot Pie (2010)
 * Chicken Cream Pot Pie, Tomato Cream Pot Pie with Shrimp (2011)
 * Kikkoman
 * うちのごはん (Uchi no gohan) (2017 - 2020)
 * Kirin Holdings
 * Kirin Brewery
 * Tanrei Green Label (2010 - 2013) - Co-star with Satoshi Ohno and Masaki Aiba (later joined by Kazunari Ninomiya and Sho Sakurai)
 * Kirin Beverages
 * Afternoon Tea Delicious Sugar-free (2016)
 * Mets "Mets Men" (2016) - By himself and co-starring Masaki Aiba and Satoshi Ohno
 * Kosé Corporation
 * Kosé Cosmetics
 * Fasio (2010 - 2013)
 * Kosé Cosmeport
 * Je l'aime (2013 - 2020) - By himself and co-starring with Masaki Aiba
 * Savon de Bouquet (2014 -)
 * Meiji Seika
 * Meiji Milk Chocolate (2011 - 2020)
 * Meiji The Chocolate (2014)
 * Crispies (2012)
 * Mountain of mushrooms · Village of bamboo shoots (2013 - 2019)
 * Misawa Home (1998)
 * NHK New satellite channels BS and BSP4K's CM personality (2023)
 * Nintendo
 * Mario Cart 7 (2010)
 * Mario Kart Wii (2010) - Co-star with Kazunari Ninomiya
 * Donkey Kong Returns (2010) - Co-star with Sho Sakurai
 * Wii Party (2010) - Co-star with all Arashi members
 * 3Ds
 * Recruit
 * Hot Pepper Beauty (2011)
 * Suumo (2022)
 * Sagawa Express
 * Sagawa Express Transport and Logistics "NEXT! SAGAWA" (2022-2023)
 * Suntory
 * Pepsi Nex (2008)

Musical contributions
Are You Happy? song "Drive" (recording under Matsumoto's supervision)

Photo book
Jun Matsumoto 20220830-20231026 The records of days of living as Ieyasu (release 19 December 2023)

Social media
Matsumoto opened an Instagram account in December 2022 to promote his upcoming taiga "Dou suru Ieyasu", activities related to it, as well as some personal posts via Instagram Stories. On May 12, 2024, he changed the account's name and icon, to reflect his current activities, and via an Instagram Stories post, he warned fans and followers that he does not have any other account except for the Instagram one, as there are several fake accounts appearing in X (formerly Twitter) claiming to be him.