Noriyuki Higashiyama

Noriyuki Higashiyama (東山 紀之) is a Japanese businessman, former singer, actor, and member of the idol group Shonentai. He is married to actress Yoshino Kimura.

In September 2023 Higashiyama became the president and CEO of Johnny & Associates (currently Smile-Up), until his retirement at the end of 2023, following the sexual abuse scandal involving late company founder Johnny Kitagawa.

Dificcult Childhood
According to his book Kawasaki Kid, his paternal great-grandfather was Russian. When he was still a baby, his grandfather drunkenly poured boiling water on his leg, which left him with a deformity in his left foot. Because of this burn, he said, his leg remained bandaged until he was about three years old. Higashiyama was known to train very hard, doing 1,000 sit-ups daily and running 100 km a month and maintain a body fat percentage of 9%. The reason he works out so hard is because without muscle training, the deformity in his leg causes pain in his hip joint. Even with his leg deformities, he was athletic and could do a backflip at the age of nine.

His parents divorced because of his father's drunken problem when he was three years old. His mother was worried that Higashiyama would become a drunkard like his father and grandfather, so she taught him repeatedly, "When you grow up, be careful that alcohol doesn't ruin your life." He said that this helped him to avoid getting deeply intoxicated when he did drink. His mother later remarried when he was fourth grade, but his stepfather also gradually began to drink and became violent not only with his mother and Higashiyama, but also with his sister. He spent his days hungry from poverty and frightened by his stepfather's violence. He and his younger sister were raised by their mother, who worked at a barber shop. They lived in poverty and sometimes had difficulty finding food, but a Korean family who ran a barbecue restaurant in the neighborhood would share their food with them, and they were able to stave off hunger.

1979 Scouted by Kitagawa and entered show business
In 1979, his mother, who worked at a barbershop for NHK employees in Shibuya Tokyo, gave him tickets to watch a singing show, so Higashiyama went with a friend to see the show at NHK. On their way home, he was waiting at a traffic light at Shibuya Crossing when he caught the eye of Johnny Kitagawa, who was driving by and scouted him directly. He was in the sixth grade at the time.

Higashiyama, who had always suffered from hunger, said that after he joined Johnny's, he was glad that Johnny Kitagawa would take him out to eat after dance lessons. When he entered high school, he left home to escape his stepfather and began living at Johnny's dormitory. Higashiyama said that for a while after he joined Johnny's, he could not dance well because he thought it was weird that a man singing and dancing as an idol at that time. However, he was "struck by lightning" when he saw a Michael Jackson video at dormitory, and he honed his dancing skills in admiration of Michael. In the dormitory, he also practiced acrobatics with the trainees who lived with him.

In 1981, "B Team" was formed with Kazukiyo Nishikiori, Katsuhide Uekusa and Yasuyuki Matsubara. The following year, in 1982, the members changed from Matsubara to Higashiyama, who became the current members as Shonentai. They mainly worked as back-up dancers for Toshihiko Tahara and Masahiko Kondō.

1985- Debut of Shonentai and career as an actor
They made their record debut on December 12, 1985 with the single Kamen Butōkai. At the time of their debut, all three could do backflips and back somersault, and their advanced acrobatic skills, such as throwing and catching microphones, were much talked about. Higashiyama was a prince-like character who was calm and didn't talk much.

After his debut, in addition to his group activities, he mainly worked as an actor, mainly in TV dramas, movies, and stage performances.

In 1988, Shonentai became popular among young women, and the term "soy sauce face," (soft facial features) coined to describe a Japanese-looking, fair-skinned, cool-looking man like Higashiyama's, and the term "sauce face," (defined facial features) coined to describe a tanned, chiseled face like Nishikiori's, became popular to describe good-looking men. They were selected for the "Basic Knowledge of Modern Terms" published every December It won the Popular Award in the Popular Words category of the 1988 U-CAN Inc.

He is in acting, with his stoic image, he has used his acting career to play a wide range of roles, from prince-like roles and jidaigeki (historical dramas) to comedies. After portraying Japanese historical heroes such as Okita Sōji, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and Hikaru Genji, he became the first Johnny's actor to star in an NHK Taiga drama in 1993 with Ryukyu no Kaze. He starred in the popular TV Asahi jidaigeki drama Hissatsu series since 2007, NHK jidaigeki drama Ooka Echizen since 2013, and TV Asahi serial detective drama Seven Detectives since 2015.

On September 20, 2020, it was announced that Nishikiori and Uekusa would leave Johnny & Associates within the same year. Shonentai name would remain and Higashiyama would continue his performing career.

2023 Succeeded president of Johnny's and retirement from the public stage
On September 5, 2023, Higashiyama succeeded as president of Johnny & Associates (later renamed Smile-Up. on October 17 of the same year), replacing Julie Keiko Fujishima, who had resigned after the sexual assault scandal involving the office's founder, Johnny Kitagawa, surfaced and the "negative effects of family management" were pointed out in the investigation report process (later renamed Smile-Up. on October 17 of the same year). On the same day, he held a press conference and announced that he would retire from show business by the end of 2023 and concentrate on his company business.

With this announcement, his appearances on TV Asahi's information variety program Sunday Live! and the TBS Television documentary program "Birth Day," in which he has served as a host since the program's inception in 2005, also ended their appearances after the second episode in the same month.

On December 26, he made his last appearance on stage before his retirement at his solo dinner show "Noriyuki Higashiyama Dinner Show 2023" held at ANA InterContinental Tokyo. Higashiyama performed for the last time as an entertainer. The show had last taken place in 2002, was held in Osaka and Tokyo, for the 2023 edition. Surrounded by excited voices, applause and audience singing, Higashiyama sung a total of 24 songs, which included songs from his time as a member of Shonentai, while in the background, nostalgic images from several moments of his artistic life, as well as a sort of an end roll with a record of his performances until then, ended with a thank you message.

Higashiyama's last appearance on television was in TV Asahi Hissatsu Shigotonin broadcast on December 29, 2023. This drama was a popular jidaigeki that had been ongoing since he took over the lead role in 2007.

On December 31, 44 years after he entered show business in 1979, he retired from the public stage with a last message on his paid member blog, saying, "I would be grateful if someday people could understand that I chose this kind of life".

Background of President appointment
September 2023, Higashiyama succeeded as the president and CEO of Johnny & Associates (currently Smile-Up) replacing Julie Keiko Fujishima. He and Julie are the same age, and they met when they were 14 years old and they have been close ever since. Julie also did styling and management work for Shonentai, a boy band that Higashiyama belongs to, since she was still a college student, and over the years they are said to have developed a trusting relationship where they could consult each other about anything.

Julie is the niece of Johnny Kitagawa and the daughter of Mary Yasuko Fujishima, Kitagawa's elder sister. Mary had served as vice president of the Johnny's for many years. She was reportedly in charge of management aspects, including the substantive operation of the company. It is said that Mary was particularly fond of Masahiko Kondō and Higashiyama, and it was sometimes said that "Kondō is the first son" (the most powerful person of Johnny's talents), and "Higashiyama is the second son" (second powerful person). After Kondo left Johnny's in 2021 due to his own adultery scandal, Higashiyama had be regarded as "Johnny's first son" in both name and reality.

Hideaki Takizawa, who retired as a talent and became vice president after Johnny Kitagawa passed away in 2019, he had been entrusted with the training of more than 200 trainees (Johnny's Jr.). Takizawa was close to Kitagawa in his later years and was said to have been named by him as his direct successor. He had inherited Kitagawa's ideas and was considered one of the leading successors to Johnny's. However he left the company in October 2022 to set up a new talent agency Tobe.

After the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal came to light in 2023, Julie initially looked for an outside president, but all requests were turned down. Julie's mother Mary had already passed away in August 2021. Finally, Julie asked Higashiyama to be president in early August in 2023, with whom she had a long-standing and trusting relationship. No matter how much power Higashiyama was said to have as the "first son," he did not have a career as a businessman, and definite position like Takizawa who was the vice president of Johnny's. Higashiyama said he was very worried when he received the request and thought about it overnight, but decided to accept it because he thought it was his destiny. He also reportedly took over as president to fulfill his responsibilities as the "first son" of the company.

Personal Life
On October 23, 2010, he married actress Yoshino Kimura. They had been going steady for about two and a half years since they performed together on stage in March 2008. Their first child, a daughter, was born in 2011, and their second child, a daughter, was born in 2013.

Awards

 * 56th ACA National Arts Festival (2001) - Theater Division Excellence Award for Musical The Christmas Box
 * 2008 Japanese Movie Critics Awards - Best Actor for Yamazakura
 * 30th Hashida Awards (2022) - Reason for Award: He has been active in a wide range of TV dramas and host roles, including Seven Detectives (TV Asahi) and Sunday Live! (TV Asahi) and other dramas and host for many years. He is also a hero in the hearts of Sugako Hashida's works (On Inochi, The Tale of Genji (TBS Television (Japan)), etc.).

Film

 * Love Forever (1983)
 * Aitsu to Lullaby (1983) – Hiroshi Machida
 * Nineteen (1987) – East
 * Maji! (1991) – Motoki Shirogane
 * Tengoku no Taizai (1992) – Detective Aoki
 * Makoto (2005) – Makoto Shirakawa
 * Yamazakura (2008) – Yaichirō Tezuka
 * Ogawa no Hotori (2011) – Sakunosuke Inui
 * Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo (2011) – Fujiwara no Michinaga
 * Eight Ranger (2012) – Terrorist group leader
 * Trick The Movie: Last Stage (2014) – Shinichi Kagami
 * Eight Ranger 2 (2014) – Terrorist group leader
 * Laughing Under the Clouds (2018) – Iwakura Tomomi
 * Perfect Strangers (2021) - Sanpei Koyama

Television

 * Youth rebel Part2 (1983) - as Keiichi Miyazawa
 * Shinsengumi I: Okita Sōji: A Time of Love and Youth (1987) - starring Okita Sōji
 * Shinsengumi II: Ikedaya incident (1987)
 * A person working in the television industry in the Wilderness (1987)
 * Meibugyo Tōyama no Kin-san Series (1988 - 1992, TV Asahi) - as Shingo Mizuki
 * Meibugyo Tōyama no Kin-san 1st series (1988)
 * Meibugyo Tōyama no Kin-san 2nd series (1989)
 * Meibugyo Tōyama no Kin-san 3rd series (July 1990 - March 1991)
 * Meibugyo Tōyama no Kin-san Special: Edo Castle Overthrown! The Red-Haired Woman Spied On (1992)
 * Jikandesuyo (It's Time!) (1988) - as Azuma Yu
 * Clash of the Men! Part 1 (1988)
 * Clash of the Men! Part 2 (1988)
 * Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1990) - starring Minamoto no Yoshitsune
 * Jikandesuyo New Year's Special: Ume-no-Yu's Wedding is Full of Gags (1990) - as Akira Yamanouchi
 * Jikandesuyo Murder Case: One Dead Body Floats in Ume no Yu (1990)
 * Kunichan's Never-Ending TV "Christmas Gift: Christmas Eve Once More..." (1990)
 * Wakasama Samurai Capture: The Secrets of the Inner Palace of Edo Castle (1991) - as Wakasama (Harunaga Tokugawa)
 * Flower Labyrinth: The Woman from Shanghai (1991) - Playing the role of Akira Toudou
 * Dreaming of a Journey (1991) - starring Minoru Aihara
 * My Brother (1991) - starring Shigeo Mori
 * Hana no Iro (1991) - as Kikuo Kato (Kabuki actor, Moriwaka Sanokawa)
 * The Gypsy's Dream: The Legend of the Mysteries of Spain (1991) - starring Sho
 * The Tale of Genji - The First Volume (1991) - starring Hikaru Genji
 * The Tale of Genji, Book Two (1992) - Yugiri
 * NHK Taiga drama
 * Taiga drama Ryukyu no Kaze (1993) - as starring Keitai
 * Taiga drama Chūshingura (1999) - as Asano Naganori
 * Taiga drama Burning Flower (2015) - as Katsura Kogoro
 * Onna no Ie (1993) - as Tadayuki (young master)
 * Masterpiece Mystery Selection I: Three Widows (1993) - Playing the role of Hitoshi Eto
 * Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari 2nd Series 25th Special (1993) - Playing the role of Tadanori Oki
 * Surgeon Saeko Arimori Sayonara Special (1993) - Kazushi Machimura
 * Daichūshingura (1994) - Asano Naganori
 * Embraced by the Night (1994) - Ryusei Kamiya
 * Seichō Matsumoto special project Yakko no staircase (1995) - starring Michio Sayama (Miyasaka)
 * The Chef (1995) - starring Takumi Ajisawa
 * Someone is in Love with Someone (1996) - as Takeo Yasuda
 * Dear Woman (1996) - Playing the lead role of Tamon Ishimaru
 * Dear Woman Special (1997)
 * I'm glad I don't love you too much (1998) - starring Yotaro Nakajima
 * Heisei married couple's tea bowl (2000) - starring Mitsutaro Kanamoto
 * Heisei married couples' tea bowl special - Mother became wind... (2000)
 * Sequel to Heisei married couples' tea bowl (2002)
 * Your Yuko is Crying (2001) - starring Hekishi Yuki / Benishi Yuki
 * Hatsurai (2003) - Kajii Hannosuke
 * Seichō Matsumoto's Testimony (2004) - starring Teiichiro Ishino as Ishino[80].
 * New Detective Munesue Series (2005 - 2019, TV Asahi) - starring Koichiro Munai
 * Detective Munesue's Investigation File - Glass Lovers (2005, Seiichi Morimura 40th Anniversary Commemorative Project)
 * Detective Munesue's Pure White Proof (2007)
 * Detective Munesue's Cloud Sea of Youth (2008)
 * Detective Munesue's Apocalypse (2009)
 * Detective Munesue's Immoral Poetry (2011)
 * Detective Munesue's Dead Sea Foreshadowing (2012)
 * Detective Munesue's Night Rainbow (2014)
 * Detective Munesue's Black Festival (2015)
 * Detective Munesue's False Perfect Crime (2016)
 * Detective Munesue's Deadly Fate (2017)
 * Detective Munesue's Black Bonds (2019)
 * Kuitan (gourmand detective) (2006) - starring Seiya Takano
 * Kuitan Special - I'm going to eat all of Hong Kong (2006)
 * Kuitan 2 (2007)
 * Byakkotai: The First and Second Nights (2007) - as Matsudaira Yoriyasu
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin Series (2007) - starring Kogoro Watanabe
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2007 (2007)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009 New Year Special (2009)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2009 (2009)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2010 (2010)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2012 (2012)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2013 (2013)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2014 (2014)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2015 (2015)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2016 (2016)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin (2018)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2019 (2019)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin 2020 (2020)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin (2022)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin (2023)
 * Hissatsu Shigotonin (2023)
 * GM - Odorire Doctor (2010) - as Hideo Goto (Fire Goto)
 * Ikkyu-san (2012) - as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
 * Ikkyu-san 2 (2013)
 * Ōoka Echizen Series (2013 - 2023, NHK BS Premium) - starring Ōoka Tadasuke
 * Ooka Echizen (2013)
 * Ooka Echizen 2 (2014)
 * Ooka Echizen 3 (2016)
 * Ooka Echizen Special (2017)
 * Ooka Echizen 4 (2018)
 * Ooka Echizen Special - Famous Judges Connecting Parent and Child (2019)
 * Ooka Echizen 5 (2020)
 * Ooka Echizen Special - Hatsuharu ni scattered Kageboushi (2021)
 * Ooka Echizen 6 (2022)
 * Ooka Echizen Special - Great Turmoil! Shirazu of Fate (2023)
 * The Seven Meetings (2013) - starring Manji Harashima
 * The Partner - To my beloved friends of 100 years (2013) - starring Sakitaro Asaba / Tetsuya Suzuki
 * XXX Wife (2015) - Playing the role of Masazumi Kubota, news anchor
 * Yokokuhan: The Pain (2015) - starring Eiji Sakuma
 * Seven Detectives Series (2015 -, TV Asahi) - starring Yuu Amagi
 * Seven Detectives 1st Series (2015)
 * Seven Detectives 2nd Series (2016)
 * Seven Detectives 3rd series (2017)
 * Seven Detectives Fourth Series (2018)
 * Seven Detectives 5th series (2019)
 * Seven Detectives 6th series (2020)
 * Seven Detectives 7th series (2021)
 * Seven Detectives 8th series (2022)
 * Seven Detectives 9th series (2023)
 * Nobunaga Moyu (2016) - starring as Oda Nobunaga
 * Futsubun ga ichiban - Writer Shuhei Fujisawa: A Word from My Father (2016) - starring Shuhei Fujisaw
 * Seichō Matsumoto Hanamitsu no Nai Mori (2017) - starring Ryusuke Umeki
 * Sand no Kiki (2019) - starring Eitaro Imanishi
 * Special investigation department 9 season 6 final episode (2023) - as Yu Amagi

Live-action

 * We Bought a Zoo – Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon)

Animation

 * Brother Bear – Kenai

Book

 * Higashiyama-Style: Noriyuki Higashiyama Photo Collection (December 15, 1990, Fusosha Publishing) Photo/Katsuo Hanzawa
 * Noriyuki Higashiyama (December 17, 1998, Magazine House, ISBN 9784838711024) - A photo essay based on the serial "Higashiyama Noriyuki's My favorite scene" in the magazine "Raku", with new photos and articles added.
 * Noriyuki Higashiyama talking about Makoto (February 18, 2005, Pia) - Dialogue and Photobook (published by Pia, Feb. 18, 2005, ISBN 9784835615097)
 * Show Lovery River (Written by Show Aikawa / Published by Pia on March 3, 2005, ISBN 9784835615073) - Appeared as one of the guests in a book written by Show Aikawa. Talk 3: Noriyuki Higashiyama and Show Aikawa, two men who keep on running.
 * Kawasaki Kid (June 4, 2010, Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc, ISBN 9784022507563 / August 7, 2015, Asahi Sonorama, ISBN 9784022618351) - A reconstructed version of the serial "Hitherto and Hereafter" from the magazine "Asahi Weekly," with new additions such as a document of a visit to his hometown Kawasaki. Essays on his half life