is a large Japanese

talent agency Talent has two principal meanings: * Talent (measurement), an ancient unit of mass and value * Talent (skill), a group of aptitudes useful for some activities; talents may refer to aptitudes themselves or to possessors of those talents Talent may ...

History

It was founded in 1960 as Hori Productions (ホリプロダクション ''Hori Purodakushon'') and changed to its present name in 1990. Horipro has two locations in the United States:

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...

and Los Angeles. In the 1970s, one of Hori Productions' most famous stars was singer

Momoe Yamaguchi , known by her maiden name , is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe," Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 ...

. In 1989, Horipro purchased the publishing assets of famed rock band

Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...

. Next, the company moved on to invest in more catalogs. A year later, HoriPro Entertainment Group opened their first U.S. location in Nashville, Tennessee. Over the years, Horipro's songwriters would go on to write many hits for some of Country music's most recognized voices. In the late 1990s, Horipro planned to create a "virtual idol", an electronic rendition using

motion capture Motion capture (sometimes referred as mo-cap or mocap, for short) is the process of recording the movement of objects or people. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robo ...

methods of

Kyoko Date is a "virtual idol" associated with Horipro. She made her debut in 1996 as a 3D CG character. Despite her virtual nature, she was treated as talent by Horipro. She never enjoyed great popularity, but after her debut she intermittently continued he ...

. The virtual idol based on Date charted in Tokyo in 1996, and provided inspiration for the character of Idoru in

William Gibson William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as ''cyberpunk''. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, his ...

's eponymous novel. In 2006, Horipro's first Los Angeles location opened. The company's catalog has expanded to include over 13,000 songs in each major genre. HEG's Los Angeles location is in partnership with Horipro Music Academy, a music enrichment school for children. Additionally, HEG Los Angeles began MusicTaste, a boutique artist development label that is placed within the publishing company. MusicTaste's artists include Matt Palmer, Dori Caymmi, and more. Horipro contracted with MediaHorse, an American music licensing and marketing firm, in 2015 for synchronization licensing in the United States. Horipro sold HoriPro Entertainment Group to Mojo Music & Media in 2019.

Notable talents

Female talents

Rika Adachi is a Japanese ''tarento'' and actress. She was born in Nagasaki Prefecture, and raised in Mie Prefecture. She has appeared in several films, including ''Say "I love you"'' (2014) and ''Ghost Theater'' (2015), and has played leading roles in the T ...

* Kazu Ando *

Kei Aran , (born October 9, 1970), is a Japanese actress and former top star ''otokoyaku'' (an actress who plays male roles) of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue's Star Troupe. She joined the revue in 1991 and became the top star in 2007, five years after he ...

Ineko Arima Ineko Arima (有馬稲子, Arima Ineko) is a Japanese film actress born on 3 April 1932 in Osaka. She is known for her work with director Yasujirō Ozu. Selected filmography Film Television Honours *Medal with Purple Ribbon are medals a ...

Haruka Ayase is a Japanese actress, model and singer who started her career as a gravure idol in 2000. She has since become a leading actress in television and film. Life and career Early life and education Haruka Ayase was born as Aya Tademaru on March ...

Minori Chihara is a Japanese voice actress and former singer who has had roles in several anime series.Doi, Hitoshi"Chihara Minori" ''Seiyuu Database''. January 3, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011. She is well known for her voice role as Yuki Nagato in '' The ...

Kyoko Fukada is a very common feminine Japanese given name. Not to be confused with Kiyoko. Possible writings The final syllable "ko" is typically written with the kanji character for child, 子. It is a common suffix to female names in Japan. The first sy ...

* Shoko Haida *

Minami Hinase , known professionally as , is a Japanese actress of half French descent. Biography Minami was born in Tokyo, Japan on 22 September 1986. She is internationally known for her role as Shogo Kawada's girlfriend Keiko Onuki in the critically accl ...

Aya Hirayama is a Japanese actress who has appeared in various films including ''Waterboys'' (2001) and Lovers' Kiss (2003). Hirayama was born in Kuroiso, Tochigi, Japan, which is now part of Nasushiobara. Aya made her acting debut in 1999 with '' Tengoku ...

Miyuki Imori is a Japanese entertainer, idol, actress, and singer who is represented by the talent agency, Horipro. Biography Imori was born on October 26, 1968 in Shimonita, Kanra District, Gunma, Japan. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in Nakano, T ...

Anna Ishibashi is a Japanese actress and model. Career Ishibashi starred in Ryuichi Hiroki's ''Your Friend'' in 2008. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2008 Yokohama Film Festival. She appeared in Koji Maeda's ''Cannonball Wedlock'' in 2011. Film ...

Haruka Ishida is a Japanese actress, voice actress and a former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. She has been a co-host on the variety show ''Dream Creator'' on TV Tokyo. and has voiced on a handful of anime shows, including ''Nobunaga the Fool'' ...

(former

AKB48 AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-Eight'') is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara (''Akiba'' for short) area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with it ...

) *

Satomi Ishihara , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress from Tokyo. Biography Satomi Ishihara was born on December 24, 1986, in Tokyo. She is of blood type A, and her height is 157 cm. Satomi began her acting profession in 2003 at the ag ...

Tomomi Itano is a Japanese recording artist, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She is a former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. She was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 2011 she debuted solo with a single titled " Dear J", which wa ...

(former

) *

Kazue Itoh Kazue (written: 一恵, 一枝, 和恵, 和枝, 和永, 良恵 or かずえ in hiragana) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese actress *, Japanese gymnast *, Japanese swimmer *, Japanese voice actress ...

Karen Iwata is an actress and former member of the Japanese idol girl group AKB48 under Team A. Biography Iwata was born on May 13, 1998 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Her mother is Miwa Sugawara, who works as a TV personality in Sendai. As a child, Iwata ...

(former

) *

Nagisa Katahira , born 12 July 1959) is a Japanese film and television actress, and singer. Acting career She has appeared in such television series and TV movies as the '' Red Dead Wagon'' series, ''Hôigaku kyôshitsu no jiken file'', ''Kagemusha Tokugawa Ie ...

Tomomi Kasai is a Japanese singer, actress and a former member of the idol group AKB48, belonging to Team A. She had a recurring role on ''Kamen Rider W'' as Elizabeth, alongside group member Tomomi Itano. Together, they make up the sub-unit Queen & Elizab ...

(former

) *

Yuu Kashii , known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress and model. She studied at Mejiro University, where she majored in English. History Personal life She married actor Joe Odagiri, who is exactly 11 years her senior, on February 16, 2008, the birthd ...

Ibuki Kido is a Japanese voice actress from Aomori Prefecture who is affiliated with HoriPro International. She began her career after participating in a voice acting audition held by Horipro in 2011. She played her first main role as Akiko Himenokōji in ...

Haruka Kinami is a Japanese actress who is affiliated with Horipro. Biography In 2001, Kinami was chosen to be the Japanese High School Baseball Championship PR schoolgirl during high school. In the same year, she won the Grand Prix at the Horipro New Star A ...

Ruriko Kojima is a Japanese ''tarento'', gravure idol and sportscaster, formerly affiliated with Horipro. Career In 2009, Kojima won the Grand Prize from among the 33,910 people in the ''34th Horipro Tarento Scout Caravan''. The same year on October 25, s ...

Erika Mabuchi is a Japanese actress. Filmography Films * '' Shall We Dance?'' (1996) * ''Itsuka dokusho suruhi'' (2005) * ''Call Boy'' (2018) * ''Inori'' (2021) * ''Akira and Akira'' (2022) Television * ''Hakusen Nagashi'' (1996), Fuyumi Tachibana * ''Haku ...

Machico Machico () is a municipality, parish and city in the southeast part of the island of Madeira, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The easternmost municipality on the island, it is also the third-most populous area with a population of 21,828 in ...

Akira Matsu is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet of Japan, Diet (national legislature). A native of Kanagawa Prefecture and former member of Takarazuka Revue, she was elected to the House of C ...

* Akane Matsunaga *

Yurie Midori is a Japanese actress and gravure idol who has appeared in a number of feature films and television series. She is affiliated with Horipro. Biography In 2005, Midori was awarded the Grand Prix at the 30th Horipro Tarento Scout Caravan Memorial A ...

Ayame Misaki is a Japanese actress who is affiliated with Horipro. She originally debuted in magazines of gravure and variety shows, then later working as an actress. She is well known for portraying Miki in ''Cutie Honey: The Live''. Biography Misaki won t ...

Karen Miyama is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She used to be part of the Gekidan Tohai talent agency, and is now part of Horipro talent agency. She portrayed the young Ann Uekusa in the live-action drama ''Sand Chronicles''. In anime, she provided ...

Miho Miyazaki is a Japanese singer, actress and former member of the idol girl group AKB48 where she was active in Team A. She also participated in the Korean-Japanese show Produce 48. Biography In 2007, Miyazaki passed an audition for AKB48 and became a ken ...

(

) *

Sae Miyazawa is a Japanese actress, television personality and former singer, signed under the entertainment agency Horipro. She is best known for her affiliations with AKB48 and its various sister- and subgroups. Between 2006 and 2016, she was a part of the ...

(former

SNH48 SNH48 is a Chinese idol girl group based in Shanghai. Following AKB48's creator Yasushi Akimoto's concept of "idols you can meet", the group features dozens of female members around the age of 20, who perform regularly in the group's own thea ...

SKE48 SKE48 (S.K.E. Forty-eight) is a Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. SKE48 is named after the Sakae district in Nagoya of Aichi Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at SKE48 Theater on 2F of Sunshine Sakae, a s ...

) * Misaki Momose *

Suzuka Morita is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She was a 7th generation member of Hop Club and a 2nd generation member, number 11, of Idoling!!!. She is best known for playing Kotoha Hanaori/Shinken Yellow in the TV series ''Samurai Sentai Shinkenger ...

(former

Idoling!!! was a Japanese TV show with attached female idol group created by Fuji TV. The concept of the group was to watch as the girls grow as idols and experience various things. Idoling's main source of exposure was their TV show, which aired several ...

) *

Mao Ichimichi is a Japanese actress and voice actress. She started her career as a Japanese idol member of Horipro's HOP Club under the stage name and is a gravure idol. She started an extensive voice acting career under the stage name . Biography Ichimic ...

*Seira Nagashima (former

Nogizaka46 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto, created as the of the group AKB48. They are the first group from the Sakamichi Series, which also includes sister groups Sakurazaka46 (formerly Keyakizaka46), Yoshimotozaka46, and ...

) *

Aoi Nakabeppu is a Japanese fashion model and actress who is affiliated with Horipro. Biography In 2005, Nakabeppu won the 30th ''Horipro Tarento Scout Caravan Quasi Grand Prix'' award, and debuted in the entertainment industry in the wake. In 2006, she had ...

* Mami Nakamura *

Chiharu Niiyama (born January 14, 1981) is a Japanese actress and former gravure idol. Personal life Niiyama was born in Aomori, Aomori. She was previously married to baseball player . They have a daughter named (born July 12, 2006). They divorced on Decembe ...

* Yui Ninomiya *

Ayaka Ōhashi is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo, Japan. She is affiliated with the talent agency HoriPro International. As a singer, she is signed under Lantis. Originally a child actress, she appeared in many commercials, dramas, NHK Educat ...

Ito Ohno is a Japanese actress and fashion model She is represented with Horipro is a large Japanese talent agency. History It was founded in 1960 as Hori Productions (ホリプロダクション ''Hori Purodakushon'') and changed to its present n ...

Megumi Ohori is a Japanese singer and ''tarento''. She was born from Ōamishirasato-chō (now Ōamishirasato), Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture. She is represented with Horipro. She is a former member of the female idol groups AKB48 and SDN48. She is also a ...

(former

SDN48 SDN48 (read "S.D.N. Forty-eight", short for Saturday Night 48) was a Japanese idol girl group, created and produced by Yasushi Akimoto. SDN48 was created based on an "adult idol" concept. Former AKB48 member Kayo Noro was chosen as the captain of ...

) *Rin Okabe (

) * Itsumi Osawa *

Mai Oshima is a singer and a former member of the Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48. Biography In December 2005, Oshima became one of the 24 inaugural members of AKB48's Team A. Over the course of her career, she participated in most of AKB48's A-side sing ...

(former

) *

Ayana Sakai is a Japanese actress. She has appeared in more than twelve films since 1998. Selected filmography References External links * 1985 births Living people Japanese actresses Japanese female models Japanese gravure models Actors ...

Ikue Sakakibara is a Japanese actress and a J-pop singer. Biography In 1976, Sakakibara took part in the Talent Scout Caravan organised by Horipro, and won the competition. She made her musical debut on January 1, 1977, with the single ''"Watashi no Sensei"'' ...

Hinako Sano '' Weekly Playboy'' (Shueisha) (August 20, 2013) is a Japanese actress, model, and gravure idol who is affiliated with Horipro. Biography Before becoming an actress, Sano was a magazine model. She appeared in the photo collection ''Hare Nochi Ts ...

* Hitomi Sato *

Sheila Sheila (alternatively spelled Shelagh and Sheelagh) is a common feminine given name, derived from the Irish name ''Síle'', which is believed to be a Gaelic form of the Latin name Caelia, the feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius, meanin ...

Sawa Suzuki , Tower Records (October 24, 2013) better known by her stage name , is a Japanese actress represented by the talent agency Horipro. Biography After dropping out of Joshibi University of Art and Design Junior College, Suzuki became a research s ...

Azusa Tadokoro is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is affiliated with the talent agency HoriPro International and signed to record label Lantis. She participated in an audition sponsored by this agency. Her notable roles include Aoi Kiriya in ''Aikats ...

* Hitomi Takahashi *

Mitsuki Takahata is a Japanese actress and singer who is represented by the talent agency Horipro. She attended Hosei University as an undergraduate student Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate ed ...

Naho Toda is a Japanese actress. Career In 1990, she successfully passed an audition called Horipro Talent Scout Caravan( Ja). Personal life She had graduated from Tamagawa University. Her sister was an actress, and her brother Kōhei Toda ( Ja: ...

Akiko Wada is an ethnically Korean Japanese singer, tarento and businesswoman from Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture. She has various nicknames, one being "Akko". Due to her above-average height (174 cm or 5'8.5"), she is also nicknamed "jotei" (� ...

* Suzuran Yamauchi (former

) *

Erii Yamazaki is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Chiba Prefecture, Japan, affiliated with Horipro is a large Japanese talent agency. History It was founded in 1960 as Hori Productions (ホリプロダクション ''Hori Purodakushon'') and ch ...

Yoon Son-ha Yoon Son-ha (; born November 17, 1975, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea) is a South Korean actress, singer and television personality (''gaijin tarento''). She is signed onto Sony Music Japan's SME Records division. Since making her debut in th ...

Yuka Yuka may refer to: *Yuka (music), an Afro-Cuban style of music *Yuka (mammoth), mammoth specimen found in Yakutia, Russia *Manshu Yuka Kogyo K.K. Ssuningkai, a Japanese-German pre-WWII industrial co-operation People *Yuka (name), a Japanese perso ...

Mio Yūki , whose real name is , is a Japanese actress, model and tarento from Fukushima Prefecture. Career Yūki's acting career began in 2012 when she won the 37th Horipro talent scout caravan. She was chosen from 29,521 applicants. On November 14, 2012, ...

* Nagisa Shimizu

Male talents

Tsuyoshi Abe is a Chinese-Japanese (中国系日本人) actor based in Japan. Of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent (his grandmother was Japanese), he is able to speak both Mandarin and Japanese fluently. Early life Abe's original name was Li Zhendong (� ...

* Motomu Azaki *

Bandō Minosuke II is a Japanese actor, kabuki actor, and the leading bassist of buyō Bandō-ryū. His real name is . He is the current and second holder of the Kabuki name "Bandō Minosuke". Yamatoya is his yagō and Mitsudai is his family crest. He is represe ...

Chen Bolin Chen Bolin (; born 27 August 1983), also known as Wilson Chen, is a Taiwanese actor. Early life and education Chen was born on 27 August 1983. While in high school, Chen participated in the Taiwanese variety show ' due to his similarity to Tak ...

Tatsuya Fujiwara is a Japanese actor. Internationally, he is best known for his leading roles as Shuya Nanahara in the '' Battle Royale'' films, Light Yagami in the ''Death Note'' films, Kaiji Itō in the '' Kaiji'' films, and Rikuhiko Yuki in Hideo Nakata's ''Th ...

Eiichiro Funakoshi is a Japanese actor, ''tarento'', and presenter. He is represented with Horipro. He graduated from Nihon University Mishima High School and Nihon University College of Arts Film Department (in which he was classmates with Hiroyuki Sanada). His ...

Yuki Furukawa is a Japanese actor, supermodel, guitarist and break dancer. He gained popularity as Naoki Irie in the 2013 television series '' Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo'' and its sequel, ''Mischievous Kiss 2: Love in Okinawa''. Personal life Furukawa wa ...

Masachika Ichimura is a Japanese actor and voice actor. He was born in Kawagoe, Saitama and studied at the Theater Art College in Tokyo after graduating high school. He is best known to anime fans as the voice of Mewtwo. Ichimura is also the ex-husband of actress ...

Sosuke Ikematsu (born July 9, 1990) is a Japanese actor, television, and theatre actor best known for his role as Higen, the young nephew of samurai leader Katsumoto, in the 2003 film ''The Last Samurai''. Life and career Born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefectur ...

Yuma Ishigaki is a Japanese actor from Gifu Prefecture and raised in Nerima, Tokyo. Filmography Movies *'' Lovers' Kiss'' (2003) *''Azumi'' (2003) *'' Battle Royale 2'' (2003) *'' Azumi 2: Death or Love'' (2005) *'' Thirteen Assassins'' (2010) *'' Red Tears ...

Takeshi Kaga , real name , is a well-known stage and movie actor in Japan who is best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show ''Iron Chef'' produced by Fuji TV. Biography Kaga was born on October 12, 1950, i ...

Daisuke Kikuta , born December 1, 1988, is a Japanese actor best known for his role as Fujiyama Shuntaro in ' and as his minor roles in such works as ''The Incite Mill'', ' and ''Kaitō Royale''. Filmography Film * ''The Incite Mill'' (2010) * '' Gakudori'' ( ...

Ryo Kimura is a Japanese actor who debuted in 2002. His first movie was '' Moonlight Jellyfish'', in which he co-starred with Tatsuya Fujiwara. He played the role of Michio, a mentally challenged 15-year-old boy diagnosed with an incurable skin disease cal ...

Ryota Ozawa is a Japanese actor best known for his role as Captain Marvelous/Gokai Red in the 2011 ''Super Sentai'' series ''Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger''. Filmography TV Drama Films Stageplay *''Fushigi Yuugi , often translated as ''Strange'' or ''Mys ...

Kin'ya Kitaōji is a Japanese actor. Biography Early life He was born in Kyoto, son of ''jidaigeki'' film star Ichikawa Utaemon, and graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in Tokyo. Acting career Kin'ya made his debut with ...

* Gōki Maeda *

Tsuyoshi Matsubara is a Japanese singer and actor originally from Tokyo. He is a founding member of the vocal group Project DMM and in recent years has been a member of the Nippon Columbia group Project.R, gaining prominence as the vocalist for ''Kaizoku Sentai Go ...

Kenichi Matsuyama is a Japanese actor. He is known for his affinity for strange character roles, and he is best known internationally for playing L in the 2006 films ''Death Note'', '' Death Note 2: The Last Name'' and '' L: Change the World'' in 2008, as well a ...

* Akiyoshi Nakao *

Takurō Ōno (also spelt Ohno), born November 14, 1988, is a Japanese actor and talent. He has had roles in such films as ''The Incite Mill'' and '' Liar Game: Reborn''. Filmography Film * ''The Incite Mill'' (2010) – Yukito Maki * '' Liar Game: Rebo ...

Ryuji Sainei , born on October 8, 1981, in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Banban "Ban" Akaza/Deka Red in the 2004 Super Sentai series ''Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger''. He is currently a freelance actor but ...

Shunya Shiraishi is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Haruto Soma, the main character of the ''Kamen Rider Wizard'' tokusatsu series. He finished second at '' Junon Super Boy Contest 2007''. He is also known for his role as Hisashi Uehara in the Net ...

Kenta Suga is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency, Central Group, then Horipro. Filmography TV series Films Theatre *''Live Spectacle Naruto 2015'' (as Gaara) *''Hyper Projection Engeki: Haikyu!!'' (as Shoyo Hinata) (2015 — 20 ...

Kazuma Suzuki is a Japanese stage, film, television actor, film director, fashion designer, and former model. Career During his high school years, Suzuki was scouted at Harajuku and made his debut as a model in the fashion magazine ''POPEYE''. From there he ...

Ryohei Suzuki is a Japanese actor who is represented by the talent agency Horipro. Early life He graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies with a Bachelor's degree in English Studies in March 2006. When he was a student, he worked part-time in NHK. ...

Shinji Takeda , born December 18, 1972, is a Japanese actor, talent and saxophone player. He has had notable roles in such works as '' The Incite Mill'', ''Kyō Kara Hitman'' and ''Tokyo Eyes''. Filmography Film Television Dubbing *'' Rambo: Last Blood'', ...

Ryoma Takeuchi is a Japanese actor, model and television personality who is affiliated with Horipro. He was a Rissho University Global Environmental Sciences student. He is best known for his role as Shinnosuke Tomari, the main character of the ''Kamen Rider'' ...

Yoshitaka Tamba is a Japanese actor. He is the eldest son of actor Tetsurō Tamba. He played Goro Sakurai in JAKQ Dengekitai in which he dated Mitchi Love Biography In 1973, while attending high school, he landed a part in the movie ''Sumi yuriko'' directed ...

Satoshi Tsumabuki is a Japanese actor. His breakthrough film was ''Waterboys'' for which he was nominated for the 'Best Actor' award at the Japanese Academy Awards, and won the 'Newcomer of the Year' prize. He is also the bassist and lead singer of the Japanese ...

Shingo Tsurumi is a Japanese actor. Career Shingo Tsurumi has appeared in the films such as Katsuhito Ishii's ''Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl'', Hideo Nakata's '' L: Change the World'', and Tak Sakaguchi's ''Yakuza Weapon''. Filmography Films * ''Tonda C ...

Yasutaka Tsutsui is a Japanese novelist, science fiction author, and actor. His ''Yumenokizaka bunkiten'' won the Tanizaki Prize in 1987. He has also won the 1981 Izumi Kyoka award, the 1989 Kawabata Yasunari award, and the 1992 Nihon SF Taisho Award. Writing ...

Asahi Uchida (born 30 May 1982) is a Japanese actor. He will have a central role in '' Tokugawa Fūun-roku'', scheduled for broadcast on January 2, 2008. Selected filmography : 2006 ''Tree of Heaven'' : 2006 '' Atagoal wa neko no mori'' : 2006 '' Tenshi'' ...

Jundai Yamada is a Japanese actor. His real name is . He is represented with Horipro, Horipro Booking Agency. His father is actor and singer Ryōtarō Sugi. He graduated from Seijo Gakuen Education Institute, Seijo Gakuen Primary School. After graduating from ...

* Kotaro Yoshida

Comedians

Solo

* Hori *

Hikaru Ijūin , real name Ken Shinooka (篠岡建), formerly Ken Tanaka (田中建), born 7 November 1967, is a Japanese comedian, radio personality, computer game reviewer, and commentator. He was born in Kita, Tokyo. He is married to former idol Mika Shin ...

Masanori Ishii is a Japanese actor, comedian and narrator. In August 1994, he teamed up with Yoshiyuki Ishizuka to form the comedy duo "Ari to kirigirisu" or "Ant to the Grasshopper" . He has had roles in such works as ''The Incite Mill'' (2010), '' Suite D ...

* Kick☆ *

Ijiri Okada , born is a Japanese comedian, impressionist, and television host. His hosting credits include ''Gilgamesh LIGHT'', a revival of the 90s show ''Gilgamesh Night'', and the Nogizaka46 variety show ''NogiBingo!'' Okada is represented by Horipro. He ...

Duo

Bananaman Bananaman is a fictional character appearing in British comic books. Bananaman is a parody of traditional superheroes, being portrayed as a schoolboy who is transformed into a muscled, caped adult man when he eats a banana. The character origin ...

(

Osamu Shitara is a Japanese comedian, actor, voice actor and television presenter. He performs '' boke'' (he does not entirely do ''boke'' he is known for doing ''tsukkomi'') and tells stories in the comedy duo Bananaman. His partner is Yūki Himura. He is als ...

and

Yuki Himura Yuki, Yūki or Yuuki may refer to: Places * Yuki, Hiroshima (Jinseki), a town in Jinseki District, Hiroshima, Japan * Yuki, Hiroshima (Saeki), a town in Saeki District, Hiroshima, Japan * Yūki, Ibaraki, a city on Honshu island in Japan * Yuki, ...

) * Summers (Masakazu Mimura and

Kazuki Ōtake is a Japanese comedian. He is a former member of Japanese band UltraCats and current member of owarai group Summers. Filmography * ''Peanuts'' (2006) * ''Moomins on the Riviera ''Moomins on the Riviera'' (Finnish title: ''Muumit Rivieralla' ...

) *

Speed Wagon In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quantity. ...

(

Jun Itoda is a Japanese comedian who performs ''tsukkomi The following glossary of words and terms (generally of Japanese origin) are related to ''owarai'' (Japanese comedy). Many of these terms may be used in areas of Japanese culture beyond comedy, ...

and

Kazuhiro Ozawa Kazuhiro is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *Kazuhiro Fujita, Japanese manga artist *Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Japanese anime director and supervisor *Kazuhiro Hamanaka, professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighte ...

Musical artists

Aidan James Aidan James Laprete Powell (born September 6, 2001) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. Early life Laprete was born on September 6, 2001, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Laprete's first time acting was at the age of 18 months in ...

Ami Wajima is a singer from Kutchan, Hokkaido who is signed to Pony Canyon. After passing an audition held by the Japanese entertainment agency Horipro, she debuted in May 2016 with her first single "Gensō Drive", the title track of which was used as the ...

Atlantic Starr Atlantic Starr is an American band based in White Plains, New York. They are best known for the hits "Always", "Secret Lovers", "Send for Me", "Circles", "Silver Shadow" and " Masterpiece". History Atlantic Starr began in Greenburgh, New York ...

Ayumi Shigemori is a Japanese actress and pop star. She sang on the major J-pop hit "Dango 3 Kyodai". Appearances * '' You Gotta Quintet'' * ''Cheap Love "Cheap Love" is a song written and recorded by Del Shannon for his 1983 album ''Drop Down and Get Me''. ...

Fake? Fake? is a Japanese rock musical project led by vocalist Ken Lloyd. Originally a duo, guitarist Inoran left in 2005. Lyrics are mainly in English and sometimes in Japanese. History In late 2001 Oblivion Dust vocalist Ken Lloyd joined up with Lu ...

(through Music Taste) *

Fujioka Fujimaki is a Japanese folk band, created from two members of the 1970s novelty song, novelty group , and . They are best known for their collaboration with the eight-year-old singer Nozomi Ōhashi for the theme song of the Studio Ghibli film ''Ponyo'' ...

Liyuu Liyuu (born 9 January 1997) is a Chinese singer and cosplayer who is affiliated with HoriPro International and Lantis. Beginning her activities as a cosplayer before 2016 under the stage name 黎狱 (, pronounced same as "Liyuu"), she made her ...

May'n , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer from Nagoya. Aspiring to become a musician since childhood, she began her music activities in 2003 upon passing an audition held by talent agency Horipro International. She made her major d ...

* Nano *

Shigeru Izumiya Shigeru Izumiya (泉谷しげる ''Izumiya Shigeru'', born May 11, 1948 in Aomori, raised in Meguro, Tokyo) is a Japanese poet, folk singer, actor, tarento. He established the record company For Life Records with Takuro Yoshida, Yosui Inoue, and ...

* Shino * Takumi Mitani

Athletes

* Sho Aranami (

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

player) *

Yukiya Arashiro is a Japanese road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Career Born in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Arashiro was the Japanese Under-23 National Time Trial and Road Race Champion in 2005. He has also won the Japanese National ...

(

road bicycle racer Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The two most common ...

) *

Yuichi Fukunaga is a Japanese jockey who has won 29 Grade 1 races in Japan and abroad. He is affiliated with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) in Rittō. His father is former jockey Yoichi Fukunaga who was said to be a "genius" during his active career, and his ...

(jockey) *

Shinjiro Hiyama is a Korean baseball player from Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. He plays as an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League. Biography A second-generation Zainichi Korean, Hiyama graduated from Heian High School and entered Toyo University ...

(former baseball player) *

Junichi Inamoto is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Nankatsu SC. He is a retired international for the Japan national team. Club career Inamoto was born in Kagoshima Prefecture. He played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during ...

(

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

player) *

Naoya Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a three-division world champion and currently the undisputed bantamweight world champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, ''Ring'' magazine titles since 2019, the WBC title since June 2022, and the W ...

(

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

) *

Takuma Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer. He held the WBC interim bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019, and challenged for the full world title in 2019. Professional career He started boxing from a very young age, after watching his brother competing ...

(professional boxer) *

Takeomi Ito (born April 11, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. He plays rugby as blindside flanker or no.8 for Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League and also in the Japan national rugby union team. He played in both the 1999 Ru ...

(

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

player) *

Shinji Kazama Shinji Kazama (born 26 September 1950) is a Japanese motorcyclist who rode to the North and South Poles on motorcycles. He is mentioned in the documentary television series ''Pole to Pole'' (1992), presented by Michael Palin. As of 2010, Kazama w ...

(

motorcyclist Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. For some people, motorcycling may be the only affordable form of individual motorized transportation, and small-engine displacement, displacement motorcycles are the most common motor vehicle in ...

) *

Yusei Kikuchi is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Seattle Mariners in MLB and for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Amateur career As ...

(baseball player) * Manabu Kitabeppu (former baseball player) * Hirotoshi Kitagawa (former baseball player) *

Yu Koshikawa is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for Voreas Hokkaido in V.League Division 2. In July 2009, Suntory Sunbirds announced that Koshikawa would move to Pallavolo Padova next season. In July 2012, Suntory Sunbirds announced Koshikawa wou ...

(

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

player) *

Tomoaki Makino is a former Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre back. He has represented the Japan national team internationally until 2019. Club career Makino was born in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. In January 2012, he returned to J. League, ...

(football player) *

Karina Maruyama is a Japanese ''tarento'' and former football player. She played for the Japanese national team. Since her retirement, Maruyama has been active as a television personality, represented by the talent agency Horipro. Club career Maruyama was b ...

(former football player) *

Kenta Matsudaira is a Japanese table tennis player. Winner of the 2006 World Junior Championships in singles, he was the world number one junior player in 2008. He is world-renowned for his tomahawk serve, which he has popularized throughout his career. The se ...

(

table tennis Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. It takes place on a hard table div ...

player) * Kazutomo Miyamoto (former baseball player) *

Junichi Miyashita is a Japanese swimmer. He won a bronze medal in the men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an internat ...

(swimmer) *

Takeshi Mizuuchi is a former Japanese football player. Playing career Mizuuchi was born in Kanagawa Prefecture on November 19, 1972. After graduating from high school, he joined Mitsubishi Motors (later ''Urawa Reds'') in 1991. Although initially he could hard ...

(former football player) *

Toshinori Muto Toshinori Muto (born 10 March 1978) is a Japanese professional golfer. Muto was born in Gunma Prefecture. He currently plays on the Japan Golf Tour where he has won seven times between 2006 and 2019. Professional wins (7) Japan Golf Tour wins ( ...

(

professional golfer A professional golfer is somebody who receives payments or financial rewards in the sport of golf that are directly related to their skill or reputation. A person who earns money by teaching or playing golf is traditionally considered a "golf pr ...

) * Motoko Obayashi (former

player) *

Shohei Ohtani , nicknamed "Shotime", is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher, designated hitter and outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional B ...

(

player) *

Kairi Sane is a Japanese professional wrestler and actress currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and World Wonder Ring Stardom under the ring name Kairi (stylized in all caps). Housako is also known for her work with WWE as . She is the cur ...

(

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

) *

So Taguchi is a Japanese former outfielder. After ten seasons with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball, he played eight years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, followed by a final ...

(former baseball player) *

Hisanori Takahashi is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He began his professional career in NPB with the Yomiuri Giants, and played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cub ...

(former baseball player) *

Nobuhiro Takeda is a Japanese former football player. He played for Japan national team. He was a forward and known as an opportunistic goal-scorer, making most of his quick thinking and canny positioning. He currently works at Nippon Television and belongs t ...

(former football player) *

Dai Takeuchi is a Japanese football player. Career After a serious injury, he was released by V-Varen Nagasaki is a Japanese J2 League football club based in Nagasaki. The club was established in 1985 as Ariake SC till they merged with Kunimi FC in ...

(

player) *

Yoshinori Tateyama is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Hanshin Tigers. Career On November 30, ...

(former baseball player)

Others

Kon Arimura , 無制限99円取放題. (2010年9月) known for his stage name is a Japanese radio personality, film critic, and film commentator who is represented by the talent agency Horipro. He is nicknamed . From 2012 to 2021, his wife was television cast ...

(Film critic) *

Tatsuya Egawa is a Japanese mangaka, manga artist and film director. He is probably best known for his ''Golden Boy (manga), Golden Boy'' manga series, which debuted in 1992. Egawa is known for his drawings of over-the-top facial expressions always crediting ...

(

Manga artist A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As of 2006, about 3,000 professional manga artists were working in Japan. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist be ...

) *

Péter Frankl Péter Frankl (born 26 March 1953 in Kaposvár, Somogy County, Hungary) is a mathematician, busking, street performer, columnist and educator, active in Japan. Frankl studied Mathematics at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and submitted ...

(Mathematician,

street performer Street performance or busking is the act of performing in public places for gratuities. In many countries, the rewards are generally in the form of money but other gratuities such as food, drink or gifts may be given. Street performance is pr ...

) *

Fumi Hirano is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and essayist who voiced Lum in the anime series ''Urusei Yatsura''. Fumi attended Tamagawa University in Machida, Tokyo where she graduated with a degree in Theatre from the Department of Fine Art ...

(Voice actress, essayist) *

Kiwa Ishii is a Japanese free announcer. She was an announcer for TV Asahi. She is represented with Horipro is a large Japanese talent agency. History It was founded in 1960 as Hori Productions (ホリプロダクション ''Hori Purodakushon'') a ...

(Announcer) *

Shimako Iwai is a Japanese writer, ''tarento'', and pornographic director. From June 2009 she is represented with Horipro. She serves as a regular commentator in the Tokyo MX JOMX-DTV, branded as Tokyo MX (officially stylized as TOKYO MX), is an indepen ...

(Writer,

adult video Pornographic films (pornos), erotic films, sex films, and 18+ films are films that present sexually explicit subject matter in order to arouse and satisfy the viewer. Pornographic films present sexual fantasies and usually include eroticall ...

director) *

Shoji Kokami is a Japanese playwright, director, actor, and filmmaker. Career Born in Niihama, Ehime, Kōkami was attending Waseda University when he founded the theatrical company Daisanbutai (Third Stage). Becoming "one of the prime movers in the 1980s smal ...

(Playwright) *

Shinichiro Kurimoto is a Japanese author and a politician. He is also an economic anthropologist and a philosopher who introduced the ideas of Karl Polanyi and his younger brother Michael Polanyi to Japan. He was a professor at universities such as Meiji Univers ...

(Economist) * Ayako Nishikawa (

Doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

) *

Takayuki Ohira is a Japanese engineer and the creator of the Megastar, a planetarium projector which was recorded in Guinness World Records as the planetarium projector that can project the highest number of stars in the world. Ohira has also designed the Sega ...

(Engineer) *

Girolamo Panzetta Girolamo Panzetta (born 6 September 1962 in Villanova del Battista, Italy) is an Italian celebrity living and working in Japan ( Gaikokujin tarento). He has appeared on Japanese television in a variety of shows, including dramas and cooking sho ...

(Essayist) * Mariko Seyama (Announcer) *

Kosuke Takahashi is a Japanese journalist. He contributes to IHS Jane's Defence, NK News and Toyo Keizai Online among other media by writing in both English and Japanese. He is also currently a regular TV commentator of Tokyo MX's Morning Cross program. He worke ...

(Journalist) *

Takashi Yuasa Takashi Yuasa (湯浅卓, ''Yuasa Takashi'', born on November 24, 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese lawyer (admitted in Washington D.C., but not in Japan) and television personality. He belongs to the Horipro (Hori Productions) talent agency. Profile ...

(Lawyer)

Former Horipro artists

Sei Ashina , known professionally as , was a Japanese actress. Career She was born Igarashi Aya, and assumed the stage name Sei Ashina. Prior to her acting career, Ashina was a model. She made her acting debut in the 2002 Tokyo Broadcasting System Televisio ...

(died 14 September 2020) * Yuka Ogino (former

NGT48 NGT48 (read "N.G.T. Forty-eight") is a Japanese girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. NGT48 is named after Niigata City of Niigata Prefecture, where the group is based. The group performs at the NGT48 Theater which is located in the fourth fl ...

, left 31 May 2022) * Miki Sato (retired 30 September 2022)

References

External links

Horipro
(in Japanese) *
HoriPro Entertainment Group
USA)
Music Taste, a boutique artist development label of HoriPro Entertainment GroupHoriPro Music AcademyHoriPro International
{{Authority control Japanese voice actor management companies Japanese talent agencies Companies formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange