Gen Hoshino (星野 源,Hoshino Gen; born January 28, 1981) (Japanese pronunciation:[hoɕinoɡeɴ]) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and writer.
From its formation in 2000 until its disbandment in 2015, Hoshino led theinstrumental bandSakerock, where he playedmarimba and guitar. They released over ten albums. As a solo artist, he debuted with his first albumBaka no Uta on June 23, 2010. His first physical single, "Kudaranai no Naka ni" was released on March 2, 2011, and peaked at number 17 on theOricon Singles Chart. The subsequent singles – "Film", "Yume no Soto e", "Shiranai" (2012), and "Gag" (2013) – all charted in the top 10. His second album,Episode, released on September 28, 2011, peaked at number five. Hoshino's third album,Stranger, followed on May 1, 2013. It peaked at number two on theOricon Albums Chart and was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[1]
Since 2011, Hoshino has co-hosted theUstream programSake no Sakana (サケノサカナ) withIchirō Yamaguchi ofSakanaction.[2] In 2014, the program officially changed its name toYoru no Television.
Hoshino's fourth album,Yellow Dancer, was released on December 2, 2015, in Japan throughSpeedstar Records; it debuted atop both Oricon andBillboard Japan's album charts.Yellow Dancer was certified platinum by the RIAJ that same month for surpassing 250,000 physical shipments,[3] and became one of the few albums to receive a gold certification for digital downloads.[4]
On February 18, 2018, Hoshino uploaded a music video for his song "Doraemon", which was written in tribute to theJapanese franchise of the same name. The song was used as the theme of the 38thDoraemon movie,Nobita's Treasure Island, and has been used as the opening theme of theDoraemon anime from October 5, 2019, to November 2, 2024.[5][6]Pop Virus, Hoshino's fifth album, was released on December 17.[7] It spent four consecutive weeks atop the Oricon Album Chart and was certified double platinum by the RIAJ that same month.[8] The album's commercial performance, within just a few months of its release, earned Hoshino a Best Album prize at the33rd Japan Gold Disc Awards in 2019, as well as a Best Song prize for the digital success of the single "Idea", which was used as a theme forAsadora.[9][10]
In March 2019, Hoshino also became the first artist to win four trophies at theSpace Shower Music Awards.[11] On August 30, all of Hoshino's music was made available on streaming services.[12]
On December 27, 2023, Hoshino released the double A-side single "Why" / "Life" (光の跡／生命体). It features the song "Why", used in the end credits of the movieSpy × Family Code: White.[16]
Hoshino at a screening forSamurai Shifters in 2019
In 2013, he played the lead character in Masahide Ichii'sBlindly in Love (箱入り息子の恋,Hakoiri Musuko no Koi) alongsideKaho, and starred in theSion Sono filmWhy Don't You Play in Hell?.
In 2016, Hoshino starred in TBS'sThe Full-Time Wife Escapist. WithYui Aragaki as his co-star, he portrayed a salaryman named Hiramasa Tsuzaki. The drama achieved steadily rising ratings, with a real-time viewership peak rating of 20.8% on the final episode, and an overall rating of 14.5%.[18][19] Hoshino's performance earned him several Best Supporting Actor awards.[20][21][22] He also provided the theme song for the drama, titled "Koi."[23]
Gen Hoshino created the parody character "Akira Nise" (ニセ明,Nise Akira, literallyFake Akira) as a tribute toAkira Fuse.[24][25][26]
In 2017, Hoshino lent his voice to the main character of award-winning animated filmNight Is Short, Walk On Girl. He also became the voice of the Father inMamoru Hosoda'sMirai, which was released into theaters in Japan on July 20, 2018.
On April 30, 2018, it was announced that Hoshino would star inSamurai Shifters, the film adaptation of Akihiro Dobashi's historical novelHikkoshi Daimyo Sanzenri, set to premier on August 30, 2019.[27] In the movie, he plays a bookworm samurai called Harunosuke Katagiri, who receives the mission to help a daimyo move. It would be Hoshino's first lead role in a live-action movie sinceBlindly in Love in 2013.
On December 22, 2012, Hoshino was diagnosed with asubarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent surgery.[30] He officially returned to public life on February 28, 2013, with his appearance at the TokyoJ-Wave Awards.[31]
^"「ドラえもん」TVアニメのオープニングが5年ぶりにリニューアル 11月9日から映画45周年記念の特別仕様に" [The *Doraemon* TV Anime Opening Renewed for the First Time in 5 Years — Special Edition for the 45th Anniversary of the Movie Starting November 9].アニメハック (in Japanese). RetrievedNovember 1, 2024.
^"土曜午後５時放送になった「ドラえもん」、ネット上で新オープニング映像＆主題歌に反響…「めっちゃ好き」、「なんかちょっと違う気がする」" [Doraemon, Now Airing on Saturdays at 5 PM, Receives Reactions Online for New Opening Video and Theme Song… "I really like it," "It feels a bit different."].スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). October 6, 2019. RetrievedOctober 31, 2024.
^"星野源"人間もおばけも踊る"新曲完成 新垣結衣&神木隆之介ら出演の実写映画『おばけずかん』主題歌に決定" [Gen Hoshino's New Song "Humans and Ghosts Dance" Completed — Chosen as the Theme Song for the Live-Action Movie *Obake Zukan*, Starring Yu Aoi and Ryunosuke Kamiki] (in Japanese).Oricon. May 25, 2022. RetrievedAugust 13, 2023.
^"星野源 大河「いだてん」で滝クリ級スピーチ カンペ見ずに流ちょうな英語で五輪招致導く / December 15, 2018" [Gen Hoshino Delivers Takigawa Christel-Level Speech in Taiga Drama "Idaten" — Leads Olympic Bid with Fluent English Without Using a Script / December 15, 2018] (in Japanese). Suponichi Annex. RetrievedApril 19, 2019.
^"新垣結衣と星野源が結婚を発表「互いに支え合い豊かな時間を積み重ねていけたら」" [Yu Aoi and Gen Hoshino Announce Their Marriage: "We Hope to Support Each Other and Build a Rich Time Together."].Oricon. RetrievedMay 19, 2021.
^"細田守「未来のミライ」に上白石萌歌、黒木華、星野源、麻生久美子らが出演" [Mamoru Hosoda's *Mirai* Features Moka Kamishiraishi, Hana Kuroki, Gen Hoshino, Kumiko Aso, and Others.].Natalie (in Japanese). April 11, 2018. RetrievedNovember 25, 2018.
^"星野源、"薬物前科者"役でWOWOW初主演「最もだらしなくてダメな人」" [Gen Hoshino Stars in His First Lead Role on WOWOW as a "Former Drug Offender" — "The Most Careless and Useless Person"].Oricon (in Japanese). May 16, 2017. RetrievedNovember 28, 2018.
^"ドラマ「コウノドリ」新シリーズ放送決定！綾野剛「皆様の心に残るように」" [New Series of the Drama *Kounodori* Announced! Tatsuya Ayano: "I Hope It Stays in Everyone's Hearts"].Natalie (in Japanese). June 22, 2017. RetrievedNovember 29, 2018.
^"星野源 大河「いだてん」で滝クリ級スピーチ カンペ見ずに流ちょうな英語で五輪招致導く / December 15, 2018" [Gen Hoshino Delivers a Takigawa Christel-Level Speech in the Taiga Drama *Idaten*, Leading the Olympic Bid with Fluent English Without a Script / December 15, 2018] (in Japanese). Suponichi Annex. RetrievedApril 19, 2019.
^"神尾楓珠:NHKドラマ初主演で17歳の若き総理に 共演に山田杏奈、星野源 脚本は吉田玲子" [Fuju Kamio: First Starring Role in an NHK Drama as a 17-Year-Old Young Prime Minister – Co-starring Anna Yamada and Gen Hoshino, Script by Reiko Yoshida].Mantan-web. January 11, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 12, 2022.
^"おげんさんといっしょ" (in Japanese). NHK. RetrievedDecember 6, 2018.
^"ドコモ(docomo)のキャッシュレスCM、ゼニクレージーから考える現金とキャッシュレス" [Docomo's Cashless Commercial: Rethinking Cash and Cashless Payments Through Zeni-Crazy].dataway (in Japanese). March 14, 2019. RetrievedMarch 16, 2019.
^"ドコモのキャッシュレスCM第二弾、星野源がゼニクレージーをプロデュース!?" [Docomo's Second Cashless Commercial: Gen Hoshino Produces "Zeni-Crazy"!?].dataway (in Japanese). March 16, 2019. RetrievedMarch 16, 2019.
^"星野源×マーク・ロンソン、対談や撮り下ろしフォト・ページなど『rockin'on』表紙巻頭で特集" [Gen Hoshino × Mark Ronson Featured on the Cover and Opening Pages of *rockin'on* with Special Interview and Exclusive Photo Spread] (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. January 23, 2019. RetrievedMarch 1, 2019.
