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HIRO is a member of EXILE.
HIRO
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Igarashi Hiroyuki (五十嵐広行), better known by his stage names HIRO and EXILE HIRO, is a Japanese producer, business man and former performer. He is the founder, leader and a retired member of EXILE, and a former member of the coed group ZOO.

HIRO is the founder, president and representative director of the agency LDH. He initially retired from his president position within LDH on January 1, 2017 and was active as a chairman of the company and the CCO of LDH WORLD from January 2017 to October 2023, but returned to office on October 1, 2023.

He is also the chief creative advisor of D.LEAGUE, Japan's first professional dance league.

Early Life[]

Hiroyuki Igarashi was born on June 1, 1969 in Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.[1][2][3] He graduated from Yokohama City Hama Junior High School and Yokohama City Kanazawa High School.[3] During his time in high school, he met Matsuura Masato, who was the manager of the rental record store "Tomo & Ai" in Kamiooka at that time. After graduating from high school, Hiroyuki refined his dancing skills while working part-time at Disco Maharaja and Circus in Roppongi.[3][4]

In 1989, at the age of 20, the manager of his workplace asked Hiroyuki to advertise the disco which led him to participate in the dance contest of the TV program "DADA", which he finished as the runner-up. A scout who was watching the contest suggested that Hiroyuki should become part of a dance team from the program, which led to the group LMD a.k.a. ZOO being formed.[3] Hiroyuki later revealed that he was forced to participate in the audition and never originally intended to debut in the entertainment industry.[4]

Career[]

1990-2001[]

HIRO started his career in the entertainment industry in 1990, debuting as member of the coed group LMD a.k.a. ZOO.

In 1991, he became a founding member of the dance team "Japanese Soul Brothers". They participated in Bobby Brown's Japan tour.[5]

In 1995, ZOO disbanded after being active for about 6 years. Looking back, HIRO later mentioned that this setback was a major changing point in his life.[6] In the same year, he participated as a back dancer in DREAMS COME TRUE's tour and received support from member Yoshida Miwa, which helped him to change his mind on his own.[7]

In 1996, he joined the group LUV DELUXE but they disbanded the following year.

In 1999, HIRO met MAKIDAI, MATSU and ÜSA, and after consulting with them and avex's CEO Matsuura Max, he created the group J Soul Brothers. HIRO later revealed that his reason for creating the group was that after joining ZOO, he had not been interested in the entertainment business and was only into dancing, so he regretted not getting the balance between the two right. According to himself, "These regrets combined to make me decide to create J SOUL BROTHERS", adding that his reflection at the time of ZOO became the starting point of his own restart.[4][6]

On August 24, 2001, after recruiting two vocalists and one member leaving the group, J Soul Brothers changed their name to EXILE and re-debuted.

2002-2003[]

On October 17, 2002, EXILE established the agency Exile Entertainment.

On September 18, 2003, the agency LDH was established by the group with HIRO serving as its president.

2013[]

On April 3, 2013, on the same day of the release of EXILE's 41st single "EXILE PRIDE ~Konna Sekai wo Aisuru Tame~", HIRO announced that he would retire from being a performer at the end of the year and focus on the producer business.[8][9]

On September 27, 2013, during the final concert of EXILE LIVE TOUR 2013 "EXILE PRIDE", he announced the first EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION to find new performers for the group.

On December 31, 2013, at the 64th Kouhaku Uta Gassen, HIRO retired from his position as performer of EXILE but remained as the group's leader and producer.[10]

2015[]

In March 2015, he became a member of the Tokyo 2020 Culture and Education Commission. Later that year he was awarded the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award by the Japanese Government's Agency for Cultural Affairs for his outstanding achievements in cultural activities and contributions to the promotion of Japanese arts and culture.[11]

In July 2015, HIRO formed the creative unit PKCZ® and started working as their producer.

2017[]

On January 1, 2017, it was announced that HIRO would become the CCO of LDH WORLD.[12] At the same time, he stepped down from his president position within LDH and became a chairman of the company.[13]

2019[]

On November 8, 2019, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) announced the appointment of EXILE HIRO as the director of the Tokyo 2020 cultural segment of the Olympic Flame Handover Ceremony. The ceremony, during which the Olympic Flame would be passed from the Hellenic Olympic Committee to Tokyo 2020 representatives, would be held at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on 19 March 2020. After a cultural performance by Greek dancers and entertainers, the host country of Japan would stage its own cultural performance, under HIRO's direction. HIRO himself expressed his goal to center the performance on children, who embody Japan's hope for the future, and to make it the highest priority "that the children will experience something they can take with them for the rest of their lives and to have it be an experience that will inspire them to build a bright future together". The concept for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay would be: “Hope Lights Our Way”.[14]

2020[]

In mid 2020, he was appointed as the chief creative advisor of D.LEAGUE, Japan's first professional dance league.[15][16]

2023[]

On September 25, it was announced that HIRO would return to the position of President and Representative Director of LDH JAPAN. In a statement released on LDH JAPAN's official website EXILE HIRO explained that after the COVID-19 disaster, he thought about himself, LDH, and the future of LDH, and decided to return to the positions to take the lead in promoting the idea of "Circle of Dreams", the purse that represents the company's raison d'être. HIRO's return to the position of president would be formalized after an extraordinary shareholders' meeting scheduled for October 1 and a subsequent resolution by the board of directors.[17][18][19][20]

Announcement from EXILE HIRO[21]
For the future.


LDH was founded in 2003 with the philosophy of Love Dream Happiness and with EXILE at the center, and thanks to all the fans and supporters, we were able to celebrate the 20th anniversary this year. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many people who have supported LDH.

Starting from EXILE's dream, to EXILE TRIBE, and then gathering many friends, we have evolved and grown to the present LDH as a comprehensive entertainment company.

In 2017, we launched a new system and challenged various things with the aim of making further progress, but due to the Coronavirus disaster from 2020, many of our plans had to be cancelled or reviewed.

I was confused, troubled, worried and had a lot of regrets due to this unprecedented event, but at the same time, it was a great opportunity for me to reconsider who I am and what LDH should be, and I strongly realized that entertainment is an irreplaceable part of society.

Then I returned to the starting point and reconsidered the future of LDH.

LDH has gathered many dreams, and because of the power of those dreams, we have been able to overcome various difficulties and open up a path to the future.

"Dreams are not fantasy, but real power."

I am convinced that we can continue to create a bright future by believing in and acting upon the power of dreams and the power of realism.

With this thought in mind, and despite the difficult circumstances of the Coronavirus disaster, we have thoroughly strengthened compliance and governance and made various preparations over the past few years in order to create an organization that fits today's world and to transform LDH into a strong organization capable of realizing the dreams of many people.

LDH has a social contribution theme of "Dreams For Children", and through entertainment, we support children to have dreams, challenge their dreams, and make their dreams come true, and we work on a daily basis to make our society a place where children can shine.

Furthermore, we would like to contribute to the world by connecting the dreams of the many people gathered and transforming the power of dreams into real power across generations

Therefore, we have created a new word to clarify LDH's raison d'être.

LDH's Purpose.

It is "Circle of Dreams".

We believe in dreams, connect dreams, and create entertainment filled with the power of dreams.

To a future where we can share Love Dream Happiness with as many people as possible through the "Circle of Dreams".

In order for me to take the lead in promoting this "Circle of Dreams", I would like to announce that I am returning to the position of President and Representative Director.

LDH will be reborn as an organization that can contribute to and be trusted by the world more than ever before, and we will move forward with a fresh start under a new structure from October to please all of our stakeholders.


September 25, 2023

Igarashi Hiroyuki
EXILE HIRO

He later mentioned in a variety show that he returned to the position of the company's president and representative director mainly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the desire to rebuild the system of the company once again. As for the future of LDH JAPAN, HIRO revealed that he would like to try to enter the global market, and added that the initial pre-pandemic globalization plans, including the established subsidiaries in New York, Los Angeles and the Netherlands as a foothold to enter the global market, had all been reset or dissolved due to the pandemic. Thew new plans for expansion would start with Southeast Asia.[22] Additionally, he revealed in an interview that it had been decided more than a year ago that he would return to the position of president at this time, influenced by the timing of LDH's 20th anniversary, and that he was determined to build it into an organization that "fits the current times" while focusing on the three areas of "global", "digital" and "education" for the future of entertainment.[23]

On October 13, he was announced as an instructor of the "Historic Captainship Training Course" at FC Imabari High School Satoyama (FCI), a private high school headed by OkadaTakeshi, former coach of Japan's national soccer team, and scheduled to open in April 2024 in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture.[24][25][26][27]

2024[]

In an episode of the TV program Google Pixel presents ANOTHER SKY broadcast on February 17, which followed Jr.EXILE's, specifically BALLISTIK BOYZ' and PSYCHIC FEVER's, past activities in Thailand, HIRO revealed that he was considering collaborating with other artists and holding festivals with the idea of "ONE ASIA" (Asia as one) in mind as his dream for the future.[28]

Personal Life[]

Relationships

In the mid 2000s, HIRO was reported to be in a relationship with Sada Mayumi, a model of LDH. On March 5, 2008, it was revealed that the couple had broken up in 2007. In response to the coverage by some women's weekly magazines, their office commented via statement by fax: "Since this is a private matter, we would like to refrain from giving details. HIRO and Sada Mayumi have changed their (relationship) form about a year ago, and now, as colleagues belonging to the same office, they are working together and have a very good relationship."[29][30] In September 2017, Sada Mayumi was appointed as the director of LDH models, a subsidiary of LDH JAPAN.

On September 14, 2012, it was personally announced by HIRO and actress Ueto Aya that they registered their marriage after 2 years of dating.[31][32] They had met through an acquaintance of HIRO who was the dance instructor for the idol group Z-1 of which Aya had been a member in the past.[33][34]

On April 12, 2015, Ueto was revealed to be pregnant with the couple's first child.[35] Their first daughter was born on August 19, 2015.[36][37]

On June 12, 2019, it was reported via official news outlets that the couple were expecting their second child.[38] On July 27, 2019, the birth of their first son was announced.[39]

On March 26, 2023, it was announced that Ueto was pregnant with the couple's third child, and would be expected to give birth around summer.[40][41] On June 22, 2023, the birth of their third child, a boy, was announced.[42][43][44][45]

Other

On April 17, 2014, Hiro attended the “Spring Garden Party” hosted by the Emperor and Empress of Japan.[46] On October 6 of the same year, he was invited to attend the wedding reception for Noriko Senge and Kunimaro Senge due to his friendship with the Senge family.[47]

Works[]

Music[]

Producer
Composition
  • EXILE
    • J Soul Brothers
    • MAX TRIBE
    • SILVER COCKPIT
    • ESCAPE
    • S・O・B
    • EXILE COME
    • ROAD-RUNNER
Radio
  • [2001-2005] OH MY RADIO

Filmography[]

TV Shows
  • Shuukan EXILE (General Producer)
  • [2024.02.17] Google Pixel presents ANOTHER SKY
Films
  • Tatara Samurai (Executive Producer)
  • Cinema Fighters (Executive Producer)
Anime
  • Examurai (Planning & Draft)
Videography
  • [2005] ZOO→JSB→EXILE
TV Dramas
  • [2005-2008] Shin Tokyo Hyakkei

Publications[]

Books
  1. [2005] B Boy Salaryman (Bボーイサラリーマン)
  2. [2009] B Boy Perfectly
  3. [2014] Bibiri (ビビリ)
  4. [2018] Hiro in Exile: The Creation of a J-Pop Empire

Manga

  1. Examurai Sengoku (Planning & Draft)
  2. Examurai Sengoku G (Planning & Draft)

Magazines

  1. Gekkan EXILE (Editor-in-chief)

Trivia[]

  • Even after his retirement as a performer of EXILE he occasionally appears in the group's music videos.
  • According to himself, he has always considered himself to be more of a background person who is involved in the processes behind the scenes. "I was over 30 years old when I debuted in EXILE. I was an expressive person, and my mind was naturally in the background rather than in the front. I always thought of myself as someone working behind-the-scenes."[6]
  • According to himself, he is the type of person who naturally relies on others and can't achieve his dreams alone. "Whenever I want to accomplish something, I always have someone as a companion."[28]
  • According to himself, his relationships with LDH artists is "indescribable" since he experienced dancing with many of them as kids dancers when he was still performing in the front line with EXILE. "We get to watch these kids grow up together, and that is LDH's strength."[48]
    • He wants them to be active not only in Japan but around the world, but is also concerned about them since he knows each of them has their own problems and worries.[48]
  • In an interview in 2021, Yamashita Kenjiro from Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS revealed that everyone at LDH would be very involved in their hobbies as HIRO would think that it is best for individuals to do what they want to do. "He says that as long as you do your artist activities properly, it's fine."[49]
  • Described as a very positive person. According to SWAY, HIRO often tells LDH's artists "If EXILE and LDH fail, let's all open a ramen shop and eat together." and "Let's put our lives into a big dream, and if it doesn't work out, it's OK."[50]
  • According to Nakatsuka Yuta, he always says "I think of everyone as my alter ego".[51]
  • On the topic of overseas development of Japanese brands, he mentioned in an interview in 2022 that he doesn't think Japanese music would be "understood" (overseas) as it is, and that he aims to combine various aspects of Japanese (Pop-) culture rather than just take what is already being done in Japan and expanding it overseas. "We need to mix various things and involve various people with the sense of creating something new. [...] I would like to mix anime, video games, and other traditionally strong Japanese aspects to make it accessible overseas."[52]
  • During a talk show in October 2021, he revealed that he decided to never cut costs for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he cut his own salary without disclosing it to anybody. All in all, the number of LDH performances that were cancelled in 2020 was 334. Additionally, he mentioned that LDH had about 500 employees, and 600 if part-time workers included.[53]
  • In the early 2000s he was working as a dance instructor at avex's dance school besides his position as a member of EXILE. At that time, his students included Koda Kumi, Shimatani Hitomi and the members of Dream.[54]
  • First met the members of Dream (including Shizuka, Aya, Ami and Erie) in 2002.[54]
  • Regarding the reason why EXILE covered ZOO's representative song "Choo Choo TRAIN" (1991), he revealed that: "I thought that by covering it with EXILE, which had gained some recognition, I would be able to repay my gratitude to my seniors and the dance world.''[4]
  • According to his wife and the artists of LDH, he loves suprises and gifts, especially giving them.[55][56][57][58]
  • Considers TV personality/talent YOU his best friend and part of his family.[4]
  • A fan of martial arts and professional wrestling and an old friend of Takaya Hiroyuki (former DREAM featherweight champion), the CEO of LDH martial arts.[59][60]
    • According to Takechi Kaisei, HIRO was very supportive of his professional wrestling debut. "HIRO loves professional wrestling, so when we had dinner together, he asked me what kind of techniques I was going to use and what style I was going to use, and he advised me to watch videos of old matches and study them."[61]
  • Close with TAKURO, a member and leader of Japanese rock band GLAY.[62]
  • According to his wife, he has a very homely side. For example, he was cooking breakfast for their family when she had morning sickness with their second child.[63]
  • During a talk show in October 2021, he revealed that having children made him understand and realize a lot of things, for example capturing important moments of his family with photos and videos. Additionally, his children would call him "Papa", and he could adjust his work hours to a certain extent for his children.[64]
  • According to SWAY, he used to wear Chrome Hearts and all black, but after he retired, he would always wear no jewelry and a simple T-shirt.[65]
  • Friends with Kitano Takeshi.[66]

Notes[]

  1. Despite his last participation in an EXILE song as an active member being "EXILE PRIDE ~Konna Sekai wo Aisuru Tame~", he was featured in the 19 -Road to AMAZING WORLD- and EXTREME BEST albums after his retirement.

References[]

  1. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/04/03/kiji/K20130403005536110.html
  2. http://www.asahi.com/worldcup/column/theroad/TKY201004090340.html
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://natsumikoizumi.com/240
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4193031
  5. http://www.tokyo-dance-magazine.com/people/koji/
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2024/02/18/kiji/20240218s00041000326000c.html
  7. https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/1405754
  8. EXILE HIRO、年内でパフォーマー引退「第四章への新たなスタート」
  9. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/04/03/kiji/K20130403005532980.html
  10. EXILE・HIRO、満面の笑みでラストパフォーマンス ガッツポーズで締めくくる<紅白本番>
  11. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2015/03/30/kiji/K20150330010082130.html
  12. https://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2016/10/24/0009606719.shtml
  13. https://ldhpictures.co.jp/170603_01/
  14. https://tokyo2020.org/en/news/news-20191108-03-en
  15. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2169232/full/
  16. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2169280/full/
  17. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2296071/full/
  18. https://natalie.mu/music/news/542358
  19. https://hochi.news/articles/20230925-OHT1T51049.html?page=1
  20. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/3967625
  21. Announcement from EXILE HIRO
  22. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4082447
  23. https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00941/00001/
  24. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2298513/full/
  25. https://www.tokyoheadline.com/717984/
  26. https://www.thefirsttimes.jp/news/0000336660/
  27. https://m.ex-m.jp/news/detail?news_id=44685
  28. 28.0 28.1 https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4203858
  29. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/52625/full/
  30. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2008/03/06/kiji/K20080306Z00001280.html
  31. https://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/2016815/full/
  32. https://www.tokyohive.com/article/2012/09/ueto-aya-and-hiro-are-officially-married/
  33. https://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2012/09/15/1p_0005380138.shtml
  34. https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20120915-1017156.html
  35. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2051468/full/
  36. http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/gossip/2015/08/19/0008318309.shtml
  37. https://mdpr.jp/mama/detail/1514021
  38. https://natalie.mu/music/news/335202
  39. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2141098/full/
  40. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2273004/full/
  41. https://nordot.app/1012539076317036544
  42. https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202306220000802.html
  43. https://natalie.mu/music/news/529870
  44. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2284106/full/
  45. https://www.ldh.co.jp/news/detail.php?lang=eng&site=OFFICIAL&newsid=0000100079
  46. https://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/olympic/sochi/2014/04/03/0006832444.shtml
  47. https://www.news24.jp/articles/2014/10/06/07260739.html
  48. 48.0 48.1 https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4203883
  49. https://ananweb.jp/news/361859/
  50. https://ananweb.jp/column/ikemendorama/361302/
  51. https://qjweb.jp/feature/102430/
  52. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2250827/full/
  53. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2021/10/08/kiji/20211008s00041000643000c.html
  54. 54.0 54.1 https://realsound.jp/2015/01/post-2213.html
  55. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2941947
  56. https://www.tvguide.or.jp/feature/feature-2631085/2/
  57. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4122710
  58. https://asm.asahi.com/article/15061975
  59. https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/848182
  60. https://www.cyzo.com/2022/09/post_322294_entry.html
  61. https://hochi.news/articles/20240226-OHT1T51202.html?page=1
  62. http://shyglance.web.fc2.com/2005/70/pg1526.html
  63. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/2788099
  64. https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2021/10/08/kiji/20211008s00041000610000c.html
  65. https://i-voce.jp/feed/987075/3/
  66. https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/4079425

External Links[]

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