JE Anniversaries

Jan 25th ♥ 櫻井翔 (Sakurai Sho)

Sho-chan joined the agency in October 1995. Debuted as a Arashi’s rapper and lyricist in 1999. Then lost their leadership against 大野智 -Ohno Satoshi-, eventhough technically Sakurai-kun is his senpai since he has more artistic experience.

The creator of the Sakurap is not the first artist from Johnny’s to take on rapping but his breakthrough made it easier for his juniors to rap as well despite being idols. He became the first member in Arashi to hold a solo concert called The Show in 2006. Sakurai was also a part of a special group with his Kisarazu Cat’s Eye co-stars that same year. Ever since, senpai 岡田准一 -Okada Junichi- and his little brother call him “Bambi”.

Japan’s future Prime Minister graduated from Keio University back in 2004 in Economics. This Keio Boy is a role model for Johnny’s Juniors who want to pursue an education while maintaining their “idol” status. His dad is a politician and his mother is a professor. He has two younger siblings, one sister of five years difference, and one brother of twelve years difference.

Sho-kun became a newscaster in 2006, appearing in the news program News Zero every Monday. In 2008, he was appointed the official newscaster for the news coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing on NTV. For his work as an actor, singer and newscaster, Sakurai became one of the recipients of GQ Japan’s Men of the Year award in 2009.

Arashi’s study leader plays the piano, he sucks at drawing and is very much afraid of height and gets constantly bullied for it. It is a family tradition that every male member in the Sakurai family has the initials S. S., he treasures his family very much and always tries to go out with them whenever is possible.

Happy 30th Birthday! お誕生日おめでとう！