Jun Matsumoto 松本潤
Background information
Born	August 30, 1983 (1983-08-30
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer, actor
Years active	1996 - present
Associated acts	Arashi

Jun Matsumoto (松本潤, Matsumoto Jun^?, born August 30, 1983) is a Japanese singer and actor from Johnny's Entertainment. He is best known for being part of popular J-pop band ARASHI, together with Masaki Aiba (相葉雅紀), Kazunari Ninomiya (二宮和也), Satoshi Ohno (大野智), and Sho Sakurai (櫻井翔). Matsumoto has been critically acclaimed in the acting field for his work in various films and television dramas.

Normally serious and very dedicated to his work, Matsumoto has been declared by his bandmates as caring the most for ARASHI.

Profile

• Name: 松本潤
• Name (romaji): Matsumoto Jun
• Nickname: MatsuJun, Jun-Sama, JunChan, King (by all of Arashi)
• Height: 173cm (roughly 5'8)
• Weight: 58kg (approx 128)
• Birthdate: August 30, 1983
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Host of: Utawara HotHit10
• Siblings: One older sister
• Horoscope sign: Virgo
• Blood type: A
• Interests: Music, DVDs, photography, reading
• Preferred Sport: Baseball
• Favorite Food: Noodles, dry plums, mango
• Favorite Colors: White, black and blue

Singing career

Matsumoto entered Johnny's Entertainment in 1996, at the age of thirteen. Although the proper procedure is for the applicant to go through a round of auditions before being admitted into the talent agency, Matsumoto bypassed it by receiving a direct phone call from Johnny Kitagawa, telling him to report for work.

In September 1999, on board a cruise ship off the shores of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, he debuted as the youngest member of ARASHI. ARASHI, the slightly hip-hop-influenced group of Johnny's Entertainment, was instantly popular with the fans. Although the members of ARASHI enjoy more or less equal popularity, a large portion of the fans were attracted to ARASHI by watching Matsumoto's dramas; a common syndrome that has been nicknamed the 'Jun-bait' by fans.

As of June 2006, he became part of an unofficial group within Johnny's Entertainment called "No Border", which includes members: Yamashita Tomohisa of NEWS, Murakami Shingo of Kanjani8, Satou Atsuhiro, Ikuta Toma of Johnny's Junior's, Domoto Koichi of Kinki Kids, Yamaguchi Tatsuya of TOKIO and Takizawa Hideaki of Tackey & Tsubasa. The group was formed when the 8 members from different JE groups met up for dinner and decided to name themselves "No Border." They are known to interact freely, bypassing the sempai-kouhai relationships formed by JE. There is a 7 part round-robin on their jwebs about the formation of the group. Each member has a specific color - White, Black, Red, Pink, Purple, Gold, Blue, Grey. However, who holds which color is still unknown.

Acting career

It was not until 2002 that Matsumoto truly made his mark in the acting industry by portraying Sawada Shin in the manga-turned-drama Gokusen, a role which won him the Best Supporting Actor at the 44th Television Drama Academy Awards.

In 2003, Matsumoto took on the role of Momo/Goda Takeshi in the drama Kimi wa Petto, portraying a homeless young man taken in by a successful journalist as her pet. A year later, in 2004, he wrote a song called "La Familia" in honor of ARASHI's fifth anniversary, and performed it at the Iza Now! concert.

In 2005, Matsumoto took on the role of Domyouji Tsukasa, the leader of F4, in the Japanese live action of the highly popular manga/anime Hana Yori Dango, which aired its first season from 2005-10-21 to 2005-12-16. Hana Yori Dango was the highest rated drama of winter 2005, and the second season recently finished airing on TBS.

This summer (2007-Apr-18 to 2007-Jun-27) , Matsumoto won the best acting award for his role in Bambino!, a live action based on Sekiya Tetsuji's manga. As Ban Shogo, Matsumoto played a cocky chef that went to Tokyo and found he had much to learn about Italian cuisine.

A lot of publicity was generated when he made an appearance at the 47th Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan in June 2006. Dressed in a gray suit, he was frequently referred to as "Prince Charming" in the Taiwanese media reports. Two hundred fans were at the airport to receive him and he recited a few Mandarin phrases while presenting the Best Director award.

Aside from acting and singing, Matsumoto has taken on hosting duties by co-hosting Utawara Hot Hit 10 with Aya Matsuura and Akiko Wada. The most well-known moments in that program were Matsumoto's arguments with Akanishi Jin of KAT-TUN.

Personal life

Matsumoto is myopic. Although he wears contact lenses for his work, he is frequently seen with spectacles. He also used to have buckteeth when he was younger. He is a big fan of the Harry Potter franchise, and, unless he initiates it, Jun is not comfortable with other people touching him.

When he was in second grade, he ran out onto the road and was knocked over by a van. Little Jun was severely injured, but he was as chirpy and cheerful as he could be. When the ambulance arrived, he kept apologizing to the uncle, saying he was naughty for running out onto the road.^[1]

Awards and recognition

• (2002) 33rd Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actor (Sawada Shin in Gokusen)
• (2005) 47th Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actor (Domyouji Tsukasa in Hana Yori Dango)
• (2007) 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards - Best Actor (Ban Shogo in Bambino)

• Matsumoto was the first Japanese male celebrity to make it onto the cover of the Japanese Marie Claire magazine (May 2006).

Filmography

Drama

• Bambino! (2007) as Ban Shogo
• Hana Yori Dango 2 (2007) as Domyouji Tsukasa
• Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari 15th Anniversary Special (2006) Part 5
• Hana Yori Dango (2005) as Domyouji Tsukasa
• Propose (2005) Episode 01
• Kimi wa Petto ( You're my Pet) (2003) as Goda Takeshi
• Yoiko no Mikata (2003) as Sawada Shin (5 min. guest appearance)
• Gokusen (2002) as Sawada Shin
• Kindaichi Shonen no Jikembo 3 (2001) as Kindaichi Hajime
• Bokura no yuuki ~miman toushi~ (1997)

Movies

• Kiiroi Namida (Yellow Tears) (2007)
• Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru (I Am In Love With My Younger Sister.) (2007)
• Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari (2006)
• Tokyo Tower (2004) as Koji
• "ピカ★★ンチLIFE IS HARD だから HAPPY" (2004) as Bon
• ”ピカ☆ンチLIFE IS HARD だけど HAPPY" (2002) as Bon
• Shinjuku Shounen Tanteidan (1998)

Stageplays

• Byakuya no Onna Kishi Valkryie ( Valkryie of the White Night) (2006)
• East of Eden (2005)
• West Side Story (2004) as Bernardo